The morning times., 1896-05-25
HONORED DEAD HEROES
Memorial Services Held BY Or
gan.zali0ns of Veterans.
ELOQUENT TRIBUTES PAID
Union Veteran Legion and Legion
of Loyal Women Conducted IA Serv-
ice at Calyary-Addresse by Rev.
j. A. Picker and Other Public
Men-At Other Churches.

services preparatory to the observance of
Memorial Day were held yesterday morn
ing and last night in many of the churches
of the District Due honor was paid to
the dead and to the living by the beauty OF
the ceremonies and the eulogies of the
eloquent orators. In all of the churches
there were laurel wreaths and wreaths of
victory and remembrance TO grace the
vacant chairs the roll OF the muffied drum,
the reading OF the rolls of honor and every
where the presence of the flag for which
the dead gave up their lives, the monies
being concluded with the sounding of taps
for the last sleep Of the brave.
one OF the most largely attended services
was that held at Calvary Baptist Church.
Here there was an abundance of floral
decoration, splendid music, including the
singing OF patriotic songs and war lyrics.
Eight posts OF the Union Veteran Legion oc-
cupied the right and center near the pulpit
while the ladies OF the Legion OF Loyal
Women had position on the left. These
were to take part in the beautiful and
touching exercises
The ceremonies were conducted by Col.
Andrew GeddeS, tue other officers present
being Past Col. G. c. kuiffin, Lieut.. Col.
Louis Schutter, Major j l. Thompson,
Chaplain Z. B. Thompson, Adjts. .. D.
Thatcher and c. L. Troutnan and OFFICER
OF the Day s. X. Whitney. On the stage
were also Rev. S. Greene, d. D., pastor OF
the church, and Hon. j. A Picker OF South
Dakota, who was major In the Army.
CEREMONIES WERE IMPRESSIVE.
The invocation was by Rev. DR.. Greene,
pastor of the church. The proceedings were
opened with the singing OF an anthem by the
choir, after which the formal military GER
emonies according 10 the ritual were per
hxrE E.l .nII or pr.l-
cation then sang with spirited effect My
Country, 'Tis of Thee
The object of the assembly was stated by
Col. Geddes to be, in the language or the
ritual, ITO do honor TO the memory of
those who have been mustered out by death
andhaye ans wered L the Great
Commander" Prayer was next offered by
Chaplain L. b. Thompson OF Post No. So.
DR.. Greene announced that Ben Hur
would be repeated on Tuesday evening at
the Church of Our Father for the benefit OF
the fireman's fund.
The audience was next stirred by fine
rendition of the star Spangled Banner
by Mrs. Thomas c. Noyes and the choir.
TIE roll OF honor was read by the adJu'
tants Their roll contained brief record
of the soldiers who died since last Memorial
Day, their services, names aud date of death.
These were Comrades listed, Shriyer.
Arnold, Dillon. Saffrey and HoUghtaling
The vacant chairs OF these were covered
with laurel by Col. Luke Kelley. Tent
ing on the Old Camp Ground" was then
sung with fine feeling.
COL. KNIFFIN'S ADDRESS.
The address in honor OF the deceased ConF
rades was by Past Col. Gilbert c. Kniffin
He paid great compliment To the beauty
of the church and warmly thanked DR.
Greene for its tender as a meeting place
~. 81
rades had fallen and the gradual dropping
away OF the survivors.
He drew a graphic picture OF the rally
to arms in ] 70 until 2,0GO, 600 men were
III the field, OF whom there were killed
10, 600. dIedin prisons, 24o 80 0;%0unueu.
275, geo. This was that the American
Union might be preserved. we know Of
this and the emancipa ton OF the slaves
were matters III whicn the veterans might
well feel pride. The war is, then, not TO
be looked back upon vita regret, for
America will forever stand in the cen
turies as the model for honor and great
ness. There should toe homer To the living
as 10 the dead.
He replied TO the charge of great de-
sertion and Involuntary service 10y showing
the very small percentage of desertion and
drafted soldiers, the enlistment in the
Army and Navy being more than ,iO0,-
600. The honor of tie Army was in the
keeping Of the living soldiers and il became
them TO conduct themselves with that in
view. It should be the effort now as
always TO represent loyalty to country,
home, and God.
The vacant chairs were next crowned
with wreathes of victory by Mrs. F Florence
Klemroth of the Legion of Loyal Women.
Congressman Picker of South Dakota dc
livered an address on The lessons of the
day first congratuiating the comrades
on their magnificent surroundings, and
especially the beautiful church and its fame
throughout the United States He eulo-
giZed the willing and patriotic spirit which
characterized the assembling of the sol
ders at the opening of the war, the "gen-
Grafton, which dedicated itself to the
sword They had the alternative of
victory or ruin.
COMPLIMENTED BY MR. PICKLER.
Mr.. Picker made All interesting re-
captulation of the numbers enga ged and
the battles fought. He spoke feelingly of
the 400, 600 killed i'll battle and their re-
minders to the living. He next showed
that whatever there was III the future
of the nation should be retraced to the
services of the Union soldiers Three
things he would hold: That the South was
wrong and the North right; that a govern
ment which would not support the old
flag of the Union was the flag of all sec
tons In conclusion he spoke words of
high praise for the work of the Legion
OF Loyal Women.
DR.. Greene, the pastor who delivered the
last address, was received with burst OF
applause. Dr.. Green spoke with unusual
feeling and conviction. Although youth
when the war broke out, he had followed
its fortunes with the lveliest interest,
from patriotism instiled in his youth
by patriotic parents. These he rever-
enced, and always held as his inspira ton
to duty. Great honor was due the heroes
of the war, and he welcomed the survivors
to Calvary Church.
DR.. Greene's address was mainly on the
noble thought that to follow the dead we
| should be such meu and women as Goo
and the country demanded. We should
bring to the services of Memorial Day
unstained hands, and we should be present
| in that spirit which should reflect and OF
| which q genuine patriotism is born. The
| survivors should continue till the last mar
| to fight the good fight to the end.
The beuediction was by Chaplain Whit
uey of Post No 90, after which the con
| gregation was dismissed with the sounding
| of taps.
| UNION VETERANS UNION.
The Memorial Day sermon for the Unio
| Veterans Union was preached yesterda,
at North Capitol Street M. E. Church
North Capitol and streets, by the pastor
| Rev. Charles L. Pate. The members o
| the Union were present in a body.
The music was by the MetropoIitanch cir
| led by Prof. Statham The church wa
| tastefully decorated with flags. Tn,
comrades were greatly pleased with TIL
sermon.
DR.. Pate said the meeting Of all classe
over the graves OF their dead breaks dow
| artificial distinctions between men. sc
cial aud political barriers melt away. Th,
| hearts of all meet in a common reverence
for the heroism that saved nations life
| mother stands beside her sons grave