Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-05
VACANT CHAIRS DRAPED
Memorial servioeaUnder Auspices of Union
VeteranLegion.
Addresses by COL Butler Fitch and
Rev. DIR. ID. y. Stafford, Respec-
tively-Musioal Features.

Memorial services were held last even
Ing at Carroll Institute Hall by Encamp-
ment No. 90, Union Veteran Legion, in
tribute to the comrades who died since the
previous annual meeting, May 20, 1895
These were Paul Brodie, Adam Fischer,
John /. Thompson, William Blasland,
Charles Gulager. Ransom G. Ball, George
H. Robertson, Thomas c. Fletcher, George
l. dbble and James d. Compton.
For each of those named there was
placed chair on the stage, which was
draped in black and which remained va
cant during the exercises. There was also
upon the same platform a vacant chair
dedicated to the patriotic women, the SIS
tiers of Charity and Sisters of Mercy of the
civil war, each of which was at a proper
time during the services crowned with
laurel wreath. Those dedicated to the de-
ceased comrades were crowned by Lieu
tenant Colonel G. A. Lyon and That to
the women by Major c. D. Stephens.
The meeting was presided over by Colo
mel H. d. Horton. The exercises were be-
gun with the sounding of the assembly
by a bugler. The choir of st. PatrickS
Church rendered the anthem, Holy God.
We Praise Thy Name" following which
the formal opening ceremony, according
to the ritual, was read by the officers Of
the encampment.
MIS- Mariana Mama sang DIS SoIo,
Nearer, My God to Thee" at the con-
cluson of which the object of the assem-
bly, was stated by Colonel Norton. The
singing of Rest for the Weary by Mr..
b. A. Ryan, was preceded with prayer OIL
fered by Chaplain W. H. Womersley.
Adjutant o. E! Caruana called the ron
of honor and after a brief history OF each
comrade was read response was peaIen
on a muffied drum, ''Tenting on the Ola
Camp Ground" was sung by Mrs. Mariana
Maino, the st. Patrick's choir rendering
the chorus.
The memorial address was made by Past
Colonel Butler Fitch He recalled to the
veterans present that they had endured
great hardships in fighting for the Omon,
and that now looking back over a genera
ton the veteran beholds grand reunited
nation The veterans of the civil war, ne
said, ought to be the foremost men of the
nation They never faHered In their duty
and were entitled to all that was PROMISED
them when they enlisted in the service oi
the Union. He urged them to stand TO-
gether; to exalt each other, and let the
light of patriotism continue to burn until
their latest breath.
DIR. StaffOrd's Address.
The principal address was by Rev Or.
D. j. Stafford, who, in part, said: Il have
never assisted at a ceremony SO absolutely
touching the this evening
1t was, he continued, great privilege
for a man to take part in the making Of
history, and whatever the veterans had
undergone the preservation of the Union
was worth 1t all. To perpctuate and en-
large the liberty that is synonymous with
America, and to hand it down TO succeeding
generations was worth all the lives and
wounds and tears that 1t cost. He said the
members of the Union Veteran Legion were
among the worlds benefaCtors. He also
paid an eloquent tribute to the women who
gave their husbands, the mothers who gave
their sons and the sisters who gave their
brothers TO the cause of the Union.
The work accomplished by the veterans. he
said, was beyond all computation, and the
good effected would go on and on to the end
of time, and be felt throughout the earth.
The most absolute governments in the
world have been compelled to acknowledge
that there is one nation that comedies to
every man the inalienabe rights of life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness, and it is
not eXaggeratng history to say that the
United States liberated the world.
Going back to incidents connected with
the formation of the Constitution of the
United States, he said the wiseacres of
those days in Europe predicted that the
government of the United States would
not last more than a quarter of a century:
that it would fall to pieces of its own
weight; that the document was a mass Of
contradictions.
But when our country went on growing
until we embraced a continent countries Of
Europe have been compelled to concede
that providence prepared America as a
posed 1t.
A Necessary Sacrifice.
Referring again to the civil war. he said
much as We may regret the scenes Of those
times it was necessary that the nation
should pass through that trial, in order that
the Union might be perpetuated forever
and forever and forever. The future will
bless the men who fought for the Union,
he said. as We do now. He spoke of the
"A merlcan flag as the symbol OF everything
That was beautiful. Cherish the memories
OF your conn ades,' he said and use their
examples in teaching your children how. if
necessary, to die for their country"
Inc speaker did not wish. he said, to
Cnderrate the accomplishments of the army
during the recent war with Spain but when
he read of what was done by the Union
soldiers during the civil war the record
took his breath away. No better soldiers
ever lived than those who fought the bat
ties of the Union in the years of 1861 to 1865.
At the conclusion of DR.. Stafford's ad-
dress, which was frequently interrupted by
applause the choir sang Praise Ye the
Lord The benediction was pronounced by
DR.. Stafford and the audience dismissed by
the sounding of taps" by q bugler.
The Officers.
The officers for the occasion were: Colonel
H. d. Norton; lieutenant colonel G. A.
Lyon. major; c. d. Stephens. Chaplain W.
H. Womersley; officer Of the day, L. H
Wilcox; surgeon, Bernard Wagner; quarter
master. N. II. Merrill past colonel Butler
Fitch; adjutant, o. E. Caruana; officer of
the guard w. z. Stedman; sergeant major,
r. w. A. Vida; quartermaSter sergeant
E. B. Thompson; color sergeant, A. o. Girls
void, and sentinel, A. p. McElroy The
music was in charge Of Mr. Mariana Mama,
with Mr.. A. Gumprecht as accompanst on
the piano.
Have Won seen Cleveland Parkp-Advt