The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-06-05
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Everybody was glad that no plans
had been laid for Memorial day
parade today, when they awoke to find
out what kind of a day it was. Cold
drilling rain poured down, filling the
streets with mud and the air with
dreariness and chill. Had parade been
arranged for, it must have been aban-
doned, with the consequent confusion
incident upon a change of plans at
the last moment.
The inclemency of the weather,
however, did not put much of a dam
er upon the proceedings at the
opera house. A large gathering had
formed there by 1920 o'clock, not as
great as though the day had been a
pleasant one, but enough to show re-
spect TO the dead heroes who helped to
save the union from her enemies. The
annual tribute of respect was paid, and
words of reverence spoken.
The stage was appropriately draped
with flags and bunting giving to the
scene the patriotic airriha so BELTS it.
The services opened with an invoca-
ton by Rev. T. Ross Paden, pastor of
the Presbyterian church. He was fol-
lowed by the Twentieth Century band,
which played one of it's selections. The
Mems chorus then gave song that
was well applauded.
The custom of reading the orders
was not omitted, and Earl King re-
peated Lincoln's Gettysburg address in
L.: g.. Mice pacCia npIHc
rendered a solo very sweetly.
Rev. w. S. Emery then gave the adj
dress, which was a most excellent one,
thoughtful and timely. He was fol-
lowed by the Twentieth Century band
and then the beautiful custom of placing
the wheath of the unknown dead of
the civil war by member of the
Woman's Relief Corps was carried out,
by Mrs. Cora Hartman. A member of the
Ladies of the G. A. r., Mrs. w. B.
Walker, then placed a wreath for the
unknown dead of the Spanish American
war.
The program closed with the audi
ence singing America.
Address BY Rev. Emery.
Rev.. Emery's address was as fol-
lows:
If I am to believe what my father
has told me-and he served in the
Civil War three years and eleven
months-"War is hell" The most of
us, l presume, dread and fear war; but
if wars. like offences, must come, then
let us play the part of true women and
true men. We seek to show today a
loving remembrance. More, we seek
to show our gratitude to God, and to
our fathers and mothers. If, as we
look back to the emergency of the
Civil War; the events of that war, the
greatness of which we are coming to
realize more and more, if. as we look
back we do not feel our hearts stirred
with both religion and patriotism, Sra-
titude to God and man, then we are
unamerican.
"a memorial is anything intended to
preserve the memory of person or
event" The great King of Kings
gave to us this principle when he said:
This do in remembrance of me-" The
governor of our state a little more
than a year ago took a long journey
and spoke fitting words at the unveil-
ing of a memorial to the heroism and
ability of Minnesota troops. Let mem
orials be erected throughout our dear
land, and in answer to all Inquiries,
concerning them, we will say: Mem
orials of Gods, hand in our nations
history, and of the bravery, heroism
and ability of our fathers and mothers.
This is Memorial day. All through
cur land memorial services are being
addresses are made. We all are in
a more or less contemplative mood. A
well known magazine of April con-
tanned a picture called Memories" A
veteran carrying the flag. The veter-
ans eyes closed. The back ground of