Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

to greet me-
Mother Had Died.
My poor old mother had died while
| was away Perhaps the strain of Civ.
ing up her five boys was more than she
could stand. Perhaps the constant
sound of war, for from our home there
was seldom time when some sounds
were not audible, and there were times
when for days the sound of artillery
was always to be heard
Heart to Heart.
But those days are over. Today we
can stand side by side, hand in hand,
heart to heart. Take it from the one
that fought on the other side that there
is not linger thought of ill feeling
in my heart today toward those who
fought and won in that long bitter
strife. l am proud today that it has
been my privilege to come from the
south and tell you that the long bitter
war has been forgotten and that we
are proud to- greet you all as BROTH
ers. | am glad to bring you this mes
sage and glad to carry to you also an
other message. We may never meet
again in this life but let us SO live that
when the end comes we may meet
again OH the other side.
Services at ST. Patrick's Church.
The members OF the South Side post
and corps met at the Odd Fellows hall
and marched in a body to st. Pat
rlck's Catholic church AS the vet
Grams entered the church the choir an.
propriately sang Marching Through
Georgia The church was decorated
with profusion of flowers and flags
festooned on the walls waved a well
come to the veterans in whose honor
the services We're given. America"
was sung at the offertory and The
star Spangled Banner" was rendered
by the choir at the close of the sermon
as the old soldiers and their wives
were passing from the church
AT the close of the regular church
service Rev. Father O'Farrell deliver
ed his memorial address. 1t was a
mastery effort, and many times the
veterans were moved to tears as the
speaker eXtolled the deeds of the men
by whose hands the nation was IRE.
served. The address was listened to
with the closest of attention and made
marked impression on the large con-
gregatlon which completely filled the
spacious auditorium OF the church
Rev. Father O'Farrell spoke as fol.
lows:
Members of the J. NJ futile post
OF the G. A. R., Ladies of the Relief
Corps and Dear Friends:
In the name of st. Patrick's narish
and myself, l cordially welcome YOU
to our church and to our services for
the deceased defenders of our coun.
try, who have fallen out of your ranks
and now rest in the tomb.
Members of the G.. A. R., sayiours
of liberty, how shall l address youe
On Memorial day and in yonr
venerable presence would feel
very little and would be silent
Dear brethren, when my thoughts re-
vert TO the war of the rebellion and
to the unselfish patriotism of our citi.
zen soldiers, my pulse beats faster
and my feelins are touched to their
deepest depths. When think of the
exalted motives of these men, in Civ.
ing the best years of their lives to
our country, when | reflect on the
losses they sustained in physical
health, In time, in money and in op-
portunities for self-aggrandizement
whilst in the service of this republic;
when remember, that in going
forth to conquer peace, they became
Notwithstanding life and all for
the Union, for US and for posterity:
when | think of all these things, my
soul is filled with reverence for them.
Therefore, it u.s. members of the G..
A. r., that l stand abashed before
you. The winters of time have COW
cred your heads with their driven
SHOWS. Age and the infirmities of
age, are fast telling upon you. All
of you shall soon be mustered be.
yond the dark valley and the soil
| tude and the silence of the grave shall
be your portion.
In the flower of youth you left hap
by homes and went afield to battle, in
suffering and sorrow. Alas, how
many of your comrades in arms sank
exhausted in that great struggle for
union and freedom Alas. how many
sleep in bloody shrouds. And, o, how
many returned home bleeding or
manned for life.
Fought for Home, Country and God.
| Veterans of the war of the rebellion,
! you did your work We'll Your fellow
citizens, hail you as benefactors
Posterity to the last ages of men, shall
not fail to praise you and your patriotic
| deeds You did not go forth to fight
for glory or for paym ent but for home,
| for country and for God. There was
no militarism in your campaigns. Dear
/ friends, what contrast there is be.
tween the soldiers of the G. A. r. and
the soldiers of other countries and
other times. The poets Byron and
John Boyle O'Reilly, set forth this
contrast very strikingly. In 'Childe
Harold Byron tells us of the night
before the battle of Waterloo. He
says:
'There was sound of revelry by
night,
And Belgiums capitol had gathered
| there,
Her beauty and her chivalry, and
bright
The lamps shone Ger fair women
and brave men.
A thousand hearts beat happily.
And all went merry as merry bell,
But hush! bark, deep sound