The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-07-26

into the naDlt Oh SetliuS TIC paw ~
sister unions throughout the country.
Four years ago Lincoln Typographlcai
Union inaugurated the custom OF op-
serving memorial day each year. and
now the custom has the sanction of
international law and last May scores
of local unions observed the day with
fitting ceremonies.
Last Sunday the Bartenders' Union
of Lincoln observed Memorial Sun
day." and thus inaugurated custom
in their craft which promises to speed
ily become well nigh universal. IL
was. so far as known, the first time
a Bartenders' Union that ever heid
memorial excersises over the graves
of departed members. The local met
at Carpenters hall at o'clock last
Sunday afternoon nearly 6O per cent
of the membership being present.
Each member was given carnation
and a mourning badge. and the local
marched from the hall to Sixteenth
and o streets, where special car was
taken to Wyuka cemetery. The unions
banner and an American flag were
carried at the head of the procession.
At the cemetery gates the procession
again formed and proceeded to the
grave of recently deceased member
where brief memorial exercises were
held and the grave decorated. Tne
members then visited other graves
and decorated them, two of the graves
being located in the Catholic ceme-
terry. There was no attempt at for
NAL program. After the decoration
services the members returned to the
city and disbanded at the hall.
The members have unanimously de-
cided to observe the custom every
year. and already a movement Is on
foot to purchase a burial lot and
erect a monument. The following ad-
dress was delivered at the grave OF
Fred Karcher, where the ceremonies
were held, the speaker being Will M.
Maupin, editor of The Wageworker:
1T Is meet and proper that we,
the surviving comrades of that great
army which marches and fights in the
cause of unionism, should pause in
our campaign now and then, and for
one brief hour devote ourselves to
tender thoughts of the comrades who
have gone before; comrades who
marched side by side with us, who
divided our misfortunes and doubled
their joys by sharing with us. In
the almost death grapple for existence
which has been thrust upon us by
modern industrialism, it is most nat
ural that unless We join hands in
mutual helpfulness We should degen-
crate socially and physically; 1t is
most natural that unless We pause in
the struggle now and then and let
tender memories and fraternal senti-
ments stir our hearts we should grow
callous and unsympathetic, and in
time tear one another's throats over
the few bones dropped from the tables
of the more fortunate.
Because such gatherings as these
call us back to our better selves, we
who fight in the great industrial army
have realized their necessity, and SO
we of the various crafts and occupa
tions are more and more every yeaI
laying aside the cares of life long
enough to commune for brief though
tender season with the spirits of those
who have answered the final sum
mons.
IN an hour like this the torturou.
language of the logician, the fine spur
theories of the philosophers, and the
creeds and dogmas of the theologians
are wasted upon us, and We attunt
our minds to that language of the
infinite which speaks to the heart.
and not to the ears OF men. In this
silent city of the dead, where the
green grass waves above the crum
bling forms of once valiant soldiers
of peace who were our comrades, W,
need no theologian to tell us tha
death did not end all for these dea
friends.
when the winds of autumn blow
and the chill winds of winter come
we see the once blooming rosebusl
lose leaf and petal and become th'
bare brown bush. Its appearance
then Is not indicative of what it shal
be when the spring winds shall blow
again, and the sunshine of April an,
of May shall call back to root ant
branch and twig the life-giving sap
And can it be that the same kindl.
hand which fashioned the rosebusl
and the stalwart man shall deny t.
the wasted and empty shell of MOI
tality the same glorious resurrection
given to the rose? Men in the prid