The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-01
Dean WayIand,s Address.

ly sorry. After hearing much talk and marching weary miles, at all events, I presume they have seemed miles to you-you are invited to rest by listening to more talk I fear that there is no escape for us. We are simply helpless in the hands of a com mittee. The programme has been pre- pared and printed and must be carried out. But let us be just. In one respect, at least, the committee has shown symptoms of humanity. I have been told that my address must be brief, an order as gratifying to me as it must be to you. I assure you that the order will be obeyed
 MT, Chairman, this is indeed a mag nificent sight. What more inspiring audience could any speaker desire? Here are acres of Sunday school chill dren assembled in holiday attire on this historic green, never more beauti- ful than to-day, to assist in celebrating great national anniversary. Is it not well fitted to stir the blood of youth, aye, well fitted to bring eloduence to the trembling lips and power to the palsied arm of age?
 Where else in the world can such a. spectacle be witnessed? Where but in country made what it Is, under God, by the tireless devotion, the Christian patriotism the consecrated courage, the historic sacrifices of those who have gone before us?
 There are two sacred days in our country's calendar which we should never cease to celebrate with appro- priate services: The Fourth of July, which commentaries our nations birth, and Memorial day. which conn memorates our nations preservation.
 But. alas, our memories shorten as our history lengthens. Tndependence day has already degenerated into an oc- caslon for cheap excursions, baseball games and family fire works. How it may we'll be asked, Shall we rescue Memorial day from similar fate? The | momentous events which it signalizes, | the long. dark, anxious years which it recalls, the desolated homes the crowd ed graveyards-al1 these are real and vivid only to a generation which is rapidly passing away. The children, whose bright faces, and alert move ments give life and color to this place and hour, have never seen anything | more warlike than the peaceful parades | of the Connecticut National Guard or | of that earnest and sincere military az l eregation known as the naval reserve | or the occasional and ever welcome ap- pearance of the Grand Army of the Re- public, well nigh our only public re- hinder of the terrible struggle which they helped to bring to a triumphant | termination.
 | And so we are still confronted with the problem-and it is serious one how best to impress on the rising gem l eration the lesson of the war for the 1 Union, how to make Memorial day as l hallowed to them as it is to us.
 l There are several agencies which can render efficient aid in accomplishing
 this result-the home, the church, the public school, the public press, the Christian Endeavor societies, the Sum-
 day school. Of course we have no time to consider in detail the opportunities for wholesome instruction presented by l these various agencies. I can only glance for a moment at the possible | advantages of the Sunday school fol impressing upon the youthful mind these principles of moral rectitude and political righteousness which form the stable foundation of Christian citizen. ship Instruction of this kind enforced
 and made attractive by illustrations borrowed from our civil war cannot fai to sink deep into the hearts of the
 scholars and exercise an abiding influ
 ence on their subsequent careers. Ii
 would give them a correct standard ot
 civic virtue, enable them to resist tht
 wiles of crafty politicians and help tC
 qualify them for positions of trust ant
 responsibility. In a word, the Sunday | school wisely and conscientiously con
 ducted may be made a vast power fol good in any community.
 A distinguished New England alvin,
 has told us that the lines which thu
 great Emperor Charles the Fifth trac
 ed upon the map of Europe have al
 most vanished, while the memory O
 Robert Raikes, the founder of Sunday
 schools, will grow brighter and bright
 CT through all coming time.
 Let the Sunday school of our day anC
 our country accept and realize its higl
 and holy mission; especially let it cher
 ish and perpetuate the sacred lesson , and inspiring associations of Memoria