Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-31
Memorial Day at South Paris.
FITTING OBSERVANCE OF THE OCCASION
BY WIN. K. KIMBALL POST.

FITTING OBSERVANCE OF THE OCCASION
BY WIN. K. KIMBALL POST.
Notwithstanding Q threatening ap
pearance of the sky Monday morning
and an occasional mistiness, the damp
ness was not of long continuance, ant
conditions as a whole on Sunday ant
Monday were favorable for the soldiers
memorial services, and thu programme
of the occasion was carried out In man
ner appropriate. Many flags were out
and everything seemed to be In harmony
with the spirit of the day.
Sunday was beautiful day for the an
nual memorial sermon, which was giver
at the Congregational church in the after
noon, by Rev. A. T. McWhorter. The
members of William K. Kimball Post
G. A. R., William K. Kimball Circle,
Ladies of the G. A. R., and Joshua. L.
Chamberlain Camp, S. of ", gathered
at the hall and marched to the church,
which was well filed at the hour OF
service.
The singing was by choir composed OF
| w. l.. Merrill, tenor; Miss Hattie Leach,
soprano; Mrs. f. Z. Barrows, alto; L,
W. Hollis, bass; with Mrs. Brickett at
the organ.
Mr.. McWhorter spoke from the text,
"If / forget thee, o Jerusalem, let my
right hand forget her cunning" &c. His
topic was patriotism, and he urged that
every American should be patriotic, be-
cause of the vastness Of our land; be-
cause it is land Of opportunity; be-
cause it is land of liberty; because Of
the great sacrifice that it cost to have
such land. He especially urged that
Memorial Day should be kept sacred to
its purpose, without ball games or other
amusements. Patriotism should mani
fest itself by obedience TO law; by stand
ing for the right; by having a broad
view; by advocating peace; and by en-
listing in the war that is on forever, be-
tween the kingdom of righteousness and
the kingdom of evil, under the banner Of
Jesus Christ.
Monday morning the veterans of VIM.
K. Kimball Post, headed by the South
Paris Band, proceeded to the station TO
meet Comrade l.. C. Bateman of Lewis
ton, the speaker of the day, and escort
him to Grand Army Hall.
Immediately afterward the line Of
march was formed for the services of
decoration. The South Paris Band
headed the line, then came the Sons of
Veterans acting as escort, VIM. K. Kim
ball Post, VIM. K. Kimball Circle.
Ladies of the G.. A. R., and large num-
Der of school children in charge of their
teachers.
At Riverside Cemetery prayer was Of
fered by Rev. A. T. McWhorter, there
was music by the band, LincOln's Gettys-
burg address was read by Mrs. Curtis,
and the graves were decorated. The re-
turn was by Moore Park, giving the
marching salute at the soldiers monu-
ment. Co. D, Second Infantry, N. G
S. NJ, came from Norway and fell in be-
hind the band as escort on the return to
the hall.
Soon afterward detachment of the
Spanish War Veterans decorated the
graves of their dead in Riverside.
Dinner and supper were served to the
veterans by the ladies in Grand Army
Hall as usual.
At a little before O'Clock the exer-
cises opened in New Hall, Franklin
Maxim presiding Several good selec-
tons were played by the band, one of
which, a medley of patriotic airs, was
specially appreciated. There were de-
corstions of flags and bunting about the
stage.
Prayer was offered by Rev. E. A.
Davis, and there were selections during
the exercises by quartette composed of
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Whittle, and
Albert Z. Dean. Miss Airline Croker
read 1.-THE Blue and the Gray" and Miss
Martha Maxim of Cambridge, Mass,
read an original poem written especially
for this occasion, entitled, 1.-THE Grand
Army Host Unseen" which was receiv-
ed with much favor.
THE GRAND ARMY HOST UNSEEN.
Another year has taken wings,
Its storms and sunshine fed.
Once more we meet to decorate
The graves Of our valiant dead.
Ger green repose Of Oxford hills
No echoing war.cry comes
From far-off Southern battledelds-
Nor blsre OF fife and drums.
And innocent blood of heroes
Has long since ceased to How;
The leyeled gun, the flags OF war,
Are things Of the Long Ago.
Full long the fowery paths of peace
Our grateful feet have pressed,
Encamping, after each day march,
Nearer the ramparts 6lest.
Each year sorle comrade falters,
Faithful, loyal, at his post
And joins the great Grand Army
or the unseen Heavenly Host.
And again some well loved brother
Is mustered from the band,
And another mound In riverside
We deck with reverent hand.
One by one they swell the numbers
Round the camphres of the blest.
At the call OF their Great Commander,
They have entered eternal rest.
Upon the breast Of Mother Earth
They laid their knapsacks down,
And now. on Heavens Memorial Day,
They wear the vtctor's crown.
BY winding ways of the Androscoggin,
They are lulled to peaceful sleep,
Where stately oak and maple royal,
A solemn virgil keep.
Sing soft, D murmuring river,
A requiem, sad and slow,
With tender voices of Nature blending
In symphony, sweet and low.
And so, with gentle, loving hand,
We deck each hallowed grave.
For the dearest spot on earth must be
Where sleep our honored brave.
But not to the ranks celestial
Should all the homage fall,
But to the noble band who still
Heed duty's trumpet-call.
With voices soft with tenderness,
And hearts with fervor warm,
We speak his praise who wears to-day
The Grand Army uniform.
Though TO the Host unseen we give
Offering of flower and tear,
A tenderer, mightier gift We bring
To you. who still are here
And walk with US to-day! Brave boys,
Who honor still the blue!
The tribute OF our grateful hearts,
We bring to-day to you'll