Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-06-06
MEMORIAL DAY.
HOW 1T WAS OBSERVED IN
ELLSWORTH.
SURVIVORS OF THE G. a. r. PAY Low
ING TRIBUTE TO DEAD COMRADES
DIR. PHILLIPS ADDRESS.

Memorial Day was observed in Els
worth according to time honored custom,
hy VIM. II. II. Rice post. G. A. r. Early
In the morning the various attachments
from the post started on their loving
GRAND to the cemeteries, where flowers
and flags were placed upon the graves OF
comrades who had been mustered out.
At o'clock the post met at Grand
Army hall. and formed in column for the
march to the soldiers monument on
Bridge hill. Miss Mary II. Black, one OF
the patriotic and faithful teachers in Els
worth primary schools, was In the line
with good representation of her school.
Escorted by Monaghan's band, the line
marched to the monument, where the
usual services were held. James r. Par
sons was marshal OF the day. The book
service was read by A. w. Curtis. COM
mander of the post, and prayer was offered
by Rev. George II. Salley, of the Free Bap-
tist church, chaplain OF the day. There
was music by the band.
After the services at the monument, the
line reformed and marched to Hancock
hall for the Memorial Day exercises. The
hall was well filed. At the hall there were
prayer by the chaplain, singing by the
Ellsworth male quartette and music by
the band,
b. b. Whitcomb, a patriotic son OF a
veteran, introduced the orator of the day,
DR.. George A. Phillips, of Ellsworth. DIR.
Phillips address, a. necessary from the
nature Of the day, was historical He did
not confine himself TO mere recital of his
torical fact, however, but took a broad
view OF the progress OF this country
through peace and war as a part OF Gods
grand plan of evolution-the progress
from the lower to the higher. Following
is the address In full:
Gentlemen of the Grand Army:
proud to be your speaker to-day.
Whatever may be ones opinion of the creed
or belief of church. whatever ones con-
yie;ion to the Trinity or the inspiration Of
the bible. whatever judgment one may have as
to the Immaculate conception of Jesus OF
Nazareth. or like questions OF religious faith;
every thoughtful man is driven to one con-
ciusion OF historic truth-that mingled in the
makeup OF all history Is n law that cannot be
gainsayed, that in spite of human will or
up the hill. the law of Almighty God that
presses from the lower to the higher. The
Law Of progress In the human race, in the
animal world. in the world of intellect and the
spirit; evolution. from smaller to greater,
from lower to higher, Is the one great ALSO
Lutte fact of history. And behind it. under 1t
and through II. is an evidsn purpose ~ hose
builder and maker is God
desire, by your lief, al this hour that holds
much within II of solemnlty, to depart
from the usual method Of Memorial ad
dress, and in very imperfect way point out
in evidence of above few Of the mile stones
along the rugged and stormy way. for 80
careful of the race He seems, careless of
the man"
II you take the oldest man you know and
carry back from his childhood only four
other such lives. it puts you back into years
when America vast stretch OF wilder
ness untrodden by the foot OF civilized man.
1t hardly seems possible, 40 rapid has been
the march of events, that five lifetimes carry
us back to where one half the world WAS
unknown. when men questioned the earth's
shape. and almost like ignorance prevailed
on all matters Of ply steal science: when
land bounded by the four oceans lay here in
its darkness. It's solitude. with its unbr"ken
forests. It's vast reaches of fertile deserts.
waiting-wsiting for what9
then the courage and bravery of one man.
the generosity and faith OF woman discov-
cred IL. Later, SO far as our portion of Amer
lea is concerned, came Ponce de Leon in his
search for that fountain OF immortal youth.
This was in 1913 He was disappointed. yet
what fountains immortal he had discovered.
Continued on page 7