The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-29
Services Honor Memory Of The
 Civil War Dead
Touching Tribute by Rev. Dr.
 Swain at South Church

At the South Congregational church last evening a large gathering was present at the annual services in honor of the men who fought for their country in the stirring days of the War of the Rebellion. Members of Elias Howe Jr. post Grand Army of the Republic, occu- pied the place of honor in the audi torium. Their ranks, thinned by the visitations of death during the past 50 years, presented but a scant frag- ment of the solid lines of blue which mustered out in '65 after the four years of fighting which preserved this country as a nation.
 Memories of old days in camp and battlefield were recalled to the vet erans to: the war songs which formed a prominent part of the musical | numbers, and to the famous bugle | calls rendered by Musician Joseph l.. Palmer, of the 14th company, c. 4. ! C.
 1 Patriotic Societies. There were nearly 500 seated in a place of honor in the. auditorium of the church. They comprised members l of Elias Howe, IT,, post, G. A. R.; Franklin Bartlett comp, Sons of Vet erans; United Spanish War Veterans; 4th, 11th and 14th companies, c. A. Militia of the 3rd division; Sons of America; General Silliman branch, $. A. R.; Mary. Silliman chapter, D. A. R.; Elias Howe, Jr.; post, Women's l Relief corps; Lincoln and Sheridan circles. Ladies of the G. A. R.; Major Charles B. Bonesteel auxiliary; United Boys Brigades and Boy Scouts of America.
 Rev. Dr. Richard L. Swain, pastor of the church, preached a particularly None Liveth to Himself and None Dieth to Himself" He said in part:
 Pastors Address. l Rom. 14:7. For none of us 1iveth unto himself and none dieth to him. self.
 This memorial service has really become a sacrament and fails of its highest ends when treated in any other manner. This is not a day for discussing abstract propositions. It with the dead. Our dead whom we gave Our dead who died for us and for all who shall live after us. It is a question of recognition and of grati- tude. A question of humanity, a question of whether or not I've will which we were bought. And what Is more searching whether we wish to let those who gave their lives for us drop out of memory all together. They possibly could get along without our poor gratitude but what would I would become of this country and the succeeding generations if we al- | lowed them to fall into the error of thinking that great free and united | country could be born and continue | to exist without the sacrihcia1 love of this service shall be made a sacre- ment. Its sacredness shall be held before our minds. The blood that heals and save shall not lose eficien- cy by being forgotten.
 Soldiers Explantion. Before preparing this address l asked a number of people to give me the exact significance of this service. They either expressed doubt as to its meaning or else gave different an- swers I then asked an old soldier and liked his answer best of all. He said to me 'aThe soldier, at that ser vice, will be thinking of his com rades who died without knowing the | issue of the war;
 Now, if that is what you soldiers are thinking about then that Is what am going to think about. And what food for thought that is. Three hun dred and sixty thousand comrades who never knew that Lee surren- dered. Three hundred and 60 thou sand comrades that did not have the loved ones when the war was over. Three hundred and 50 thousand cou- rades who never heard the plaudit of a grateful nation. Well may we take one hour in year to remember them, Poor dears," as the English would say. Life is full of duties and the living claim our attention almost to the exclusion of the dead. And 1t is right that the living should have our first attention only let us so think of the dear dead" that we will know how to act toward the "dear living" l~|~ 6oy, the three following questions: First, do we wish to forget our dead? Sec- ond, is it best for us to forget those who fell in the great struggle for our redemption? Third, is it ennobling to receive gifts and forget the givers?"
 Flowers for Minister.
 pleasing and unscheduled part of the program came just previous to the singing of America" when Major Louis J. Hammond advanced to the pulpit and presented handsome basket of roses to Rev. R. H. Higin- botham in behalf of the Coast Artil- lery. MT. Higinbotham is assistant pastor of the church and also a ser geant in the military company Fhs token of appreciation and good Will was much appreciated.
 At the close of the service that sol emn, yet beautiful, bugle call. Taps" the soldiers good night, was sounded. The program as gwen was: l Organ Prelude. Patriotic Airs.
 Bugle Call, Reveille.
 Worship and Praise.
 Scripture Reading.
 Choir, "The Flag They Loved so We'll" Leslie.
 Prayer and Response by the Choir.
 Hymn, Battle Hymn of the Repub- lie.
 Offertory by the Organ. Choir, "Our Fallen Comrades" Draper.
 Sermon by Dr. R. L. Swain, subect: For None Liveth to Himself and None Dieth to Himself"
 Choir, 'Tenting Tonight" Joseph F. Wieler and Choir.
 Bugle Call. Retreat. .. | Hymn, America.
 Benediction.
 Bugle Call, Taps.
 ICLASS TO BE CONFIRMED