Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-02

Z. 5. Grant Post, G.. A. r., attended
service in a body at the Congl church last
Sunday afternoon at ? o'clock. The vet
Grams, forty-two strong, led by Command
er John Hatch and Color bearer Mark V.
Chadwick, marched in double file from
their hall to the church. The Woman's
| Relief Corps. to the number OF twenty
| two. preceded them into the church and
| took seats on the right OF the middle aisle,
while the old soldiers were seated on the
left Of the aisle.
The church was decorated in a tasteful
and patriotic manner. Over the platform
arch and down to the floor on each side
and over the doors bunting was draped
and American flags depended from the
| chandelier over the center and from the
| side lights al either end Of the audience
room, while a stand OF evergreen and
/ bunting was placed IN each corner TO the
! right and left OF the platform. The plat
/ form itself had a thick bordering OF
maiden-hair fern with a mound in the
center composed OF white lilacs inter-
spersed with red geraniums and standing
about four feet high, while lower mounds
/ OF the same stood at each end Of the plat
form. Tag was planted beside each OF
| these, while there was a flag on each side
| of the central mound.
The service began with the singing Of
uOld Hundred" by the choir, composed of
Misses Sparhaw and Howard and Messrs.
Beedle and Kelly. Rev. Fraser Metzger,
pastor OF the Christian church, offered a
| brief PRAYER, which was followed with
aOnward Christian Soldiers" by the choir.
At this point SIX little girls, dressed in
white aud carrying baskets Of flowers,
! marched In through a side door TO the
front OF the platform and facing the con-
gregation repeated in concert suitable
selection and sang together patriotic
hymn, after which they marched out
| through the door by which they entered.
Mr.. Metzger read a scripture lesson,
Isaiah Tx. and offered prayer, after which
| the choir sang another hymn.
The pastor OF the church, Rev. q. +.
Iadd. then stepped to the pulpit and an
nounced his text, lisa. LIZ, Is and -
evidence shall no more be heard in thy
land, wasting nor destruction within tiny
| borders; but thou shalt call thy walls SAL
yation. and thy gates Praise the
Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting
light and thy God thy glory" An elo-
uuent sermon followed, to which was
given the strict attention OF well-hlled
| house. -,
The preacher declared ii to be the duty
OF the Younger generation TO do honor 70
the old soldiers and to hold securely the
heritage which they gained Tor US ey tn .ha
valor and self sacrifice. The object OF the
war waged by the North was not the con-
quest OF other land or peoples-not mill
tary glory or selfish profit, but simply, the
preservation of the Union. lie pald hlgh
| tribute TO Lincoln, the leader OF the peo'
ple and prince of men. After ably re-
Viewing The heroic actions OF the past, the
speaker turned to the future. May We
never have another civil war. We are
called to live for our country, not to die
for il. But we must fight to put down the
rebellion OF unrighteousness and WORK
for all that is pure and good, and 90 II iol
the love OF our country. We need to sec
a vision OF what this nation should b'
and work for its realization. The call II
for the overthrow Of unrlghteousness, toi
obedience to law and for the estaoli lSil
chief glory Of our country, in years u
come. Is not to be wealth or power or in
tellectual greatness, but faith in God an'
obedience to his precepts. Our God Is gu
pIory. At the request OF the preacher tn
whole congregation rose and sang togethe
the stirring strains of america"