The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-12
F0reSterS Hold
Annual Services
In Honor Of Dead
Polls Theatre Crowded Last
Evening - Postmaster Hag-
gerty of Hartford Principal
Orator

| Polls theatre was filled to the
doors last evening with members ant
| friends of the local courts of Fores-
tiers of America and Companions d
| the Forest, who came to witness Tho
simple but impressive memorial ser
vices of the order
Mayor Edward 7. Buckingham
meeting. Beautiful music of an APP
propriate character was rendered by
a quartette comprising Mrs. r. d
| Martin. Miss Norma l.. Weber, W
V. Walsh, and Joseph Weller. The
| theatre was draped with American
flags. Palms and cut flowers were
the only decorations used upon the
stage. The program of the evening
was as follows:
March, "Religioso,'' Chambers; over
ture, Martha Flotow; selection
Wheeler and Wilson orchestra; open
ing address, Mayor E. T. Buckingham
chairman; The Radiant Morn Hath
BE Thou Faithful Until DEATH Men
delssohn, w. V. Walsh: memorial adj
dress, Miss Annie Corcoran, New Ha-
ven, supreme secretary; Save Me, 0
God,' Mrs. Robert Douglas Martin;
roll call of deceased members, Secre-
| y. l.
During roll calD. Wheeler and viii.
son orchestra; Thy VIII Be Done,
Joseph F. Weller; Memorial Grafton.
Frank A. Haggerty, Hartford, past
grand secretary; Rock of Ages" re-
cessional, Wheeler and Wilson Or
chestra.
Mayors Address.
In his opening address Mayor Buck
| ingham said: I'VE welcome you here
| tonight to assist us in paying tribute
to the memory of-our departed. 1t is
! a beautiful custom to stop and think a
| few moments of those called to their
last resting place, the grand lodge
above. Their time had come and they
| have answered the summons. Stricken
down in their ambitions and successes
they were compelled to answer the
call. This world is so beautiful that
| it is hard to leave it, but we must go
when that summons comes. None Of
us know when it will be our turn and
some of us gathered here tonight may
be numbered with those to whom we
pay tribute year hence. We have to
learn from this that We cannot rely
upon our own strength and that when
we appear to be the most successful
we may be unsuccessful. We have al
together too few chances here in life,
SO let us accept them before they pass
on forever. We love to think that the
spirits of the departed ones are hover
ing over us tonight, 80 let us be pre-
pared to answer the call with L am
ready"
Miss Corcoran's Address.
After the quartet had sung an ad-
mirable selection, Mr.. Walsh sang a
solo in splendid voice, following which
Miss Annie Corcoran. Of New Haven.
the supreme secretary of the Com
panions of the Forest, made her me-
mortal address, she saying in part:
The custom of assem- bling once a
year to pay tribute to our departed
members is one of the most beautiful
of our order. In these days Of push
and struggle not only for power and
place, but also for the necessities OF
life, it is very gratifying to know that
we can find the time to gather and
honor the memory of the departed. 1t
is right and just for us to 80 gather
longing to our order are worthy Of
best efforts. We should bear one
another's burdens and from human
hearts extend sympathy to those sor-
rowing with US. Each year the order
by its work makes the lives of many
lighter and brighter and the givers
are equally rewarded with the recipi-
ents. Tonight We gather to honor the
memory of those who have gone on
before. We strew the choicest flowers,
emblematic of innocence and beauty,
on their graves. Let US instead of be-
ing selfish, do what We can to help
men and women now, besides honor
ing them when they are dead. Let US
do our best 80 we shall be ready to
answer the final summons that comes
to us all.
Following this Mrs. R. D. Martin
sang a splendid solo, her full rich So
prano voice being heard with great
pleasure and completely filling the
theatre with its music
Next came the most impressive part
of the entire evening. Nearly all the
lights in the theater were turned out,
those on the stage stood up reverently
and while the orchestra played the
angels Serenade," Secretary J. H.
the list of the dead, numbering 439.
At the conclusion Mayor Buckingham,
quoting from one of the orations of the
immortal Cicero, said impressively:
Brief Is the span of life given US by
nature, but the memory of life well
rendered is immortal" while the quar-
tet behind the scenes sang, Now the
Day Is Over"
Following Joseph F. Wiler's well
sung solo Postmaster Frank A. Hag-
gerty of Hartford, past grand secre..
tary, was introduced and delivered the
address of the evening, he saying in
part:
Another year has rolled away and
the second Sunday in June set apart
by our order as one when we gather in
Oh our lodge room and according to the
customs of our order pay tribute to the
memory of our deceased members, is
upon US. No year goes by without
some one of us being touched by the
loss OF some one. Not a single year
passes, but it brings great changes.
There are those who assisted US only
last year, who have now passed away.
This year will not be different from
any other. On such an occasion as
this we seem to see those who were
once with US, to Scan the beloved fea-
lures once more. 1t seems as if they
were the ones left behind and we,
the departed"
1--WE Are All Brothers,"
Probably there is not one of us
mere who has not lost friend during
the past year, possibly a father,
mother, brother or sister, or a hus-
oand, or wife, or even q child. If this
gathering of Foresters does not bring
pack to you the image of the one pass
ed away we hope it will bring to you
pleasant memories. We are all broth |
ers, but in this order the tie is not
one of blood, but we are united in ties
OF brotherhood that will not break. |
We all took the same obligations at |
the altar, and have kept them. Now
When they are sleeping their long last |
sleep shall we not remember that they |
and we are brothers and keep the tie |
that seems the brightest at the same |
time? Let us not forget them or the |
lesson they have taught US. Nothing !
is lost for us in this world. although |
time has taken them but it Will take |
US. The FOresters' bond of love still |
survives. In the forest there are many |
1rlCr 11~ l.