The Washington times., 1906-05-30
GREAT CHOIR SANG
AMONG THE GRAVES
congressional Cemetery Ex-
ercises We're Solemn.
GRAFTON BY A. F. DAWSON
Program in Charge of Junior Vice De-
partmeht Commander B. F.
Graham.
GRAFTON BY A. F. DAWSON

The services at Congressional Gene
tery were under the direction of B. F.
Graham, junior vice department com
mander. His COMMITTEES on arrangements.
composed OF P. 9. George. Charles D.
Scott. and T. J. Sullivan, with Mr.. Gra-
ham as chairman, had prepared one of
the most attractive programs of the day.
Ceremonies were opened with the
sounding of the reveiIle and assembly
oy the band bugler. followed by the
funeral march. Flee as Bird" by the
Naval Gun Factory Band The large
choir from the Metropolitan Baptist
Church was present to render Nearer
My God, TO Thee"
The assembly was called to order by
Junior Vice Department Commander
Graham. followed by an Invocation by
the Rev. George +. Maydwell Hail Our
Flag was then sung by Arthur G. Dunn
aided in the chorus by the entire choir
1ncolns Gettysburg address was read
by Col s. r. Stratton. of the District
Naval Battalion. A selection Our Pa
triots' by the Naval Gun Factory Band
followed. NJ. F. Shelton then recited in
a manner that stirred the hundreds OF
veterans present The Star-SpangIed
Banner The recitation was followed by
the rendering of TO Thee, Country
by the entire choir
Grafton by Representative Dawson.
The orator of the day. Representative
Albert F Dawson. OF Iowa was then
introduced by Commander Graham He
said in part:
We are assembled here TODAY TO do
honor to those who offered their lives in
defense of their country 1t is fitting
that this great nation should set apart
day: that the people should turn aside
from their daily avOcations and spend
this day In paying a solemn tribute Il,
the memory of those departed heroes TO
whom we are so deeply indebted for
the greatness and glory Of our country
and for many OF the blessings which we
now enjoy.
We cannot have a realizing sense of
the magnitude Of this obligation wit h
out having In our minds eye a brief pic
ture OF that great struggle-the might
lest conflict this world has ever seen
which created this obligation Measured
by any one OF the standards applied TO
war. II Is the greatest in history: great
est In the number Of men engaged: In
the number of killed and wounded !;
greatest from the standpoint OF genRr-
alship and greatest from the mighty
principles and consequences involved.
The human race viii probably never
again witness such war. with nearly
h.no,Wo free and enlightened citizens
the flower of American manhood-en-
gagged In deadly strife covering period
Of four wears and entafIing n loss Of
such widespread destruction and suf-
fering. and the expenditure OF billions
OF treasure
Death Blow to Three Principles.
For four long and weary years did
this cOntinue-tbe women at home work
ing and struggling; the men at the
front. in camp. on the march, and in
deadly conflict. and what was the re-
suit? All. the result That is what
we who come after this race Of heroes
should ponder well. That result was pur-
chased at this frightful cost Of human n
blood and human suffering. They paid
the awful price in order that We and
those who come after us might have The
blessings which we now enjoy. What
that result2 The central idea was
the preservation OF the union of States
but that war dealt a death blow to
three principles which were antagonistlc
TO a free and enlightened republic and