Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-31

carried out ill detail and the plan q
 observance by the children of St Mary
 school turned out to be considerabl.
 more of an effort than was expected
 This idea originated with Father Slo
 cum and 1t Is not unlikely that the tim,
 is not far distant when every schoo
 in the city will fall into line and tha'
 the. coming memorial days instead ol
 being less interesting than the ones
 that have passed into history will bt
 attended with more ceremony thai
 eyer. <.
 The general arrangement committee
 of the G. A. R. was as follows: Chaun
 cey Seeley l.. \. Pendleton. George L.
 Platt. ]. T. Egan, William Milton. W
 E. Tylpe, George Hartley. 0. w. Corn.
 ish, iAC. Futile and J. S Hayes, as
 sisted Ay $. of V. Edward Croft
 Charles LOomis. J. Lynch. \. Czmman- ski, William Loomis, William Sagen- dorf and W. r. Chase. x,
 The details for the different ceme teries were as follows
 Riverside cemetery--G. L. Platt, w. E. Tysoe, E. 0. Howard. ]. T. Stephen, c. H. Goodwin. H. C. Scott, q. H. Hartley, I. L. Nettleton. C. J. Broln- berg, J. l.. Sake. F. Krongeibel and $. of '. E. Croft. c. Loomis, W. Loomis and w. F. Chase.
 St Joseph's cemetery-J. T. Hayes. J. T. Egan. William Milton. F. Hoey, K. D. Rush, J. Keefe, s. Shea, II. l.. Plumb, 1T. G. Norton. +. c. Marg- gran, and s. of V. J. Lynch, \. Czman- ski and w. Sagendorf
 For Pine Grove and Calvary ceme- .teries-C. Seeley, 0. A. Robbins and J. H. Garrigus
 For Wateryille-J. D. Chatfield, I. Callahan and John West,
 For Bucks Hill cemetery-H. w. BrOn.
 For Crockett ccmetery-George C. Futile.
 Commander Robbins had charge of the exercises in St Joseph's cemetery, K Vndred children from St Mary's school
 ve in attendance and these with Oth- eh who gathered made up a'v vast con- course of people. The parade from St Mary's school on Cole street. to the cemetery was quite an event and arous- ed much favorable comment. The chil- dren were accompanied by the Rev Fathers Broderlck. O'Brien and Bren- nan and eight sisters of charity. head cd by Sacred Heart drum corps. Two boys, Fergus Fay and John Flaherty d. so walked ahead of the procession, each beating drums with sticks which did service at Gettysburg. The souvenirs are the property of William Milton of Wadhams post and were loaned by him to the school officials for the occasion. Father OBricn of the Immaculate Con- ccption parish delivered the oration.
 FATHER O'BRIEN'S ADDRESS.
 A"Our country today" said the rev crend gentleman, pays her annual visit to the graves of her fallen heroes. This visit is the outcome of her af. lection and her gratitude. In her care for the living she forgets not her duty to the dead, and so year after year she EOee to these places of reYt tQ, sllp1, a J tear on their departed worthraHdoto as- vail that fate that sO abruptly stopped their short but brilliant career. In life they loved their country with un- stinted love and their country will not forget them in death. They were not
 
 men bred from early years in military life: they were men from all ranks and all walks of life. farmers from the field; mechanics from the workshops; | merchants from the counting desks; 1 students from the classic halls of | learning. They were all imbued but | with one idea, the preservation of their | 'countIy's unity. They met death in an i ecstacy of courage and patriotism. | their souls went marching on and there | is nothing in this world to be compar- ed with the love and gratitude with | which their memories are ensllrined in | the hearts of their countrymen.
 May we learn from our fallen heroes lessons of courage, loyalty and fidelity | to principle. May we go to our coun- fry's aid If necessary as willing as | they: may the fire of loyalty and, unseL fishness burn in our hearts as 1t. burn cd in the hearts of these veterans the day they left their homes and all in re- sponse to martyred Lincoln's call to arms.
 'srhe custom of decorating graves is one of Catholic origin. You are aware that in all Catholic countries it is the custom on November ?. the feast of All Saints. to 70 out in procession and dee oram the graves of departed ones and pray there for the repose of their souls. This custom was first observed in this country in the city of New Orleans by the confederates. in memory of those who fell on the field at Shiloh. Gen eral Albert Sidney Johnston. one of the noblest citizens of the south. led the flower of the southern army. includin. sons of the wealthiest and best known families in the confederate states. Un that field in April. e.. Johnson and thousands of his brave soldiers fell. Their death brought untold sorrow to the south and so on November 2 e. while mourning. the people went in pro cession to the graves of their hprses and decorated them with flowers in testimony of their high appreciation of their sterling worth. On account of weather conditions in November 1t was fo more favorable date in spring. April 3D. The custom gradual E extended fo the north. different states observing it on different days uri- .. fil fSss. when General John 4. Logan was chosen eommandcr-in-chief Of the r. A. R.. set apart May 30 as the day ! when federal soldiers should decorate Inc graves of their fallen comrades. Tifat is the history in brief of Memorial lay and that Is the manner in whicii from a purely religious ceremony it erame patriotic one Father fTRrfen dwstf al .~,stxi.ies-al.f..