The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-21
News from Various Diviaons--<Elec-
ton Of Offers, etc
UNION DEFENDERS DAY.
Chaplain in Chief Light Urges It's Observ'
ance by All Camps.
HrApou prrpc CoSrs6A NDERY. IN. CHEF,

ham Lincoln His biography is written in
blood and tears; uncounted millions arise and
call him blessed; q redeemed and reunited Re-
public is his monument. History embalms
the name of Richard the lion hearted; here,
too, our martyr finds royal sepulture as
Lincoln tho tender-hearted. He was brave.
While assassns swarmed in Washington, ne
went everywhere without guard or arms. lie
was magnanimous He harbored no grudge.
nursed no grievance, was quick to forgive ana
was anxious for reconciliation. Hear him aD-
pealng to the South: 1--WE are not enemies,
but friends. Though passion may have
strained, it must not break the bond of our
affection. The mystic chord of memory,
stretching from every patriot grave to every
heart and hearthstone, all over this broad
land. will yet swell the chorus of the Union.
when touched again, as it surely will be. by
the better angels Of our nature"
He was compassionate. With what JOY ne
brought liberty to the ensaved He was for
giving. In this respect he was strikingly sug-
gestive of the Savior.
He was great. Time will but augment the
greatness Of his name and fame. Perhaps q
greater man never ruled in this or any other
nation.
He was good and pure and incorruptible.
he was a patriot; he loved his country; he
poured out his soul unto death for it.
He was human, and thus touched the chord
mo Cesar he whom we lament:
man without precedent,
Sent. ii would seem, to do
His work and perish, too"
But the day is even nearer and dearer to US
as Sons Of Veterans, when weNpause and think
of the sacrifices of worthy sires, living and
dead, who were associated, in the dark days
gone by, with this brave, magnanimous, con-
passionate immortal man. In justice to these
brave men we should not overlook the fact that,
without them, this man, whose history is
written, whose praises are everywhere sung,
and to whom monuments have been reared.
could never have preserved the Union and
maintained our glorious American liberty.
They saved to u.s. and for us. this lovely
land, these benign institutions; they are
ours - ours to enjoy, ours to preserve,
ours to transmit. This gem OF the Gov
ernments Of the globe is in orr care; the
heroes placed it there. Ought We not per-
petuate their memory? They suffered for Us
many days Of WEAKNESS and pain. and shall
not we spend at least one or two Of the 365 in
respect to their memory Can we be true to our
manhood and withhold such service? 1t is
only doing unto others as we would that they
should do unto us, for there is an inherent de-
sire in every soul TO be remembered What
more cruel than to be forgotten by our friends
and comrades; our names and deeds to find no
mention?
The mariner filings farewell kiss with
Remember me-" The soldier wrote in his
blood Remember me-" And we all say:
s.Deatb shall n OF claim the immortal mind;
Let earth close DER ts sacred trust,
Yet goodness dies not in tho dust. - 49,
Our Divine Lord silcnced the murmuring
tbrong at His amounting with words of COM
mendation coextensive with the gospel He
preached. Rising higher we find Him franz
ing memorial service to perFetuate His own
memory throughout all time. This do in re-
membrance of me-" In view Of this law of
desire history has been and is being written.
For this the halls and galleries are filled with
familiar faces and forms. In obedience to this
claim, and deeply sensible of the fact that we
can never pay the debt which is upon
us, let Us assemble on Union Defenders
Day, and, by spirited, patriotic services,
pay another tribute OF respect to the
memory of our Nations defenders who were
and are so noble and true Chaplains, Cap
tains, Division officers, brothers. let US all line
mp! Let every man do his duty Feb. IL,
1897. trust that the accompanying order of
exercises may be suggestive and helpful on
that day, and that an unusually large number
of Camps may report having observed the day.
PROGRAM FOR UNION DEFENDERS DAY.
General Topic-Our Country: Her Defend
ers and Saviors
Introductory. ]. Song, "Blest be the Tie
LHAG Dluus- Tdyoi. -. "A ohoiV duuIS5o
on Union Defenders Day"
Part First "Our Country" J.. Song,
"America." 2. "Our Country's Call" Bryant;
recitation. 3. The Response, "Three Hun
bred Thousand More; recitation. A. "Our
Country's Fiag"-"Tbe Stripes and the
Stars"; recitation. s. National Hymn of the
S. of ". 1.-THE Banner of Beauty and Glory"
Part Second" Our Country's Defenders" 1.
Her men. a. The Principal Address of the
Evening. b. Song, THE Flag Of Lincoln and
Washington" g. Her Women. a. Mothers,
"The Mothers of Our Volunteers >" recitation.
b. Wives, "The Brave at Home'; recitation.
c. Maidens, "A Woman Of the War;; recta-
ton.
Concluding Hymn. 1.-THE Patriots Doxol-
ogy."
The above program is so arranged that the
Sons may call to their assistance the GAR,
WR.C and LAS. in carrying it out.
Yours in F., c., and L., S. LIGHT.
Chapain-in- Chief.
HEADQUARTERS CHIEF,
Sons OF VETERANS, u. 8. A..
READING, Pa. Jan. Z 1897.
The foregoing is hereby approved and
promulgated.
By command of J. L. RAKE, Commander-in.
Chief.
Official: II. q. HAMMER Adjutant- General.
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