Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-06-01

APPROPRIATE AND BEAUTIFUL SERVICES
AT SOUTH PARIS.

APPROPRIATE AND BEAUTIFUL SERVICES
AT SOUTH PARIS.
Another Memorial Day with its beau
tiful and impressive ceremonies has
come and gone, and its lessons, 1t Is to
be hoped, have not been lost upon the
present generation In its activities.
They certainly have not been without
effect upon the younger people, whose
patriotism could not but be inspired and
intensified by the scenes and exercises of
the day.
Although the weather continued its
GOODNESS of habit. and the breeze was a
little over-prominent, the skies on both
Sunday and Monday were bright and
flecked with clouds, giving just the right
setting to the outdoor services of the
season.
The annual Memorial sermon before
William K Kimball Post, G. A. R., at
South Paris, was given Sunday afternoon
at the Methodist church, by the pastor,
Rev. T. N. Kewley. The post, the
Ladies of the G. A. R., and Joshua l.
Chamberlain Camp, s. of v, attended,
and there was good attendance of
other citizens. The choir sang number
of selections appropriate to the day, and
Rev. j. W. Chesbro assisted in the
service. Mr.. Kewley's text was taken
from the incident of Elisha taking up
the mantle of Elijah which fell when
the old prophet was taken up. 1t was
an impressive discourse, specially en-
forcing upon the present generation its
duty of taking up the mantle OF the
fathers, and of meeting the problems
and temptations of the day in the same
spirit and with the same patriotism and
devotion which inspired the saviors of
our country.
Decorating the graves in Riverside
Cemetery was done Monday forenoon,
and with the large number in each of
the several bodies represented, and the
beauty of the natural surroundings, the
scene was not only impressive but
brilliant. The line of march was formed
in front of Grand Army Hall little
after 10 O'Clock, with Grintill Stuart
playing the drum aud Howard Shaw the
clarinet. Joshua L. Chamberlain Camp,
S. of ", acted as escort. Following
this were the veterans of William K.
Kimball Post, the ladies of William K.
Kimball Circle, Ladies of the g.. A. r.,
and larger number than usual OF the
school children, each carrying small
flag.
Exercises at the cemetery were brief,
consisting simply of prayer by Rev. A.
T. McWhorter, the reading of Lincoln's
Gettysburg's address by Rev. j. W.
Chesbro, and selection by the Schubert
Quartette. The large number of soldiers
graves in the cemetery were then decorat-
ed with the wreaths carried by the
veterans.
While the decorating was in progress,
squad of the Spanish War Veterans
entered, attended by Co. D, I'd Regiment,
and placed wreaths on the graves of the
Spanish War soldiers. Co. D and the
Spanish War Veterans then joined the
procession and marched back with 1t by
way of Moore Park and the soldiers
monument to Grand Army Hall, where
the procession was dismissed.
An army dinner for the veterans was
served by the ladies in the hall.
Henry Fl. Maxim. adjutant OF the
post, presided at the afternoon exercises,
which began promptly at 2 O'Clock in
New Hall. The decorations were very
simple, consisting of border OF bunt-
ing around tho hall, surrounding por-
trait of Lincoln over the stage, and on
the stage small monument in the form
of plain shaft, decorated with flags.
The preliminary exercises included
prayer by Rev. j. W. Chesbro, selections
by the Schubert Quartette, violin and
piano duet by the Misses Dean, and
pleasing drill by fifteen girls with flags
and wreaths, as one feature OF which
they piled the wreaths around the base
of the monument.
John o. Winship of Westbrook was
then introduced to give the address OF
the afternoon. While not 30 finished IN
his style as some, Mr. Winship is very
ready, earnest and effective speaker, and
what is more, he has something to say
it Is not all rhetoric and platitudes. He
spoke little more than forty minutes,
and was listened to with close attention.
His first remarks were addressed to
the children, and he counseled them to
remember thst the flag which they bad
been carrying represented not merely a
pretty piece of cloth, but our country.
1t means American civilization, the best
in the world, and it has cost all that
| that civilization has cost.
Turning to "these kids, my comrades" "
he counseled them not to talk OF grow
| ing old, for so long as man was useful,
| he had no business TO grow old. Wnat
you did, my comrades, he said, was not
simply to preserve the territorial integ-
| rity of the Union; 1t was not simply trr
the benefit of the people of this country ;
| it was for the benefit of all the world. 1t
was part of that world-old struggle, OF
that contest which God Is working out,
between the principle of the brother
hood of man and the equal rights Of all,
and that other principle, OF the divine
right" of few to govern the many as
they see fit.
Ash look back upon that conflict, |
tremble as l think of the magnitude Of
the struggle. The people of the nations
said that rebellion of that magnitude
could not be crushed out, and In the
light of history they were rig bit. 1t had
never been done. But the rebellion was
crushed out, and it was proved to the
world that government was not
failure.
| Then came the disarmament of the
army, and trouble was predicted as the
consequence of dispensing 80 many
soldiers. Did you ever hear OF it? You
were not soldiers, my comrades; it was
not your trade to kill. You we're Ameri.
can citizens, and as such you returned
to your homes.
In that four years you had learned
valuable lessons. You had learned self
sacrifice, and no one of you to-day re,
grets his sacrifices. You had learned
comradeship, its breadth and depth
This Memorial Day means to you the
memory of those days. Let these
memories throng your minds. Com
mune with your departed comrades anc
live over again those scenes.
To his fellow-citizens the speaker gave
the word that the flag means what oul
country means-American civilization
American citizenship. This Is the best
country because it creates those condi
tions which enable US to raise the bes
crop of boys and girls. That is the oni!
important thing. 1t is the high stand
ard of American manhood and American
womanhood that gives American citi
zenship it's almost sacredness. d.
counseled the citizens to be true to tn
country's ideals, and the young to lear
the lesson of self-sacrifice and devotion
which the day should teach.
Death of Hon. Adelbert Delano.