Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-28

pervades all nature and which We call
God. From the earliest ages mankind
has lOnged for and believed in immor-
tality. From the very dawn OF human
ity that faith has manifested itself in
alteration and worship Of a Supreme
Being. The Grand Army Of the Re
public invites all without distinction
Of race or creed, one day in the year.
to unite in the worship ana alteration
Of the God Of all mankind our lips
may utter no sound. our voices may be
silent, but in our hearts all may join
while the Abnaki quartet renders
Nearer My God to Thee"
The Abnaki Quartet J. Frank Dyer,
r. +. Purinton. J. ". Beck ana II. p.
Lowell, with Miss Myrick as accom-
PIANIST. was never heard to better adj
vantage.
When the Invocation had been said
by Rev. c. A. Hayden. the Abnaki
Quartet was again heard in the Clio
ria" and again in "Tenting Tonight"
after the Scripture reading by Rev. +.
+. NeWbert. The prayer was offered
by Rev. J. NJ. Wyman. which was re-
sponded to by the quartet, with Rock
of Ages"
The address by Rev. Everett Lesher
was delivered in a very forceful man
ner, and created strong impression
and many words of praise. Rev. Mr..
Leshcr said:
The day that is fast closing upon us is
a significant one to the American people.
il comes forth from al the days of the
year with its tender memories, its lessons
Of patriotism ana its devotion to noble
m hat
ter citizens. The Organization. in whose
honor we meet. has done much to cher
ish the spirit ~ 4 noble patriotism. %
not mean To cherish the spirit Of war.
We DO not meet to tell the GioricS Of war
for war in itself has no glory. The glo-
RIGS Of true patriotism are very great. "A
man can hc 4 patriot ana not b. war
rior. If he is a patriot il may be neccs-
sary for him at times 70 ~ warrior.
We honor. tonight. an institution that
took itS rise out Of the Civil War but VIC
40 not honor 4 Wdr-likc institution. Just
- years ago, May y ana ~, the idea M
forming such an association as the Grand
Army Of the Republic found expression.
1t was at the time Of the grand review
held in Washington at the close Of the
war. During That magnificent parade
that BROUGHT together soldiers from the
East ana the West. Chaplain kutlcdgt
ana Surgeon Stephenson conceived the
idea of having all the veterans who had
lived together IN camp. suffered the same
hardship and shared in The same love
l'I Nun. anu 1'''ii! I,|tt -, kt
nal. national aSSoclation. Bolh men pc
lorgcd To the 18th Illinois Infantry. ON
April e. 1861. stephenson mustered me
first post in Decatur, III. ana tI9S th'
Grand Army of the Republic WAlch re
COgnizcs in its constitution the principles
and rules which should govern every
earnest patriot and Christian citizen IN
the PERFORMANCE of duty, vas launched
ug9n the br4ad:se.t OF Ane.lehA IliS r,
The q. \. Il. IS not pohtlcai ctup. -
is not merely a military organization. II
is meant to be a patriotic 4Ssocia tlon
having for il 2bjeGt ne lu!iIllmeht -
1t is to honor such an institution we
meet tonight, !ve believe n the natrioit /,
i'm FIR which i stanaS- tb W. c Whd riIn
patriotic rrInemnramre ~, t' T5ion 40 HI the
progress and prosperity q nm nouniIlry;i
lies hidden in the spirit tnll lnnctc'l