The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-04

should walk in martial tread behind
the great flag and after martial music.
to the graves Of our fallen heroes. AMI
what wonder that we should place on
them the choicest flowers to keep their
memory green forever?
A PATRIOTIC DUTY.
But, may dearly beloved brethren. no
proclamation demands compliance with
its requirements on to-day, nor does
the Grand Army issue cordial invita-
ton to the public to participate in the
grateful and patriotic exercises of Dec
Grafton Day; nor is our charming coun
try plunged in the horrors of war, nor
yet is she Immediately, triumphantly
emigratins from its deplorable conse-
quences. No; yet for almost similar
purposes are we all assem- bled in this
grand temple of the living God this
beautiful morning
Like true Americans and greater Cal
ifornians, we have flung aside the cares
or office and all temporal interests for
while, to perform and to discharge
sacred, charitable and a patriotic
duty. You have come from the banks
and the counting houses. you have
come from the stores and the work
shops. you have come from every re-
spectacle walk of life TO shed a tear
over the untimely fate of our fellow-cit-
liens. and to manifest to the entire
world that our hearts bleed for our
country in her grief over the appalling
disaster to her gallant battleship.
FELL AT DUTY'S POST.
Richly, my dearly beloved brethren
richly do the victims of the Maine dis
! a. or n h,p 5e-
True, they did not fall in time of war,
but during the golden reign of peace;
but. to paraphrase the eloquent Ian
guage of our distinguished, our respect
ed and honored Senator from Califor-
mia, Senator George C. Perkins. they
went to their death at the post of duty
and in the service of their country. and
they We're ready to risk their lives and
their limbs for the protection of the
star-spangIed banner. Therefore. to
conclude with Senator Perkins:
Whether in peace, or whether in war,
they died as heroes"
In consequence, then, justly entitled
are they to the charity, to the sympa-
thy, to the gratitude of every individ-
ual enjoying the privileges of our in
comparable Constitution and the pro-
lection of that, the grandest flag be-
meath the skies. We are here, too. to
remember that. the death of those war
riors left others weeping and wailing,
and perhaps in want We know that. by
their death, their wives and their little
children We're bereft of their husbands
and fathers. and they have a claim on
our sympathy. and to them does our
symPathy-yea and our consideration,
If need be-go forth from our hearts
And we are here, too, for the last and
perhaps the grandest purpose of ALL
We are here to do. in the grand Ca
thedrai of Sacramento. for the victims
Of the Maine, what was done for them
on last Wednesday morning in the Ca
thedral of Baltimore. You have come
here to unite with the priest in Offering
up the fruits of the tremendous sacri-
flee Of Calvary for the repose of their
souls
There is, my dearly beloved brethren.
a doctrine among the beautiful doc
trines of the Catholic Church which is
most consoling to the Catholic and to
the Christian mind. 1t is the Catholic
doctrine of purgatory, which it is not
necessary to explain now. Suffice il
to say that it is a place where some
souls are detained before being ad-
mitted into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now, by another beautiful doctrine of
the Catholic Church, called the Com
munion of Saints there is that COM
merce of spiritual membership and re-
lationship which exists between the
members of the Church of Christ. which
consists of three parasitic church tr-
umphant in Heaven, the church suffer
ing in purgatory, and the church mill
tant on earth.
By virtue Of that glorious and con-
soling doctrine. it is in our power to
help ourselves when living. it is in our
power to extend a little aid beyond the
grave-nay. that we may reach our
suffering brothers. throw open the
doors of their prison, throw the gates of
Heaven aiar. and allow them to pass
into the Heavenly City In consistence.
then, with that doctrine. we are here
today Offering up the grandest act
that can he performed-the adorable
sacrifice of the altar-for the repose of
the souls of the victims of the Maine
disaster.
Say one little prayer from your heart
for them. for the Holy Ghost tells YOU
that it is holy and wholesome duty
to pray for the dead. that they may
be loosed from their sins.
Father Walsh's remarks We're listened
to with the deepest attention and evil
IDENTIFY made a deep impression on his
hearers.
AT HALFMAST
The Ladies Of the Grand Army had
their flag at half-mast yesterday in the
Memorial Grove at the State Capitol
Park in commemoration of the services
at the Cathedral