Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-06-01

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The G. A. R. and W. r. c. ATTENDED
memorial services at the Presbyter
ian church yesterday morning At II
O'Clock. The G. A. r. met at theii
nall at 10 O'Clock and from there
marched to the church. A short file
OF the Sons of Veterans fell in be
hind and marched with them. A hal,
was made in front of the CHURCH, the
lines divided and the members un
: covered while the ladies OF tire Wo-
mans Relief Corps marched through
Seats in the church were reserved for
the members Of the three organiza.
tons. An eloquent and touching
{ sermon was preached by Rev. Fergu.
son. as follows:
saul and Jonathan were lovely
and pleasant in their lives, and in
their death they were not divided I;
they were swifter than eagles. they
were stronger than lions" 2 Sam.
/ :23.
This verse is part Of an old. old
memorial psalm.
David nere expresses his sentiment
in regard TO two of the fallen war
riors Of Israel. One is his best
friend; the other is mis- worst enemy !.
. but the other as well as the one
comes in for share OF his praise
His idea is that, though separated in
outward ways, each has the same aim
before MIN. His words are as fol
lows:
Saul and Jonathan were lovely
and pleasant in their lives. and in
their death they were not divided
they were swifter than eagles. they
were stronger than lions.'
So the words may be taken ss a
model for our thoughts this morning,
We are at least beginning to realize
that similar magnanlmous spirit is
characteristic of all people well IN.
formed in regard to our civil war.
Some OF us have seen federal and con
federate soldiers meet face to face
amid the carnage Of battle. and have
felt in times past that. because OF
their opposition on the field, their
hearts were at hateful variance. but
We now feel differently. We would
pause today to drop tear on tne
grave OF the blue as well as the
gray or on the grave of the gray as
we'll as the blue, and. in coming to-
eether here this morning. our desire
is 10 make our forgiveness OF each
other and our sympathy for those
who have been bereft as manifest
as such things are betokened by a.
service In the house of God.
Well. the occasion itself breaches
us heart-touching sermon. None OF
MS can escape the fact that there is |
an unacceptable pathos about a serv-
ice like this. Everything before us
reminds us of events, events which |
broke tine hearts of mothers, sisters.
wives and daughters, and made the |
stoutest men tremble in anguish |
from the crown of the head to the |
soles of the feet, and a divine com
mand as well as etiquette entoins us
to weep WITH those who weep.
Mrs. Browning expresses the feel |
ing of a great many people toward |
this occasion In fine form in fler
verses entitled. Mother and Poet"
where she speaks of one Laura Sa |
.yie Of Turin. This woman is idealz- |
ed as the embodiment of the freedom
and uuifcation of all Italy. Her am
billions center in her two boys, but, /
when the nation calls for their serv-
ice. she bids them go. Size says at
the time:
II made them indeed
Speak plain the word country u
Taught them. no doubt,
That country's thing men should
die for at need
I prated of liberty, rights. and about |
The tyrant turned out.
And when their eyes fiashed-o, my
beautiful eyes!
| exulted. nay, let tnem go forth at
the wheels
OF the guns. and denied not But
then the surprise.
When one sits quite alonei Then
one weeps, then one kneels!
God! how the house feels"
But her saddest experience comes
at the close of the war. Both Of her
sons fall in the battle, and. though /
the returning army is victorious in
general terms, the contrast between |
the hurrahs OF the populace and her
inward groans overwhelm her. Her
grief becomes unbearable. She
wrings her hands. and cries out in |
anguish:
Dead. One of them shot by the
sea in the East
And one OF them In the West by the |
sea!
Both. both of my boys! II in keep
ing the feast
You want a great song for your Italy |
frsA. l. Il
Let none look at mel" |
So let US remember That there is |
great deal Of difference between
civic pride and the cost price Of its
defense. We should have ideals Of
patriotism; we should sing Of pa
triotism in the abstract in glad notes:
but, when we come down to patrio- |
tlsm in the concrete and begin to