The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-18
TRIBUTE OF LOVE.
THE WOODMEN OBSERVE ME-
MORAL DAY.
Interesting Ceremonies at the Gene
teries-Flowers and Evergreens.
Discourse of ''the Orator
of the Day.

On Sundy afternoon, June 7, the
order of Woodmen of the World OBJ
served Memorial Day, which is fixed for
June E, annually, but as this day was on
Saturday the memorial services were
postponed to Sunday A number of of
fcers and members, representatives OF
the three camps in Shreveport, Broad
Axe, Maple and Sand Beech, met in the
hall of Broad Axe Camp on Texas
street, from which there was march to
the old cemetery, where the graves OF
the sovereigns deceased were wreathed
with evergreen and flowers From there
the march was resumed to the Highland
Park electric railway and from there the
Woodmen rode to near the new Genet
cry. On reaching the cemetery, after a
rest, Mr.. NJ NJ. Kendriek of Maple
Camp, master of ceremonies, called the
assemblage together and referred APP
propriately to the object which was
about to be carried out as programmed.
The exercises were opened with an
impressive vocal selection, after which
the Woodnlen and their friends scattered
in different directions and placed
Wreaths of evergreen and flowers on
each Woodmn's grave. In the assemblage
there were a large number of ladies, rel
atives and friends of the dead, whose
memory was recalled in tokens of fer
vent esteem The decorations being at an
end, the master of ceremonies, NJ. NJ.
Kendrick, called the people together and
in kindly words introduced the orator
of the day. ". Grosjean of Maple, who
spoke as follows.
Ladies and Gentlemen, and last but
not least, my friends and severeigns: I
am here this afternoons pressed into SER
vice, on the spur of the moment, to fill a
number of the program which it was
desired should have bee assigned to
one of two gentlemen. one of whom has
been called from the city. As my friends
know, I am no speaker, nor do indulge
in oratory It is with diffidenee that I
have yielded to the request Of my
friend and brethren to address you, and
the only explanation I can offer for my
presence before you as the orator. is
that it has always been a rule Of my life
since volunteered in the service of the
#Confederacy in April, 1861, when was
not eighteen years of age, to never evade
an issue when forced upon me, or shrink
from a responsibility. will endeavor to
entertain you as best can and | indulge
the hope, should fail, to meet your an
ticipations, that you will accord TO me
|yotlr good will for the deed.
You will note, my friends, that we
have come here without the faring of
strurnpets or the beating Of drums. You
will also note that we have no platform
no display Of trappings or glittering tin
sells or banners. We have come simply
as WoodTnen and have gathered here in
the performance of duty incumbent
on this Fraternity The annual decora-
ton of the graves of our dead is in keep
ing. with a time-honored custom of our.
order, solemn duty, which, however, is
pleasurable in its execution. We stand
on consecrated ground Here and there
are the mounds sacred to the memory of
Woodn1en and over these have been
placed the tributes of Love, conveyed in
the silent but the beautiful, the poetical
expression Of flowers and evergreen. 1t
is true that our departed friends can
have no concern with the busting scenes
Of earth. From the mounds where the
mortal has been consigned to rest. tilt
awakened on the glorious resurrection
morrl, there is not a sound from them.
Our brothers have fought the good fight
and have run their course; and from the
cradle tts5the grave is completed cycle
OF lime, the ending Of the life Of a hui
man being. In the death from which all
would shrink, but which none can escape
IS demonstrated that vitality must give
way to decag, that the nigi1tiesf oak Of
Che forsst must IN time fall to earth