The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-02
Memorial Day i'm Oakland.

4
instead of Monday, the Both.
1 AT two o'clock Crook Post No. 50,
A. R., about a hundred Sunday
Echool children, and a number of the
members of Garrett Lodge X. of P,
Hormed procession in front of the
II. A. r. Hall, commanded by Col. A.
1T. Sturgiss, and marched to the Gem
|etery. Here the column was broken
and detachments wendell their way
to different parts of the cemetery, Law
lshly strewing flowers on the graves of
departed comrades and brothers. The
column again formed in front of a
spacious platform that had been
erected in the west end of the ceme-
terry. Here the beautiful ritualistic
memorial service of the G.. A. R. was
said, after which patriotic air was
rendered by the NJ E. choir. The
orator of the occasion, Rev. r. b.
Ward, of st. Paul's NJ. E. church, was
introduced by Commander Sturgiss.
Rev. Wards address was one of elo-
quence, pathos and patriotism, and
we give it in full as follows:
Gen. Crook Post No 35, G. Il. R., De-
Of Maryland, Ladies' and
Gentlemen:
1t is with pleasure that | attempt
to address you to-day; not that hope
to instruct you, or impart any new
information to you, but this is mem
orial day and this memorial service,
and it is only proper that we assemble
here to render Just tribute to our
heroic dead, who went forth at the
call of duty, from friends and happy
homes, in the hour of national need,
to defend the constitutional rights of
this great republic, and defend the
honor of that fiag-the emblem of
civil liberty and human progress.
Ours is great nation, the freest and
happiest nation on the globe, and the
peculiar fact that gives us our great
ness is the forces we nurture and
develop in the individual citizen. Our
flag stands for religious liberty and
civil progress, and SO long as the
ideals and principles are developed in
the individual citizen, so long will our
country prosper and our government
will stand. This afternoon our mem
cries flash back over a generation Just
passing away, when the dark clouds
of war had gathered over the face of
our country. Sectional differences
had arisen which only the arbitra-
ments of war could adjust Many of
our brave sons went to the battle
field, with all its horrors. Some
returned to their homes and to us
many brave boys and stout hearts
went who never returned, except as
they were brought back by charitable
hands of human sympathy and de-
posted in the lowly grave. Some of
them are deposited here. They had
kindly hearts. Your humble speaker
remembers at the early age'of between
two and three, the kind words and
playful associations of soldier boy;
as he came from his older associates,
who had harshly thrust him aside
from then9 saying they did not love
! ,1f<tl, when the soldier boy said, Come
to me, love you," and played horse
with him, which is the delight of
every child. All! many of them were
good and warm hearted boys; they
went but they did not return. Thus
as we come this afternoon bringing
our flowers and wreathing these
graves, may we trust that special
providence is over the soldier boy,
and extended to these silent dead.
This country was in the hands of
brave and good men. AS an indica-
tion of their character and worth.
will oiun inai1ont l.,
young man, not young man, only a
boy sixteen years of age, from Yer
mont, had enlisted A great battle
had been fought; many had been
killed and wounded. A United States
official had gone through the hospi-
tai, visiting the wounded and diving.
speaking rapid words of cheer and
| comfort, at last coming to the very
young man. He was pale, weak and
dying. Can do anything for you,
my boy" asked the strong man.
"Yes," was the whispered reply, will
you write to my MOTHER THAT |
will" was the reply, and he ordered
pen and paper and quickly wrote
down what the boy had to say to his
mother. When done the man said,
Il will post this as soon as | get to
my office. Is there anything else |
can do?" Won't you stay with me?n
said the boy, and the tall man sat
down by the bedside taking the thin
white hand in his and holding it as a
father for two long hours, until the
last struggling breath had been gasp
ed, and the pulse was still, and the
stranger folded the pale hands on the
bosom of the dead, bursting into
tears. Abraham Lincoln walked
from that room to the white house
with his careworn cheeks furrowed
with tears. No wonder such senti
pent escaped his lips-"With malice
toward none and charity for all"
Some of the Grand Army men are
with us to-day; gradually their num-
Der is growing less, and the silent
number is increasing. Another dec
ade will make great changes. May
their stay with us be heightened, and
may their lives be happy and bright.
and may the sun that gives the silver
lining to the cloud, when the last
cloud in this world shall gather about
them, give them an eternal day.
Again the war cloud gathers in our
national sky. Cuba lifts her hands
to us for succor. have no doubt but
that Cuba will be free, but war is
always cruel, and only right aDhen it
IS the execution of eternal Justice.
Many of our boys will go at the call