Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-09
MAINE MEMORIAL SERVICE
Held Last Evening at the First
Baptist Church.

Patriotic Addresses of Pleasing
| Character Delivered by the Pas
tor, Rev. NJ w. Buck, Prof. F. Il.
| Crago, E. Q. Ogden, and Col.
! Robert White Some Excellent
| Patriotic Music Rendered. The
| Church Beautifully Decorated in
| the National sColors and a Large
| and Enthusiastic Congregation
! Present.
The patriotic spirit Of the Ameri-
can people was manifested in high
| degree at the Maine memorial service
J held last evening at the First Baptist
| church, under the conduct Of the pas
| tor, Rev Martin w Buck.
| The service was attended by a lara
| and enthusiastic congregation, and III,
| various patriotic addresses delivered
| BY Prof. f. H Crago, representing the
| G. A. r.; H. c. Ogden, representing
| the press, Colonel Robert White
! and Rev. Mr. Buck were listened to
with interest. The interior Of the
| church had been very ~tastefully
| decorated with the national colOrs for
| the occasion and presented quite an
| admirable appearance. Small Ameri-
| can flags were crossed at the plnnacles
| of every pillar supporting the gallery
| on each side, and a large American
! flag was displayed beneath red. White
! and blue streamers.
| The service opened with the fol-
lowing programme: Organ voluntary;
| invocation; singing Of hymn no. ];
reading OF Scripture lesson, Kings,
| 1:17-27, psalm so; anthem by the
choir; prayer; singing Of hymn No.
| 692
Rev. Buck then addressed the con-
| gregaticn announcing that the ser
| vice was intended to foster the true
! spirit of patriotism, but not to foster
| the war spirit, as might be wrongly
believed by the people. He further
| stated that the object Of the service
was the raising Of funds for the erec-
ton Of monument to the memory Of
| the heroes of the Maine. He also read
| 4 letter which he had received during
| the week from the National Monument
| Committee asking that q day be set
apart in his church for commemorate
| ing the heroism Of the Maine sailors
and further asking that the offerings
| at the service be kindly donated to
| the national fund for the erection OF
! q monument to their memory.
| Prof Crago was then introduced to
! the con gregation by Rev. Buck. Mr.
| Craso began by describing the beau
| tiful scene that presented in Havana
| horbor just previous to the destruc-
| ticn OF ne Maine, how, among
| great number OF Spanish ships at
| port reposing in peace, was one OF
| Americas finest second class battle
| ships ON a friendly mission and IN a
| friendly harbor He told Of how the
| many sailors and officers were each
| occupying their time in filing their
| duties, thoughtless Of the awful event
| to follow. Mr.. Crago then gave d
| brief description of the explosion and
! its attending scenes. remarking that 1t
! was indeed sweet to die for ones coun-
| ary. Continuing Mr.. CragO said: 1t
| is not for me to say who was response
! bic for the Names destruction, but
| from what investigation has found
! the responsibility rests upon Spain.
! Such meeting as this | very heartily
endorse, and they should be the means
| of creating an unselash spirit Of pa
| triotism, for | believe in thinking that
| your country cannot but choose the
( proner course | am for My country,
/ wrong or right, my country" Mr.
! Crago spoke of the enthusiasm dis
4 played among the members Of the q.
! A. r. in the present war. at the same
| time expressing regret that there Will
come a. time when these men who so
( braveiy fought for their country in
the past will be no more.
He also dwelt upon the glo-
rious fact that those who in the
late war fought so strongly against
each other, now stand united to de-
/ fend the flag. Mr.. Crago concluded
! his very pleasing address by re-
marking that the country, just as 1t
| has grown since its birth will continue
TO grow, and at the end Of two hum
dred years of its age, will stand as 1t
(, stood On the day of its hundredtn an
niversary-one nation Of an united
/ people, with one language, and with
| the glorious Stars and Stripes still
| floating over the land Of the free and
| the home OF the brave.
| Nearer My God To Thee was then
sung by a male quartette. II was
! pleasingly rendered.
| H. G. Ogden was next called
upon and introduced. Mr. Ogden re-
( spending, said: Loyal hearts have
been quick to respond to the call,
Remember the Maine" 1t is unvers-
ally conceded that the nation that is
not worth dying for is not worth liv-
/ ing for. Mr. Ogden believed that the
destruction Of the Maine has set in
motion forces whose effects will be
! felt in years to come. He then recited
| incidents OF the late rebellion and
1 gave a brief account of the battle OF
Gettysburg-the turning point Of that
| civil strife-adding that the men who
| died in that battle, just as those who
met death on the battleship Maine,
| died for their country and died glori-
| ously In speaking Of the Cuban war,
! Mr.. Ogden said that the Cuban war
! has brought man TO the recognition OF
| tyranny. The destruction of the Maine
| and the present war will cause a
1 Great chance in orr history We lead