The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-05-24

Heasia uarters Dept Penn'a
Orders. Grand Army 0f the Republic,
No. I8 S.N. Cor. Finh & Chestnut Sts.


General Heaig uarters Dept Penn'a
Orders. Grand Army 81 the kepu bile,
No. Is. )S.W. Cor. Finh & Chestnut Sts-
fHILADELPKIA. May Is. 1899.
/. The blossoms Of spring time remind
rs that Memorial Day is again At hand
Our Memorial Day is one of sacred mem
Ories and Is 70 be devoted 10 the loyal
dead OF the land; day in which a grate-
fal people pay loving tribute to the men
who died that the Nation might lives
a day set apart by the Grand Army Of the
Republic 70 fittingly commemorate the
glorious deeds OF heroic men who fell de-
Tending one country and one haE.
1t Is our hsliowed duty 10 participate IN
the observance Of the ceremonies Of tho
50th ef May. aud no consideration should
turn Us aside from our sacred obligations.
Let all the comrades mite IN the privi-
leges and duties Of the day; none should
fail to join the column Of those engaged
in loving snd patriotic services to the
memory Of our dead comrades. The
grave Of every cOmrade should be mark
ell with flags and flowers, and not one Of
these mounds should be neglected.
II those not of our organization desire
to join with you bid them welcome.
yet let none but loyal hands touch the
hallowed ground.
Let US all unite in these Offices Of love
to tho memory Of our comrades in arms
whose lives were cnt of by the fratrici-
dal darts OF treason. or having passed
through the fire Of battle and the barbar-
ism Of rebel prisoE-pens, have since join
ed the Grand Army Eneampment in the
shades of the other shore.
When we make our annual pilgrimegs
10 the silent cities Of the dead we will
find many new mounds marking the final
halting places Of comrades who have fall
en- out by the wayslde during the year,
and who are now at rest under the sod
and the dew
The uew-made graves Of soldiers and
sailors rising 50 rapidly IN our cemeteries
admonish rs that we are on the western
slope Of life and that our great organize
ton is last growing smaller in numbers,
aud that many Of our comrades who have
heretofore assisted in doing honor TO the
msmory Of the dead are now in the
ranks Of those who have passed on be-
fore.
Let US continue to keep our patriotic
Memorial Day bright before the Ameri-
can people. LET US so number our days
that We may apply our hearts unto wis
DOM" so that when done with the tolls
aud duties Of this life our names may be
found among those " ho have been faith
ful to the end.
The roll Of the mustered out will con-
tinue to increase until ere long the entirs
membership Of our magnificent order
shall be at rest in the bivOuaes Of the
dead and the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie will live only in history.
''Step by step our ranks are thinning,
One by one they pass away.
Here the loyal blue sre falling.
Yonder fall the vanquished gray
And the solemn bells are tolling
Dust 10 dust and clay 10 clay"
II. As part of our duty it is directed
that Posts attend Divine Service on sun
day. May 2sth, to unite in praise and
Thanksgiving 10 Almighty God for the
many blessings vouchsafed 70 our below
ed country Every church will gladly
welcome you, and arrangements should
be made with the clsrgymen as 10 the SER
mons to be preached and the music TO be
sung on the occasion. The sermon should
be based on the theme ''Oi the results OF
the waT for the Union 10 mankind and
humanity" and the mnsic in addition TO
being devotional should be patriotic.
Every Post must take part in these
church services and 50 Car as practicable
every eomrade should wear the uniform
and badge Of our organization
III. 1t is urged that comrades be de-
tailed to visit the Public Schools on one
or more days Of the week commencing
May 22i, to instruct the boys and girls in
the great lessons Of the War Of the Re-
bellion, and Post Commanders should
impress upon the comrades the grave re-
sponsibility OF this duty because children
are keen critics and scan actions more
than words. Comrades Of the war should
remember that they are the living epis-
ties of patriotism and that they are teach
ing the youth of the land not only by pre-
cep: but by example.
~. In places where there are two or
more Posts division of Memorial Day
work will be arranged for by the Officers
or Committees from each Post acting in
concert.
V. May 20th Is Memorial Day and not
decoration day. Those who use the day
for sports, races. gafnes, etc, apply 10 il
the latter term. The ouly name which
the Grand Army has for il Is Memorial
Day. and it is hoped that the comrades
and their friends. the general public, and
The newspapers throughout the State,
viii on every occasion insist on the only
proper aud authorized name-Memorial
Day.
By command Of Department Com
mander, W. J. Patterson.
CHAs. L. LEIPER,
Assistant Adjutant General.