The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-25
MILITARY AT MEMORIAL MASS
SERVICE FOR SPANISH WAR
VETERANS AT NAVY YARD.

Marines, Jackies. spanish war Com.
manderies, Regulars and Guardsnien
Take Part-A Large Crowd Sees tho
Military v0lntions-Gray Decorated.
A memorial military mass, celebrated
according to the military ritual OF the
Middle Ages and the first religious service
Of the kind held in this country since
the close Of the civil war, attracted a crowd
estimated at between Ave and six Thousand
persons to the campus Of the marine bar
racks In the Brooklyn navy yard yesterday
morning. It was a memo rial service to
the Spanish war veterans and was arranged
by Gloucester Naval Command No. II =,
Spanish War Veterans.
The scene in the big quadrangle, while
the service was going on, was impressive.
The altar, draped with national and post
flags, with the holy candles encased in
man-o'-war's battle lamps and big United
States flag as a background, stood at the
western end Of the campus. The publ @
filled the space in front Of the barracks and
the three long galleries which extend the
entire length Of the building. In the centre
OF the field we're three sections OF men in
uniform-marines, jackies, Spanish war
Communicates, Regulars and squads from
National Guard regiments. 90 we'll as de-
taohments from several other organiza-
tons.
Before the services began the spectators
saw number Of military evolutions neatly
carried out As the military organizations
entered the yard they were msneuvred
into places along the sides Of the parade
ground, and when the navy yard band
az ptor Chal
wheeled and fell into three ranks. facing
the altar and extending the entire length Of
the campus.
In front were marines from the navy yard
and q detachment from the Forty-seventh
trousers. A detachment from the Four
teenth Regiment wore service uniforms,
and behind them we're sailors from the Kear-
sarge, the Alabama. the Columbia, Hart
ford. Baltimore. Indiana, Iowa and Msv-
War Veterans were on hand, as well as the
st. Johns Cadets, uniformed members Of
the Knights Of Columbus and G. A. r.
veterans.
The Marine Corps and squad Of Regulars
from Governors Island wore their winter
made, them none too warm. for there was
cold wind sweeping over the field and at
times slight drizzling rain fell.
The Rev. w. H. T. Reaney. chaplain
in the United States Navy and Chaplain
in-Chief OF the Spanish War Veterans. Of
flciated. assisted by Fathers Nash. Rey-
nolds, Murphy and Purcile. The on
lockers were too far away to hear the
prayers or the mass. but they knelt on
the grass during parts Of the service and
did hear the singing by the Arion Society
and the selections played by the navy
yard band.
Father Reaney made only short adj
dress in explanation OF the purpose OF
the service and closed by saying to the
soldiers
"Tne better Christians you are the better
soldiers you will be-"
The services closed with the singing OF
THE Star Spangled Banner" by the Arion
Society. All Of the officers Of the navy
yard and the ships tied UP there were
present and Miss Clara Barton, for many
years head of the Red Cross Society, wit
messed the ceremonies from the Coloners
house adjoining the campus.
In the afternoon the Spanish War Vet
Grams visited various cemeteries In Brook
Ign and Manhattan ard decorated the
graves Of their comrades.