The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-31
N MEMORY OF COMRADES
JUNIOR PIONEERS HOLD IMPRESS
SIVE SERVICE In ARMY
BUILDING
ADDRESS BY JUDGE WILLIS
His Tribute to Departed Members
Was of Unusual EIOquence-
Simple Ritual Serv-

In the presence Of 500 persons, many of
them ladies, the Junior Pioneer associa-
ton held solemn memorial service yes
terday afternoon in the armory, for those
OF their order who have passed away
since it's establishment The services were
not of an elaborate description, but the
simple, solemn ritual was impressive new
ertheless. Two or three fll-timed .-ccempts
at applauding the singn.> - the quar-
tette were at once repreSsed by w. r.
Johnson, who acted as chairman.
The Junior Pioneers first attended the
presentation of the gun carriage to the
city, at the city hall, and then formed
and marched in a body to the armory,
preceded by a platoon of mounted police.
under Lieut.. Budy, and Seibert's Mill
tary band.
AT the hall the ceremonies commenced
with the rendering by the band of two
funereal selections, and the singing by
the quartette of 'Sleep Thy Last Sleep"
Messrs. Gehan, Morrow, Lienau and
Soucheray sang the beautiful song unac-
companied.
Brother w. r. Johnson then outlined
the object Of the gathering, and Impress
ed upon all present the fact that it was
solemn occasion and that expression
of approval by applause was wholly out
of place. Mr.. Gehan sang TFace to
Face" Mr.. T. P. O'Regan recited, and
then after another selection from the
quartette, the Grafton of the day was de-
livered by Brother John w. Willis. Judge
Willis effort was an able one and con-
tanned flights of eloquence that at times
almost moved the audience to applause,
despite the warning given by Mr. John
son. In part he said:
JUDGE WILLIS ADDRESS.
A YadY
grave, to observe or to participate in the
burial of a human form necessarily ex-
pertence profound emotion and are over
Wheimed with solemn, reverent and i'm
with startling reality, the greatest of ali
mysteries presented to the consciousness
or mankind; and this mystery we call
death. All that we can know of death
probe and explore, study and ponder as
we may, is simply this: The force which
once gave motion, sensibility and speech
to the inanfmate form waiting consign-
ment to the tomb has departed, and
naught remains, save the material struc-
ture wherein that force once held sway
Although death is a mysterious phe-
nomenon' it gives to the rational mind
no cause for dread or apprehension. 1t
IS as natural to die as to be born; and
all the analogies of nature tell us that
the energy which now animates our
human framework, keeps in play our
mental operations and our senses does
not suffer extinction at the hour of
death, but is preserved and finds new
fields of action. So say the sages of the
ancient, the medieval and the modern
world; and so declare the word and the
example Of the Divine Son-the incarnate
God-who was once dead and rose from
His entombment, in full life and vigor
The gladstone, the inspiring reputation
created by virtue, nobility of soul honor
and patriotism is an immortal structure,
IT Yields to no assault; it Is proof against
the decay wrought by all-corroding time
Vanished from tho
vast hosts that, under the leadership of
Grant, Sherman, Hancock, and other gal
liant commanders, fought in vaIorous
combat for the preservation of the Am
erfcan union Their precious memory
remains, and the ceremonies in which
their graves are garlanded and their
praise proclaimed are proof that their
service to our country and it's people
meets with glad acknowledgment and
that their fame is eternal. They seem
to echo our laudations now in words
IKE those which Simonides ascribes to
the Athenian dead at Plataea: eff to die
nobly is the chief part of excellence. to
us out of all men, fortune gave this lot:
for Fastening to set crown of freedom
that grows not old.
NO Pericles is required to pronounce
their eulogy. 1t is engraved in history
and imprinted upon the hearts. of their
coUntrymen.
RITUAL SERVICE WAS SIMPLE.
Inc ritual was as simple as it could be
and consisted Of the reading of a few
sentiments in accord with the object of
the gathering. and appropriate responses
thereto. This over, the Pioneers silently
filed by the tables at which the chairmen
and officers of the association were
standing, and silently deposited thereon
spr1g OF evergreen. a mute tribute
TO the memory of the departed members.
The roster of the dead was read by the
secretary, and this ended the formal
part of the ceremony.