The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-31

Our citizens who have raised up the great
structure OF the state have been rewarded 1000
fold. They have enjoyed all the blessings OF
free country. They have gained wealth. power
and fame and transmitted them to their
children. But oh. how different has been the
lot Of our soldiers and sailors. They gave up
all that makes home dear for the privations
and sufferings OF the battlefield, and for what
That the spirit OF liberty might live. That their
fellow man might enjoy the blessings which
they purchased even at the cost Of their lives.
Surely we do but Justice in according them the
first place among all the nations great men.
No nobler feeling animates the breast Of man
than deep, sincere admiration for those who
are truly great Yet strive as We will we can
never adequately reverence them because we are
but finite while the immortal, infinite spirit
which animated them, that spirit for which
they would give up life itself was loyalty to the
eternal principles OF justice which the creator
stamps on every soul at the moment Of Its crea-
ton
We can best honor them as we honor the min
listers OF the gospel by rsverenclng their teach.
ings. Our soldiers made sacrifices OF their lives
on the altar OF their country and we today best
show our devotion by honoring them as saints
OF the nation and registering in our hearts
determination to follow their glorious example
whenever the nation may bo in danger.
WAsHBURN STREET CEMETERY.
The services at Washburn street
cemetery were attended by an unusual
ly large assemblage and were in charge
of 9. Y. Haupt past commander OF
Ezra Griffin post w. ]. Mcdonald,
officer of the day. read the roll-call of
the soldiers inferred IN the cemetery,
which was followed by the customary
salute. Comrade F. Hatten spoke words
Of greeting and Rev. Thomas de
Gruchy. D. D.. pastor OF the Jackson
Street Baptist church. offered prayer.
The choir Of the Plymouth Congre-
gational church sang an anthem, and
the ritualistic service was read by
Comrade Haupt. to which responses
were made by the Sons OF Veterans
detail. A delegation from the Woman's
Relief corps. No. 80. presented flowers
for the graves of the unknown dead,
and Lincoln's famous address deliv-
| cred at Gettysburg was read by Prof.
Howell superintendent OF the city
| schools.
Rev. f. A. Boyl pastor OF Plymouth
| church, delivered the memorial ad-
| dress, in which he spoke, in part, as
| follows:
Grape hangs ON tho natioDa's heart today.
1
men love bravery and patriotism, heads
| bowed, while gentle hands strew garlands Of
| beauty above the ashes Of the bravest men that
have ever stood in history's great drama, the
| champions Of truth and right
| This is day our nation should never let
pass unnoticed. These hands that today perform
| this beautiful service in honor Of our historic
| dead will soon lie beside their former comrades;
| but other hands will be found 10 make up this
| service, and long love Of heroism and
| fidelity shall burn within the heart Of many,
| shall this day be kept sacred to the memory Of
American patriotism and American valor. And
| 1t is fitting that on this day we assemble IA
people and as a nation TO do honor TO those who
| have been such an honor TO uA
| We should honor them because Of their pure,
| dsinterested heroiEm. II Is worse than foolish
ness to think that their services were given Tor
| money consider alton only.
| We should honor them for what they accom-
| plished. They made the United States great
nation They saved tho Union, and made this
| nation instead Of a string OF towns They gave
! on impetus 70 manhood that should DO the future
| defense OF American freedom.
The assemblage sang in unison MY
| Country IT'S of Thee" and after the
benediction farewell salute was fired,
taps were sounded and the bugler's
call was heard. Tho committee which
afterwards decorated the graves were
Comrades w. F. Albro. w. S. Jones,
II. H. Allen, David Jones, d. w.
Thompson. Hiram Sayers and Perry
| Fuller.
| OTHER CEMETERIES.
| Petersburg also had a parade of the
local societies preceding the exercises
at the cemetery, Grand Army men.
Sons OF Veterans, school children.
Knights OF the Golden Eagle partici-
| pated. COmrade r. o. Bryant had
charge OF the exercises and the ad-
dress was delivered by Rev. ]. w,
Randolph, Of ST. Peters Lutheran
| church.
At the Pittston Avenue cemetery the
exercises were under the direction OF
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