Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
Address Of Mr.. Edward F. Seeds,
Deputy Auditor for the
War Department.

committees that served in connection with
the exercises, and then. in the order named,
tor, chap1ains, poet and reader Of the day,
st. Peters Church, choir, Henry Wilson
Post, No. II, G. A. R.. and veterans OF the
home, invited guests and visitors.
Upon reaching the speakers stand a bu-
gler sounded assembly" after which the
band rendered The Soldiers Dream, y
closing with Nearer My God to Thee,
all present joining in the singing Of the
hymn. Capt. Hart called the assembly
to order with appropriate remarks ex-
planatory of the meaning and purpose OF
Memorial day. He told of its usefulness
in teaching lessons of patriotism and rev.
erence of the memory of those who devoted
their lives to their country and the hope
OF the Grand Army of the Republic.
through whose efforts it was established.
that it would be perpetuated and respected
by future generations.
Rev. Joseph T.. O'Brien invoked divine
blessing. The next number was the sing
ing of 'Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp
Ground" as a solo and chorus, by Mr.. Ed
B. Fox and ST. Peters Church choir. DR..
Thomas Calver recited an original poem,
entitled "Our Loved Ones Gone Before" A
soprano solo, the Soldiers Home memorial
hymn, THE Rest of the Brave" words by
DR.. Calver. was effectively sung by Mrs.
Nellie B. Kelser Mr.. Barry Buckley read
impressively Lincoln's Gettysburg address.
This was followed by the rendition by the
band of Sweet Remembrance" Miss
Catharine NJ. Loughran recited THE Gath
ering of the Rear Guard" Of which Miss
Catharine Stickney Is the authoress. After
the singing of THE Holy City by Mr..
Lucius F. Randolph. jr., the Grafton of tho
day was delivered by Mr.. Edward P. Seeds,
deputy auditor for the War Department.
Mr.. Seeds Grafton.
After declaring that the sacrifices and
achievements Of the Union soldier and
sailor saved to the world the most success
full experiment in self government that
history records, the speaker dwelt on tho
tinuing, he remarked that 1t may appear in
consistent to praise the soldier and at the
same time condemn his profession, but an
inconsistency is not always an untruth.
War is, and has ever been, according to
the speaker, an acknowledgment of mental
and moral weakness, a confession that in
tellect is not as yet superior to prejudice
and passion. AS physical strife between
individuals IS more and more condemned
as they rise in the scale Of civilization, as
the so-called code of honor is low repro
bated In all reputable and intelligent COM
munities. stated Mr.. Seeds, so war must
be considered as condition incompatible
with the higher civilization and ,nconsist-
ent with righteousness. The achievements
Of the soldier. he went on to say, may well
De honored, as are those OF the fireman in
confiagration, but the fact that slavery
Is abolished by war. or that Chicago rises
like bride adorned for her husband from
her baptism of fire. is no Justification of
war or confiagration, If the same results
may be attained by the use OF Thought and
moral action.
Mr.. Seeds content1ed in the course Of his
remarks that this nation should strenu-
ously set its face and example in the d.
rection OF the abolishing of war and the
thoughts and gl0rification of war 1Ni
He went on to say that the ,jeWelsu Of
soldiers character are summed up in duty
strenuousness, courage and sympathy; they
nave sparkled with the brilliancy OF the
sun wherever the American soldier or
sailor has had occasion to assert his yaIof
they have given the peculiar signifcancy
to the wars of our people which have
bilious slaughter; their honorable use in
the conflict for human rights is the charter
Of immortality to the Grand Army Of the
Republic"
speaker added, are absolutely essential in
the political, social and moral life of our
people.
Mr.. Seeds declared that when the truths
to which he had made reference are fully
apprehended by the people then our citi-
zenship will be measured by quality and
not by quantity. Our danger is not in
race suicide but in the detertora ton of
the individual" he concluded Educate
the soul and the intellect; despite mean
and small things: rejoice in the accom-
plishments of the great soldier who fights
for the flower Of civilization and not for
the victory of the flesh; of the public man
who performs his task honestly: of the
common citizen who performs his daily
duties as though he was conquering in
mighty battle. and then we can know that
the sacrifices and victories of our soldiers
and sailors have not been in vain; then far
better than floral tributes which fade, and
eloquence which must die. will be the crown
which you will wear in the innumerable
lives which are and are to be made bet
ter in their minds by your victories and
your presence.
were Prayer to the Virgin" rendered by
the band; closing prayer by Rev. H. Allen
Griffith, chaplain of the Soldiers Home:
America" by the choir, assembly and
band, and taps" by the bugler
Salute to the Flag.
At the conclusion Of the exercises at the
cemetery the procession headed by the
band and Wilson Post. marched to the
Scott building, and at noon. upon a signal
by the governor of the home. the ceremony
of raising and saluting the flag took place.
The choir sang and the band played THE
Star Spangled Banner" and the Soldiers
Home battery fired salute of twenty-one
guns.
Albert ]. Nichols of Wilson Post served
as officer of the day. The choir consisted
Miss Anna Beuchert. Miss Alice Keith.
Mrs. Nellie B. Kelser, Miss Mary McCor-
mick. Mrs. N. c. Miles. Mrs. A. c. Proctor,
Miss M. Ryan Mrs. Wood. Miss Wood.
McGeir, E. F. Mcmahon. Abner c. Proctor.
L. A. Radcliffe, L. H. Walsh. Mr.. Wood.
Prof. John g. M. Zimmerman conducted
the band and also served as organist.
The committees in connection with the
exercises follow:
Arrangements-A. Hart. senior vice de-
partment commander, chairman, Charles
H. Preston. commander. and August VIII
liams. adjutant. Henry Wilson Post. No.
II; G. Leyburn Shorey. Captain ]. j. AS
tor CT nmand. S. w. ": William M. Jones.
superintendent National Soldiers Home
cemetery: Prof. Jonn 8. M. Zimmerman.
leader Soldiers Home Band.
Reception-MaJor General Hamilton 8.
Hawkins. U. 8. A: Brevet Brigadier Gen
eral E. B. Williston. u. 8. A; Major Louis
A. Iagarde. U. 8. A: Major Henry M.
Kendall. U. 8. A; Sergeant Major Henry
Kerr: Sergeants Joseph Mas and Richard
Barriers: Past Post Commanders Patrick
Ford, Jacob Moore and John s. Hoover.
Henry Wilson Post. No. II.
Decoration of graves-Of1cers and MEM
beers of Lafayette Corps. No. 10. w. r. c.:
Mrs Lulue Hauptman. president; Mrs.
Lucy B. Graham. SECRETARY. and children Of
the public schools.
Army Orders.