The Somerset reporter., 1899-06-01
VETERANS MEMORIAL.
Sunday Service in Bethany
Church.
Memorial Exercises In Coburn Hall and
Decoration of Graves, Tuesday.

The variation from program was the
decoration of the graves in the North
cemetery by the Post instead of by detail
of members.
Memorial Sunday was observed by
services in Bethany Baptist Church at
O'Clock in the afternoon with sermon
by the pastor, Rev. DR.. w. H. Spencer,
with music by n volunteer choir, made
up largely of attendants at that church,
accompanied by Mrs. C. NJ. Lambert,
organist.
The sermon was from the text, "A
good soldier of Jesus Christ" part of
Timothy -, and was an analytic com
parison of the soldier in the service Of
his country and a soldier of Christ. The
discourse WAS an able one and the SER
vice impressive.
Because of the storm of the forenoon
and the threatening condition in the
| afternoon the attendance of veterans and
OF the relief corps was not as large as
| usual but the audience filled the audito-
nun anu bfti hp"No iubO liiS NiihPNl ott-
joining. Wildes Camp Sons of Veterans
was well represented, better than usual,
heretofore, on such occasions. At the
close of the service Russell Post re-
TUNED to G. A. X. hall, and, upon mo-
tion of Gen. Isaac Dyer, the thanks of
| the Post was extended to DIR. Spencer
for his able and interesting sermon.
MEMORIAL DAY.
Following WAS the order of exercises
in Coburn Hall, Nathan Fowler, Post
Commander, presiding;
Music By Band.
Reading of Orders,..... Adjutant II j. Varney
Words of Welcome. Commander Fowler
Singing. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .Quartette
Invocation, on,...................Rev. r. II. Adams
Singing, .Quartette
Memorial Address, ,..........Rev j w. Webster
| Singing, "America, "..................A Audience
Benediction, n,............... Rev. H. W. Kimball
The quartette that furnished the vocal
music for the occasion was made up of
Mrs. + c. Dunton, Mrs. d. F. Judkins,
j. n. Smith and Elmer Harris; Miss
| Oiulo ''ohiucs dSSoiiPhhlot' liC SNlCI-
tions, "Let Them Rest" and The Ma
tion's Dead" were rendered with excel
| lent effect.
Rev. j. w. Webster, the orator of the
day, has war record of which he may
| well be proud. He enlisted in 1862 June in
Co. +, 10th Maine volunteers, at Is years
of age, served three years. taking part
| in seven of the great battles of the war
was captured at the battle of Weldon
r ,iroad, Aug. Is, 1864, and was in a
rebel prison until the war closed. He
entered the regular army in 1867 and
served three years on the frontier in
Indian warfare as sergeant in Co. X,
14th L. 5. Infantry.
Following is a brief abstract of his
able and interesting address:
We meet as citiz ms of a great and
powerful nation. We have a magnifi.
cent but varied history. Our purpose is
to commemorate what has been termed
| the "Heroc age in our country's his
tory.
We have two objects in view, to honor
our patriot dead, and to inculcate les
sons Of patriotism In the hearts of the
living. This is day of sad memories
and of proud recollections. To the living
soldier of the Union it is the day of
days. The occasion is more eloquent
than words. From the graves where
sleep 400, 900 brave men, there comes to
US mute appeal. We do well to let
these silent orators address us, and to
heed well the lessons they impart.
The theme naturally suggested to US
is the American soldier his sacrifice
and suffering in "A common cause. War
fills large place in the annals of the
past. Many of the old wars were for
revenge, ambition or conquest. With
all our national mistakes and sins, our
battles have been fought to relieve the
oppressed and TO advance the interests
of justice and liberty.
Here the speaker referred to the revo-
lutionary war and some of the causes
which led up to the Civil war. The fir
ing upon our flag by those who ought to
have been its defenders. The call for
10, 900 troops, and the noble response by
the young men of the loyal States. One
of the grandest sights in human history,
the very pathos of patriotism.
For four weary years, he said, the sad
event of Civil war stabbed and crushed
and desolated our common country,
until it seemed that into the grave of a
common sepulcher all our hopes would
be buried. The end came at length,
liberty and union trumphed. the last
stain upon our eountry's honor was
washed out in blood and America proud
y marched to the front as the "land of
the free and the home of the brave"
Thirty.four years have passed since
then, years of advancement and mar
velous prosperity. We are great ma
|tlon, but we owe our grandeur, in no
small measure, to those who poured out
their life's blood on the fielus of war.
Ii is mete tins nation should pause to
honor its sleeping benefactors.
Never in the worlds history was there
a grander or more intelligent army mar
shalled for battle than was the army of
lS6l-5. This is true Of the officers and
leaders, is also true of the rank and file,
"the men behind the guns They were
meu whose eonseiences throbhed in their
bayOnets, and whose hearts flashed pa.
triotism with every flash of their rifles.
Some would rob them of their hard earn
ed laurels. Persons who would do this
are not worthy to live beneath the pro-
tecting folds of the flag they, by their
ValOr and sacrifice. saved from dishOnOr