St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-28
MEMORIAL SUNDAY.
Addresses In Music Hall by Judge Smith and
Alexander Dunnett.

The religious service preceding Me.
mortal day was held in Music Hall last
Sunday evening. Chamberlin post, G. A.
R., sat in body in front of the stage and
Charles P. Carpenter presided. The
exercises opened with music by the
North church choir. Rev. G. c. Water
man read the scriptures and prayer was
offered by Rev. H. M. Douglas.
Owing to the illness of Rev. DIR. A. H.
Heath, who was to preach the sermon,
short addresses were given by two lay
men. Judge W. P, Smith was the first
speaker. 5a
"Peace on earth good will toward
men were the words uttered when our
Lord came to the earth. No great sue
cess can be brought about without great
sacrifice. 1t took great sacrifice to save
our souls from eternal death. The great
wars Of history have been in the inter-
ests OF human liberty. Does war pay,
even when attended with benefcent
results? Was the price too dear for what
was attained in the revolutionary war?
Ask those ironsides that followed Crom-
well through England what bright star
guided them and they will tell you it was
a star pointing to a greater liberty to
man and less absolutism to king. Did
the French revolution teach any lessons?
1t taught the world that the people ruled
and not king.
"Let me ask you who participated in
one Of the greatest civil wars known to
men, if there was no recompense for your
suferings in prison pen and behind
stockades? Not in victory over
misguided portion of our country but in
the liberation OF Al 100000 bondmen;
in establishing once for all the supremacy
of our nation--these are fitting answers
to the question, does war ever pay?"
Judge Smith closed with an eloquent
tribute to Gen. Grant, suggested by the
recent Memorial celebration. "The Lord
is My Shepherd" was given by the ladies'
quartette of the North church choir, fol-
lowed by an address by Alexander
Dunnett.
The speaker began by brief discussion
of arbitration. According to Thucydides
arbitration was in vogue 1000 years
ago. "The New Testament says There
will be wars, and ] am ready to believe
it. Even now there is war in Europe.
My theme is, our debt to the soldiers.
What do we owe them for? Principally
for their courage and bravery. Life is a
constant warfare. ssShe path marked out
for the Christian is that of soldier. No
trait is more admired than courage.
David's success was due to his indomit-
able courage, a modest courage"
The speaker then cited the victory oi
Alexander over the Persians; the fear the
Romans had of Hannibal; how Napo-
Icons body was kept underground at St.
Helena for generation after he died lest
the sight of his body stir up the French to
war; the bravery OF Maria Theresa oil
Austria; the stand Abraham Lincoln
took against slavery and how he pre-.
served the constitution.
"The soldiers of the Grand Army are
steadily diminishing. The nation says,
that you having performed your highest
duty you are therefore entitled to all she
can do for you. She will try to see that
you will never come to want"
After music by the Mahogany quartette
the exercises closed with the singing oi
America" by the audience.