Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-06-02
Memorial Day Observance.

that our people have unabated inter-
est in the occasion. When commu-
mites devote themselves to listening
to exercises necessarily much the
same in character from year to year,
there can be no doubt of their being
in harmany with the sentiments
sought to be expressed.
Beginning with exercises in the
schools on Friday afternoon, con-
tinuing through the services at the
Episcopal church on Sunday. and
concluding with the full program at
the city park on Monday, the Mem
orial occasion was fittingly and ap-
propriately observed in this city.
| In the schools there were singing,
recitations and readings by the pu-
| pills, under the direction of the teach
ers, and short talks by some of the
soldier visitors. Sunday Rev. NJ.
| Chase gave an excellent sermon, a
synopsis of which is herewith. About
fifty comrades and as many ladies of
the Relief Corps MARCHED in pro-
cession to and from the church.
The Memorial day program, be-
sides decorating soldiers graves in
the various cemeteries with flowers
and flags; and procession of school
children and the q. A. r. Post led
by the Mineral Point band, from the
city hall to the park, was about as
| follows:
G. A. II. memorial services by the
Post. Poem by Mrs. VIM. Martin,
Recitation by little Miss Temper
ance Knight, Calling Roll of the
Dead, Vocal and instrumental music
and an address by Rev. p. :. Mather
There was no attempt to make the
celebration conspicuous above Others
but as demonstration that the day
has come TO have permanent and
cherished place in the American
heart it was highly successful. A
new feature that won much COM
mendation was the serving of a sub
stantial lunch to eX. X.soldiers and
their families from out of town at
the Post hall. Following is synop-
sis of the Memorial sermon delivered
by Rev. M. Chase, on Sunday:
inspirations of Life was the
general idea of the sermon, as eXem-
plified in what makes nations great
In part he said:
SIN this age of materialism, there
may be a tendency to put our trust in
chariots and horses. Battle ships
monitors. and cruisers may be reckon
ed as the strength of nation.
1--WE would ask, what are these
withou. men of intelligence a. cour-
age-men inspired by a high sense of
patriotism, and the fear of God? Big
guns are harmless without expert
gunners. Telling shots won the
victory at Manila. The shot fired at
| Concord was heard around the world
because it was inspired by the spirit
| of freedom. 1t was the waves OF
British patriotism more than those of
the sea that submerged the Spanish
Amanda. There must be something
more than numbers to make the people
| great. If not, China would stand at
the head of the list.
Further he said: To-day we wei
come within these walls the Grand
Army of the Republic, and the
| Woman's Relief Corps. Their pres
ence suggests "a look backward.
They represent in measuse, the past,
full of Inspirations. Truly, we are
deeply concerned with practical prob
lens that effect our social and politi-
cal organization. This concern may
make US forget the underlying idea OF
the text. This is why we may say
there are times when the voice of the
eulogist. rather than the reformer,
should be heard. So the dreams OF
Yesterday are sweeter at times than
prophecy of tomorrow. Moved by
such considerations we take refuge
from the heat and confusion of the
present, in the great and beautiful
memories of the past. They help us to
interpret the text.
i, 'It is when we think OF American
citizenship in retrospect that we are
inspired by what has been, and we are
swept out Of the inspiration Of ouI
great cities, railroad systems, anc
magnificent ships, into that of tbs
days of 1861, or l776. Like gigantic
sentinels stand these heroes on the
highway of our greatness. They are
: inspirers of a nobler patriotism thar
that which comes from selfish greed
and spoils Of victory" He spoke a
length on this point, and then passed
on to speak of the text in It's relation
4 to the present, which brought up th'