The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-05-31

Soldiers Sunday Afternoon.
Sunday afternoon a large %concourse
of citizens gathered at the city hall
auditorium to attend the Memorial
Sunday services which are held
annually in honor OF the so, diers who
have passed to their reward above.
The members of the Grand Army Of
the Republic and the Women's Relief
Corps assembled at their post rooms
and marched in a body to the hall,
where they we're accorded seats OF
honor in the front of the room.
There was a very large representation
of both orders.
The opening exercises began with
a prayer which was offered by Rev.
L. j. Macmurray, pastor of the
Presbyterian church, and a patriotic
anthem was rendered by the chorus
choir under the election Of e. w.
Hobson, which was followed with
scripture reading by Rev. III. s.
Wilkinson. Miss Lee sang a solo of
a patriotic nature.
Rev. Mr.. Wilkinson delivered the
address Of the afternoon aud a more
appropriate one we have not heard
in years. He took his text from the
first six verses of the 18th Psalm.
Mr.. Wilkinson devoted his entire
address to points relative to the war
Of the rebellion and the things re-
'sultant from it. He gave in a very
concise manner what the student Of
history would be able to read, of the
achievements that had been accom-
plished by the soldiers who fought
against their countrymen to maintain
the solidity OF the union for the
perpetuity Of the nation. In referr-
ing to the future generation that is
to come and what it might think Of
the val of the rebellion, the speaker
said that igorance in the coming
days might keep the people from
appreciating what the soldiers of the
rebellion did, but patriotism will
know what you felt. MI. Wilkinson
touched incidentally upon the pre-
paredness Of the south for the war.
when they were in possession OF
many Of the forts, had been buying
ammunition with the idea in view
Of precipitating the conflict when
the north was little prepared for ar
interai war, and the friendship that
e%Xisted.in the nations cabinet for
the south's ambition. Mr.. Wilkinson
referred to the wide scope from
which men came to join the union
forces and also to show that men OF
intellect filled the ranks of the pri-
vate as we'll as those in command OF
the army. From all trades and pro-
LESSONS, doctors, lawyers, ministers,
machinlsts, and college men, they
all LETT their work to respond to the
call OF the nation, and The services
of these me. we're employed other
wise than in handling the musket at
all times, and where the intellect Of
these men was used in %stragetic work
for the benefit OF the union. Mr..
Wilkinson touched Interestingly Don
the incidents that lead up to the
war, and was satisfied that it could
not be helped. He believed that it
was a Christian war, and while Chris
tianity doe not believe in war, there
was a righteousness in the rebellion
which was on a higher basis than
a mere conquest for gain. Slavery and
state rights acLuated the conflict,
and this country could not go on with
out the questions being settled. The
plan Of popular government had to..be
upheld, and as Il result Of the war it
was sustained unto the present
generation, and the sacrifices made
by the soldiers of '6l-'65 was not in
vain.
The meeting of the afternoon came
to a close by the audience joining in
singing america and benedietiun was
pronounced by Rev. Macmurray.
While the old soldiers and Relief
Corps marched out Of the hall the
audience stood in respectful attitude
to old glory and its defenders.