Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-30
CHORUS OF CHILDREN
Feature of Exercises at St.
EIizabeth's Cemetery.
JESSE E. WILSON ORATOR
Grand Army Is Theme of Mrs. Isabel
Worrell Ball.
ADDRESS BY B. J. NORTHCOTT
Commander A. B. Frisbie Presides
Over Ceremonies and Pays Tribute
to the Volunteer.

At ST. Elizabeths cemetery the exer-
cises comprised a fitting memorial to the
graves of the men who fell in their coun-
trys cause and who for years have slept
in that beautiful hillside.
In addition to speeches by men of
prominence. the day was marked by the
songs of large chorus of children, COM
posed of ST. EliZabeth's choir and pupils
of Van Buren,. ketcham and Congress
Heights School. and martial music played
by the hospital band and the Woodcraft
Drum Corps.
The services opened with bugle call.
''Shall We Meet was played by the
band Invocation was pronounced by the
chaplain. Rev. Willard G. Davenport.
Tribute to Volunteer.
Commander A. B. Frisbie, in whose
charge for several years the ceremonies
have been. made the introductory re-
marks. saying in part:
I'm every war in which this nation has
been involved except the Spanish meri
can war. the volunteer has stood the
brunt of the battle. Even before we be-
came nation it has always been shown
THAI it was only step from raw re-
cruit to disciplined soldier.
1T was the volunteer militia that,
der Washington. saved Braddock's sea
Soned and disciplined army from complete
humiliation. 1t was the volunteer that
fought at Lexington and Bunker Hill 1t
with the volunteer that Washington
gained the Independence OF this nation.
And So in 1872 and the Mexican war.
they carried our arms 10 victory.
There were o.2W.UD in round num-
berS. who volunteered To save the Union
i'm 1861 to 1860. No other nation that
tIlS hnn,y Of, No tn r.tft
her armies by volunteer enliStmentS but
has been forced TO make laws compell-
ing every able-boded man 10 serve Il
:an time in the army.
And herein lies the strength and sta
b;lity of the republic. We have no laws
compelling our citizens to spend por-
lion OF their lives in the military serv-
ice. except the moral obligation which
animateS every patriotic American citi-
zen to volunteer to defend al all times the
honor and integrity of the nation. And
so long as the spirit which animated our
forefathers in 1916. the spirit which saved
the Union from 1861 TO 1860. survives so
long will our nation endure.
For forty years the survivors OF that
mighty host of volunteers have been en-
gagged in the work of keeping alive in the
hearts of the American people those prin-
cples for which they gave the better por-
ton of their lives. and for this purpose
they have instituted various customs
which have come to be almost universally
observed throughout the republic. One IS
that which brings us together here today
Another is holding exercises in commem-
Grafton OF leading events in our history
and honoring the men VINO have achieved
great results. But most important of all
Is the proper training of the children
cf our land in all that pertains to patriot
ism and good citizenship
ITO that end has been introduced into
the public schools the custom of teaching
patriotism and love OF the flag as part OF
tho daily lessons. and inviting the chill
dren TO participate in these aud Other
patriotic exercises
Mrs. Ball Praises Grand Army.
Commander Fr.soe introduced Mrs lisa
bel Worel Ball. She sketched the calling
OF Lincoln Tor men 10 fight and how they
answered Size then spok" Of the Grand
Army o: veterans and their diminishing
Numbers.
And now that great Grand Army is go
ing. she said. No child can b born
into Il. no proclamation 81 a Pr sident
cClfct of king or can command admis-
sion, no university or institGt ion Of learn
ing can issue a diploma authorizing the
holder 10 enter, no act Of Congress or
parliament can secure recognition. III
wealth OF the Nan,lerblts cannot nul-
chase the position. its doors swing open
only upon presentation o. he bit OF paper
torn. wort. hesrimeu il may be whic.
Ctr:itleS 10 AN honorable discharge from
the armies OF Eavies Of the nation during
tine war against rebellion. ara. unlike any
other association. no new blood can come
in.
There are no growing ranks from
which recruits can b. drawn into the
Grand Army Of the Republic With 1ht
consummation al peace through victor,
rs rolls were closed forever.
It's lines steadily and swiftly grow
ins thinner. The eeaseless tramp OF il.
columns X with ever-lessenin2 tread
Gaps III tie picket line grow wider. Da,
by day details are made from the re
serve summoned iIto the shadow re
;:i"ns. 10 return To touch elbows TO more
Iiy AID hy ONLY a solitary sentinel shall
stand guard waiting till the bugle cal
from beyond shah muster out the las
coinraac OF the Grand Army of the Re
publi.'
Mrs. Fall closed with an apostrophe I,
til, flag.
Children Sing in Chorus.
The great chorus OF children sang 9TH,
Soldiers Chorus and ''Tenting Tonight
Ills WAS followed BY an address by DR.
William y. White. superintendent of ST
Elizabeth Hospital. Lincon's Gettys
!.G-a address was read by D. c. Foun
tain. E:ari TAYLOR recited Cover Then
WIN Flowers"
p.ter numbers on the program wer
LEAD Lightly" by the Hospital band
= c"rno; solo 10y Eddie Mickey. After
lay Tie -. Elizabeth choir and a selec.
to-! by the Wcodcraft Drum Corps.
The orator al the day was Jesse +
Wilson, assistant secretary OF the in
terrier Speaking of tie volunteers Of tn
civil war. he said;
II think uf what their services mean
tn the country, Of what their dcvotio,
10 duty meant not only To the coun,r,
then but to the rising generation Al
though many of them have been una bl