Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-29
TEMPLE AUDITORIUM PACKED
BY VETERANS
MEMORIAL SUNDAY OBSERVED
Audience Alternately Moved to Tears,
Laughter and Applause Dur
Ing Impressive cere-
monies

pANs
Temple auditorium OIazard's pavilion)
yesterday, some 5000 persons, mainly
veterans of sanguinary strife, were
alternately moved to tears, laughter
or applause by one of the most color
full and emotional religio-patriotic SER
vices ever held here. In memory Of
the soldier dead 1t partook of all the
military characteristics of a chaplain's
mass on battlefield, save that the
gentle presence of women and children
gave to 1t a softness not often seen
and the brooding dove of peace lent to
1t rather the semblance of a requiem
over the close of hostilities and the
determination OF erstwhile enemies.
Beautiful 1t was in its pathos, stirring
in It's warlike fervor, but above all, It
was prophetic and touching in It's free
dom from all bitterness and rancor,
though side by side throughout sat
men who a generation ago hated each
other with hatred only bred by inter-
necine strife-an enmity stirred up be-
tween opposing brothers, deeper, firmer
and more bitter even that that existing
betwixt opposing races or peoples
other services each group has had,
or will have, but seldom since the war
have these opposing factions grasped
hands and wept under a common flag.
But yesterday the starry banner flut-
tered softly over whltened heads that
bowed together in prayer for univer-
sal peace-that peace so dear to every
one because so dearly bought.
And above the blue sky was draped
with clouds of gray till even nature
the day.
Devotons Profuse
Flags were everywhere in the ugly
barn. Long streamers, draped from
the caves, united in a crown of glory
in the center above the heads of snow.
Banners hung from the white-draped
balcony, and curtained the dingy stage,
arched the windows and doors and
concealed the pulpit itself. Flowers
galore banked the edges of the plat
form and added their beauty and fra
GRANGE to the scene. On the desk itself
rested 1.-The sword Of Bunker Hill"-a
weapon drawn in the war that made
the United States a nation and never
yet ensheathed.
In serried ranks on the whole lower
floor were the snowy-crowned fighters
of the days that were; the grizzled
wearers Of the blue, with their bronze
insignia; the equally grizzled gray-clad
men of the South, with their iron
crosses of valor Flanking them were
the younger men who, sons of either
side. proudly conquered the Spanish
don meath the banner of an united
land. And in another band were the
youngsters of the military schools, just
training in the arts of war, which,
please God, they shall never be called
upon to practice. And all about them
the boxes bloomed with the women
who, staying at home in silence and
patience during all those bloody years.
yet gave the veterans inspiration to
fight and care when wounded, and
made their Homecoming a greater joy
than even victory could give.
DaugnteTS OF heVOluIiOn
And mingled with all were the great
grandsons and daughters of those who,
''in their ragged regimentals, the old
Continetals," first gave to this land of
ours it's baptism of blood. And the
same sun shone over all and the same
banners futtered above them; the same
prayers and the same hymns found an
swer in all their hearts. and tears
flowed from young and old alike.
Simple, almost elementally primitive,
were the ceremonies. An orchestra, an
organ, a quartet and a mixed choir
filled the edifice with harmony. Nothing
elaborate was attempted. The good old
"The Heavens Are Telling and "Un-
fold, ye Portals" were the only unus-
ual numbers, while Sousa's Liberty
Bell was the only note of incongruity.
The touching Vacant Chair" was the
wartime melody that made the tears
flow, for it recalled to young and old
the missing ones whose graves, per-
haps many miles away, will be covered
with flowers tomorrow by loving
though unknown hands.
Had Military Flavor
The prayers, the scripture lessons
and the invocations had a military
flavor and the sermon of the pastor,
Rev. Robert ]. Burdette, was along
similar lines. But though he apostro-
phied the flag and gloried in victories
won, he had a tender note of pathos
for the men who had borne defeat even
more bravely than had others victories,
and his earnest, sweeping pleas for uni
versal peace and brotherhood called
out general applause. "The gospel of
peace" he preached, and none more
earnestly concurred in his sentiments
than did those who had waded through
the blood and fire of the hell of a
bitter war.
And though there were patriotic SER
vices following and flag presentation,
and orations, and drum calls. and mar
tial airs that stirred the blood, that
earnest plea for peace is what told
strongly with the men who had borne