The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1906-06-08
The 'NeWtOWn Bee.
Newtown, Friday, June 8. 1906.
CIRCULATION:
900
ALSO
Ten Pages.
TOWN TOPICS.
APPROVES MR. DANFORTH'S SEN
TlMENT.
WOI:D FROM c. F. SHERMAN.
Mount Vernon, N. Y,

June 4, 1906
Rev Ralph Danforth,
NewtOWn, Conn.
My Dear Sir: While looking through
The BEE, last week, | read witt
much interest your article ION Inter
denominational Comfy, and | want tt
tell you how much IN sympathy witt
your suggestion 1 am. 1 can see NJ
reason why your suggestion should moi
be acted upon.
l am son of a veteran, my faJhel
living in the adjoining town of Red
ding. Eighteen years ago l left my
home in Redding and went into bust
ness in your town, occupying the posi-
tion of clerk in the store and poStoffice
at Hawleyville, Conn.
Every year it is my pleasure to at
tend special Memorial service, and
recall that have visited the Baptist,
Presbyterian, Congregational, Dutch
Reformed. IRoman Catholic, Protest.
and Universalist, and the only reason
l have not attended such service in
other churches is because there were
no other denominations holding Me-
mortal services.
Another matter which is now en-
gaging the attention of all lovers of
Memorial day and its sacred work is
the almost universal Dissertation of
the day. l am sure you must have
noted the increasing tendency of the
common people to lose sight of the
work for which the day was set apart
and to indulge in all kinds of amuse-
ments. Instead of being a Memorial
day it is simply holiday. Instead of
held, you will find most OF the people
at a baseball game or some other
sporting event.
lam advocating the doing away of
Memorial day as it is now observed,
and instead, making the last Sunday
in May Memorial day, when, because
the day would not be secular one,
the people could not indulge in sport,
and then there would be tendency to
give to the day its proper recognition.
All the people, old and young, should
gather together in the largest house
of worship, with the veterans in the
preached or addresses should be made
which should instill in the coming
generation the fact Of the awful sacri-
ice that was made that our nation
might be preserved.
The teaching of patriotism I very
much fear, is left almost entirely to
our public schools, though I believe
they are doing it we'll; but they should
not be left to do this work alone. The
entire community should recognize
the sacrifices that have been made,
and in this way we will teach our
youth that theirs is priceless hertz
age.
I think know pretty we'll the spir-
it of some of those old New England
ers who believe that anybody that
does not belong to their particular
"ism" comes pretty nearly being he
terodox, but am glad that there is
coursing through your veins the good,
rich, red blood Of liberality and broad
churchmanship, aid that you will agi-
tate the matter during the coming
year, and that next year you will be
gratitied by seeing Memorial services,
which shall include all the people of
your community, and that until such
time as Legislation changes the day,
you will do all you possibly can to dis
continue the present tendency to
make the day a holiday instead of a
holy day.
With great respect believe me,
Yours very truly,
c. f. Sherman