The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-24

SlWpsOu "s bs Chuiths
Special memorial services were
preached in two city churches last
night. In the Penn Avenue Baptist
church Rev. Joseph K. Dixon spoke to
a large number of the members of Col
onel Monies post, Grand Army of the
Republic, and the Union Veterans
union and the ladies auxliaries OF these
organizations.
In the Simpson Methodist Episcopal
church Of the West Side the pastor.
Rev. J. Il. Sweet delivered a sermon to
the Ezra S. Griffin post, No. 139, Grand
Army of the Republic, Sons of Veter-
ans and Womans Relief corps, No. 80.
The sermon of DR.. Dixon in the Penn
Avenue church was full of spirit and
patriotism. His father was a soldier
in the Civil war and he the son of
Veteran was proud to preach to such
gathering as that of last evening.
The service throughout was one of
unusual ceremony, and interest. Pro-
fessor Haydn Evans played a military
prelude by Schubert followed by the
chant of a single sentence by the choir.
Rev. Dixon then recited q scripture
sentence and the congregation sang
Great King of Nations" DR.. Dixon
offered prayer.
The choir next sang Columbia" a
beautiful chorus with chorus parts
sung by Mrs. Lizzie Hughes Brund-
age and Philip r. Thomas. DR.. Dixon
read a passage of Scripture and the
choir again rendered an anthem, Sol
diers of Christ Arise
nDI,r 1y)r. mo c,uDNHnr-
DR.. Dixon again prayed, the congre-
CATION following with the Our Faith
er," while Professor Evans played, the
Offertory was taken up. A male quar-
tette from the choir then sang Cover
Them over with Beautiful Flowers"
! followed by congregational singing of
America"
The sermon was then begun. 1t was
not lengthy but full of fervor and de-
| cidedly interesting. The text was:
And this day shall be unto you for a
al."-Exodus xii IA. DR.. Dixon
| called aptly his talk "a memorial mes
| sage" He began with a finelyworded
| tribute to Memorial Day and to the
| soldier dead; of the meaning of the
| bronzed groups on the battlefelds and
| in the public square, the polished
shafts glistening in the sun in a thous-
and cemeteries-what do they mean?
DR.. Dixon answered his query in an
| eloquent picture of the heroes who fell.
He then spoke tenderly of the "un-
| known soldier and in gems of senti-
| ment mentioned tragic sentences and
marks which tell the story of the un-
known soldier-a mother waiting for
the husband, children for their father,
sisters for brothers and she who is
nearer than a sister waiting in vain for
their dear ones return. But they are
not unknown! The angels answer no;
the God of Battle answers, no; the ma
! tiOn answers, no.
DR.. Dixon spoke of the "elOquence of
the armless sleeve" and what it por-
tends. We will not have them with us
long; soon, even the youngest will
have gone before the Great Captain.
TO him the thought was overwhelming.
IS NOT A HOLIDAY.
DIR. Dixon cautioned against using
| Memorial day as a holiday When the
celebration is in this spirit the act is
| blasphemous. There is a higher pur-
| pose of paying tribute to the men who
died. Their place is supreme because
they did a supreme work. The whole
world was watching for freedom but
around the tree of state wound a SER
pent, stunting the growth. 1t did not
grow as it was planted to grow with
the equal freedom to man, of what
ever color. Then came the purgng.
1t was not O. war of extension of do.
main, it did not mean the crushing of q
Napoleon or an Iron Duke it was foi
! .s..Iz IL.
ering between q forest of bayonets
Which would be the victory? AND
thank God right was triumphant
Never before was there such a confess
and for such a cause. The issue for
ever settled a great question. Never
since the angel spoke peace on eartl
and to men a good will has there beer
such an episode as the mastering ou
of the rebel army. AS Christ died tC
save men so the soldiers in blue dice
to make men free.
DR.. Dixon paid a beautiful tribute tC
the war time woman, saying that she
should be honored with the men VIII,
fell In closing Dr. Dixon honored tht
flag with a mighty outburst of elo
quence. Mrs Brundage of the choil
sang THE Peace Hymn of the Repub
| NV lHe duulelCG SlHSlllS the chorus.
The post was in charge of Captain
McAndrew and the Union Veterans
union was commanded by Colonel E
c. Yeomans.
IN THE SIMPSON CHURCH.
The auditorium of the Simpso,
church was filled to its utmost capacit!
The altar railing was draped with ma
tional colors and potted palms an,
Towering plants enhanced these beau
tiful emblems with their vaiegatet
colors. Inside the altar railing, upol
easels stood large sized photos Of tn
martyred president Abraham Lincoln
Generals Grant and Logan and a fac
simile of the Grand Army badge. TIL
! whole effect was increased by tW
stacks of guns placed on either side q
these easels. At the hour of servic
the post led by Post Commander AS
B. Stevens and Adjutant w. s. Jone
filed in and occupied the front seats
, The post was followed by Camp No.
! Sons Of Veterans, led by Captain VIII
liam Leber and First Sergeant John I
Rlume and the Womans' Relief corps
No. so, led by President Mrs. Ion
! Walter and Secretary Mrs. Susie Loo
mis-. These two detachments too
seats Immediately behind the post.
After the opening hymn prayer wa
offered by George L. Peck, superintend
( ent Of the Sabbath school. During tn
| taking of the collection A. T.. Mors
played several patriotic airs upon tn
saNaphone, accompanied by Waite
Davies upon the pipe organ. The cho
sang an anthem and We're followe
with responsive reading by the cor