Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-05-31
THE MEMORIAL EXERCISES.
Sunday and Yesterday. Many People
in Attendance.

Last Sunday the members of the G. A.
r. post and of the W. r. G. of this city
together with many other citizens at
tended the Catholic church upon in
vitation of the priest, Father LOTUS.
The church was crowded to it's utmost
capacity. Beautiful and patriotic music
was rendered. After the emblematical
services of the church had been gone
through with Father LOTUS delivered
short but eloquent and patriotic address
appropriate to the occasion. He con
sidered it an honor that so many sur
vivors Of the Union army should attend
their church and on behalf Of his con
gregation he thanked them and
the other citizens for their presence.
He spoke of thegreat sacrifices
Of t he Union soldiers, t h cir
great achievements and h Q debt
of gratitude we owe them. He alluded
to how professionals and catholics alike
joined together in patriotic defense OF
their country. The address showed the
speakers love Of country and admiration
for its defenders. Resolutions were
afterwards adopted by the post thank
ing the Catholic people for their kind
treatment aud for their appropriate ser
vices in honor of the occasion. Such
mingling of the people is surely proper
and right and helps to break barriers of
prejudice and create more friendships.
Yesterday the program was carried
out about as published. The day was
pleasant and the crowds large. Nearly
| fifty old soldier were in the procession
besides few soldiers of the Spanish
war. Phillips band led the parade. At
two o'clock the commodious Presbyter-
ian church was packed full OF people.
| The chorus of voices with the great
tones of the pipe organ rendered beauti-
full music. The Grafton Of Rev. Il. j.
| O'Connor was eloquent, patriotic and
entertaining. We would be pleased to
quote more fully from it but lack of
space prevents us. He said in part:
What do we owe to the soldiers of the Union?
verything-undere Goo, everything. Intel
lectual and moral enlightenment, comfort peace,
happiness, prosperity, grandeur r and glory or
be wondered at then that 0nstead of diminish
ing as the years roll by aid the survivors OF the
Union army are fast passing away, the asSocia-
tiOns of Memorial Day are becoming more and
more sacred ?S;Is IL surprising that the veterans
who still live are being loved, respected and
honOred more and more as we reflect upon what
they helped to accomplish? Is it astonishing
that the Nation today should drop the tear OF
affection on the graves of the "brave who are no
more" and Strew above their m0uldered bodies
the fragrant emblems of undying love?
No! Ten thousand times. No!
Perhaps there's no man living today for whom
have greater respect and love than he whom
God has placed in the presidential chair. NOT
because he Is preSdent-nOt simply because ne
has during the past three years safely guided
the Ship of State through the perll0us watersot
national and international troubles, to the
haven of peace and prosperity. Not either
because he is the chief representative OF the
political principles on which / have 50 firmly
placed my faith for our cOuntry's Industrial ana
them, because he is an ''oldsodier." Yet do not
consider that he, as soldier, Is deserving OF any
more praise or honor than those who live here
in your own town and who have the privilege Of
calling their President "c0mrade."
The speaker alluded eloquently to the
Spansh-Amercan war, scathingly de-
nounced the copperheads OF the past
two years, praised our action as nation
in it's work in Cuba and the Philippines,
honored our soldier boys of 98 and '99
and closed with a tribute to America.
At the cemetery the rituatistic work
of the G. A. Il. was carried out. Twenty
five boys from the schools who were
nicely drilled carried garlands and deco
rated the twenty five soldiers graves in
our cemeteries. Four young ladies,
Clara Roberts, Nettie Pearson, Mamie
MichaIes and Marie Nef together re-
cited Lincoln's Gettysburg address.
The Rev. Hinkhouse delivered a short
but appropriate address at the monu-
ment, speaking principally concerning
the unknown dead. The exercises were
impressive and appropriate.