Evening star., 1898-05-30
At ST. ELIZABETH.

nOiittS, No ID I1eIIS w liSoA, -NO. II, dhO
Geo. L. Morris. No. -.
At ST. ELIZABETH.
Influences of the Past the Present
Pointed Out by the Orators.
The Memorial day exercises at St. Eliza
beth Asylum were held under the auspices
of John A Logan Post, No. Is. G. A. R..
and its auxiliary the Woman's Relief
Corps No. 4 both Anacostia organizations,
which have been in charge of the me-
mortal services at st. Elizabeth each re-
CURING Memorial day for the past several
years. The members of the post assembled
at Masonic Hall, Anacostia, and. escorted
by the st. Elizabeth Home Band OF fifteen
pieces under the leadership of Prof. Jerome
Anderson of Washington, marched down
jackson street, and then up Monroe street
and Nichols avenue. to the enti iance OF the
asylum grounds. Here a body of inmate
veterans of the institution were in readL
ness to receive them and the column moved
to Poplar Spring, shady retreat over
which tower many tall poplarS and some
large oaks where the exercises were held.
The light stand. which had been construct
ed for the speakers, visitors and singers.
was literally decorated with flags and bunt-
irg. The St Elizabeth Band was stationed
near by the stand. Before the ceremonies
began a committee Of ladies from the w.
r c.. No. :. assisted by decoration COM
Ulttee OF tne idueS OF St. fSi-ZdDtlu, ueChSl
the graves Of the insane soldier dead in the
hospital cemetery among the hills outside
the institution. The graves in the long un-
used burial plat near Poplar Spring were
likewise remembered. DIR. W. w. Goddng.
superintendent of st. Elizabeth and the
staff of physicians occupied seats on the
stand. The school children of Anacosta
were present The inmates. male and fe-
male. were seated under the care of their
attendants. Only a limited number were
present The assembly was sounded short
ly after III o'clock. Commander j. f. Snow
of Logan Post No. IT, called the gathering
to order. Chaplain Alpheus Dawson Of
fered eloquent prayer.
In his appeal to the ruler of all the chap
lain said
Thou hast told us in Thy holy word that
Israel should carry blessings to all the ma
tions of the world. and should push them to
the ends of the earth In the spirit of hu-
manty. without desire for conquest, this
nation has been led to endeavor to lift the
yoke Of cruel oppression and tyranny from
the neck of a down-trodden people. We
believe this is Thy will. and humpy we
ask Thy guidance and blessing upon our
efforts: ami may these efforts result not
only in giving the down-trodden ones lib
erty and happiness in this life. but may
they result in the spread and free access
of Thy Holy Word to the minds of the
people Of those benighted Islands, leading
them TO a true knowledge of Thee and the
way of salvation, which Thou hast pro-
Vided for all who will come unto Thee
through faith in Thy dear Son. who was our
prophet. is now our priest and shall be our
redeemer and king eternal"
The St. Elizabeth choir then rendered
The Star Spangled Banner accompanied
by the St Elizabeth Band.
commander J. L. Snow.
Commander ]. E. Snow next delivered the
opening address in which he said among
other eloquent things:
1T is not my purpose on this occasion to
enter into extended remarks the
causes which led to the late civil war.
Enough Of this has been written and said
TO fully establish the supreme right and
justice that prompted those brave boys In
the east, north and west, yes, and those
equally brave men and youths even in the
south. who eSpoused the cause of truth ius-
tice and right to the honorable position
they held. and to sacred place in the
hearts of the entire nation.
This being true, what more fitting tribute
could grateful nation offer than the beau
tiful ceremonies which we from year 10
year are wont to have, and in the beautiful
floral tributes placed upon the graves OF
our dead heroes? Surely 1t is little that We
do: surely the task is as nothing when we
take into account what they did for US and
for the nation. yes. and for the world. for
who will dare to picture for a moment
what the result would have been had the
sacrifice not been made"
Tie orator appealed to the youth of the
land to keep up the Memorial day exer-
cises
Continuing. he said:
History. II is said. repeats itself War
with ali its horrors is upon us. and today
while W" strew flowers upon the graves OF
the heroes who went forth so bravely in
the struggle from 81 to %. how naturally
cur minds are continually harassed by the
phantom cortc3e of the funeral train bea r
ing TO US our loved ones who have and
shall fall in the present war.
Today the same scenes are being en-.
acted all over our land that are still sc
IN hWry
the mothers. wives. sisters and sweetheart.
OF today fiji the land as did our mothers
wives, sisters and sweethearts thirty-fiys
years ago This alone will of necessit,
have its influence upon the exercises Of to
day all over our great country, and hun
dreds and thousands all over this land
while participating in the exercises of tn.
day as usual, cannot refrain from thinkins
OF what news may be brought to then
from their loved one any hour dav O.
night SO. | say, that over this entire land
from the lakes of the north TO the gulf or
the south. and from ocean to ocean tn,
exercises OF this day. which are always sol
einn, VIII have deeper shade of sadness
than ever before.
Shall II teach us all a lesson az repar.
cur feelings and conduct toward those who
nncn clNii war was upon us. went bravel,
iGith i IN the defense of the right? II so
tile iSSs"h VIII not De entirely lost"
Rev. Charles o. I.aac.
The band played "Old Glory" CAorg
Keilthey Of William Gushing Camp sons .
veterans. read President Lincoln's C;ettvs
burg address. Columbia. the Gem of tn
Ocean. was next rendered by the band
Rev. Charles o. Isac pastor Of the Ana
costa NJ E. Church then delivered IN
oration OF the day. He spoke in part a
follows: =
I'VE meet today under peculiar condi
tions. After thirty-three years of peace w
stand face to face with grim visaged wal
War at best Is demoraiizing. cruel. destruc
tive end to be deplored. 1t engenders Bit
terness. drains treasures. sacrifices live
ard desolates homes: these and a thousan
evils follow In Its train. While all this
true. yet. as one has said. there are wors
things than war. there are greater thing
than money. and. we may add, there ar
desrer things than life. there are strange
things than death. War should, however