Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-26
WITH IMPRESSIVE SERVICES.
ST. John the Baptist Society Celebrates St.
Johns and Memorial Sunday.

| The Augusta St. John the Baptist
| Society celebrated st. Johns day and
| Memorial Sunday. yesterday, in a
| most impressive manner. In the morn
| ing the members attended church and
and decorated the graves of departed
| relatives and friends.
st. Augustine's church was beauti-
| fully decorated with lights and flowers
for the occasion and there was special
| music, an orchestra being the principal
feature. over $50 of the members
turned out for the service in a body.
Rev. FIR. Hamel. after the regular st.
Johns day mass, preached a sermon on
st. John. He spoke of his penance,
having come from the river Jor-
dan and preached the baptism of pen
ance. How the Savior was by him
baptised and the people listened and
became converted. When the Jews saw
his fame they sent an ambassador to
ask him who he was and he ans
Wered: II am neither Christ, a prophet
or lie, but am sent by God to prepare
the way for Him, the lachet of Whose
shoe | am not worthy to unloose" He
dWelt at length of the period of He
rods interest in his teachings and the
scenes which led up to his being put
to death by Herod in fulfillment of the
rash promise.
Father Hamel then showed how st.
John had always done his duty. not
even fearing death and drew the de-
duction that the congregation as men,
bers of the st. John the Baptist Society
II |,
truth and honor their patron. They
should lead a life of virtue so that
they should receive the blessing of God
and be honored by their fellow men.
1t was a very excellent sermon and
was greatly appreciated by the mem
berS of the society. Father Hamel is
greatly Interested in his people and is
doing much to improve their condition
He breaches sound words of advice to
his congregation and such sermons as
the one delivered, Sunday, cannot fail
to leave their influence
The members gathered on Patterson
street at their hall shortly after |
o'clock The Gardiner Band was pres
ent and played "Vive la Canadienne"
1t was very pretty and was greatly ap-
preciated. At 100 the members form
ed in line headed by a detail of police
and the Gardiner Band and marched to
the residence of Father Hamel on
Washington street They marched in
open order and appeared very nice i'm
their chapeaus with the tri-colored
plumes. There We're nearly 200 in line
ana IN the rear We're carriages with
some of the dignitaries.
The line then moved over Northern
Avenue to St Augustines cemetery.
There are no people who honor the
memory of their dead more than the
French and they appeared very devout
as they marched to the cemetery to the
strains of dirge. Father Hamel read
prayers for the dead and made a few
remarks. The graves We're then deco
rated and the procession returned to
St Augustine's church where Father
Hamel again spoke a few words and
pronounced the benedcton.
The society was escorted 10 it's hall
by the band and then dismissed. On
the return from the cemetery the band
played the "Marseilles" and other
French tunes.
At the annual meeting of the society
the following officers were elected:
. Pres, Edmund Doyon: LIST vice pres,
Alfred Patneaude; I'd vice pres, John
Bonneau; rec. sec, c. Bolduc; cor. sec.
Joseph Theberge: treas, A. Casavant;
asst. treas, T. Croteau: fin. Sec Geo
Laplante; asst. sec, E. Lemieux; or
derer commission, Joseph Peltier; asst.
COM. NJ. Pomeleau; directors, p Dan
teuil, p. Poulin, NJ. Binette, Frank Ma
deau, Edward Grondin.