The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-16
A FAREWELL SERVICE.
Every Inch of Room ruled by an Enthu-
siastic Audience.

In it's brief existence, Union opera
house has seen some big crowds and has
held some enthusiastic audiences. but
II never before looked upon such a
throng or attempted To hold such "A
mass of people as on the occasion Of
the farewell service To Troop II. Sd
4. :. volunteer cavalry. The people
filled every inch OF standing room up
stairs and down, and through the sky
lights in the roof boys and men looked
in upon the scene within. 1t was such
"A gathering as Missoula never wit
messed before-grief mingled with
pride and tears followed by hopeful
smiles and ~glances of admiration for
the brave fellows who are going forth
TO represent Missoula and Western
Montana i'm the fight for liberty. II
was a gathering of which any city
might be proud. and the boys of Troop
ID know now what their city thinks of
them.
Long before the hour appointed for
the service the big hall was filed and
the late arrivals were forced To turn
away. on the stage with the pastors
of the churches were the combined
choirs, who had prepared the music for
the evening. The audience was a little
impatient at the delay. but soon set
tied when the curtain rose. The set
thing down was but temporary, how
ever. Before the service had pro-
crossed very far. the audience was en-
Enthusiastically cheering. At first the
people seemed To think they ought not
To cheer a preacher on Sunday even
ing, but sentiment got the best of them
before long and the pent-up enthu-
siasm burst out in "A cheer that nearly
lifted the roof. The service opened
with "All Hail the Power Of Jesus
Name" by the choirs, after which Rev.
Walter Have paal tn. tin,t .l..y.. .
the Book Of Joshua" Rev. q. &.
Clark followed i'm an eloquent prayer
Tor the welfare of the OF the
troop and for the success of the cause
for which they battle. The choir then
sang Onward Christian Soldiers"
Rev. ]. c. h. Stivers, pastor Of the
Christian church. delivered the sermon
of the evening, taking for his text a
part of the 18th verse of the 18th chap
ter of First Corinthians. Quit YOU
like men His brief sermon was eln-
quent and fun of interest. In part he
said:
You are under orders from the great
leader Of all, N these orders have
been issued in "A cause that we believe
Is Just. This is the essence Of the or
ders, that YOU quit yourselves like
men,. In the idea of m%anliness there
are embodied many thoughts. There
is the un~seifshness that YOU show i'm
leaNing home for the battle. There is
the loyalty Ia the country that YOU
have manifested. There is the pride
that You must take I'm your ountry
in your flag. in your state. in your reri-
ment and in your company. Try To
make your company the best Of all.
Make it's average the highest. Then.
there is the bravery tina must he "A
part Of every soldier and every man.
Beyond the death that may follow the
exercise of this bravery is the free
dom OF the oppressed people. i'm whose
cause you have taken up arms. Re
true 20 your flag. 1t means much To
you and To me. IL speaks of liberty
OF freedom and Of intelligence. Ii has
often been baptised i'm blood. and there
may he other baptisms before il. But
from each baptism in the past IL has
come out brighter and brighter | hope
the time will come when this flag viii
float from the top Of every school house
in the land"
Here the speaker paused. and the
whole audience Joined with the choir
mid great applause in singing The
star SpanSled Banner" Continuing.
Mr.. Stivers said
There is one thing more that I want
10 say 10 you; bear i'm mind that the
true soldier is always a gentleman. al
ways ana under all circumstances. Bear
IN mind. too. that the highest type of
manhood and OF the true gentleman is
found In the life of Jesus Christ. And
now. may God bless YOU. and may you
all acquit yourselves like men"
The choir sang America" and Rev.
j. j. McAllister followed in brief re-
marks. that were punctuated with The
loudest and most enthusiastic applause.
He said in part.
Greater love hath no man than this.
that he lay down his life for his friends.
This was said at the beginning Of the
era that has witnessed the birth Of lib
erty. In the early struggle Of our own