The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1914-06-06
Decoration Day in the
Grand Old State of
Illinois. mon
Preached at Bethel by
its Pastor, to the John
Brown Post, Rev. I. A.
Smythe, D. D.
THE OVATION GIVEN REGIMENT K COL
oRED BOY SCOUTS BROWN POST, BY W. WASH


Inc new III. Il. n. On inc Ns ~ bAS
young Chesterfield of the A. II. Z.
Conference and the Pastor of Bethel,
preached q wonderful sermon to the
aged members of the John Brown Post,
Saturday IL a. m, and to those who
attended the services, being compelled
to have an overflow meeting. The
church was periodically decorated with
flowers, ferns and American flags. AS
a reminder of the price of liberty may
we not forget it, may we not forget it,
men, people and county. Rev. Smythe
is assisted by Mr.. B. W. Fits, president
of Bethel Literary Society.
Long live the day known as Decora-
tion Day. May it reign until peace and
good will toward all mankind cover
the earth. Last Saturday was a his
torieal day; a day of decorations of
the respectful dead, by the respectful
living. If you would truly understand
the meaning of 1t all. You have but
to refresh your memory and recall to
mind these pathetic words as they fell
from the lips of Him, the first fruits
of those who sleep. Without the
shedding of blood, there is no remis-
sions for sins. Greater love hath no
man than this, than for a man to lay
down his life for his brethren. And
this last general appeal to all nations.
In the garden of Gethsemmane. "Put
up thy sword, he that Stays with the
sword, shall by the sword be slain. -
Memorial day is a reminder of past
achievements and noble sacrifices made
by those to whom honor is given, all
over this Christian nation and United
country, and 50 may it be. -
For this reason, May 3Oth, is set apart
throughout the length and breadth of
this country, as Decoration Day." q
day Of patriotism and national honor,
a day of unity and oneness of purpose.
To keep alive for the nations children,
the accomplishments and deeds of those
who paid the price for your and my
liberty, for your and my peace and hap
piness and the liberty, peace and happi-
ness Of generations yet unborn.
When thinking of what such a day
means to the nation and to US we would
be traitors to the cause Of freedom if
we so far forgot ourselves as not to
hoist upon each residence, business in
stitution and public building in the
country, the red, white and blue-the
stars and stripes; the flag for which
our soldiers died in justification of
the constitution and the laws, and that
in this country we might have Zone
law, one flag and one union. One and
inseparable.
The Lyric writer caught the inspira-
tion, when he wrote these lines, as her
children were decorating, the graves of
the silent dead, all over the grand old
state, caught the strains which har-
monies with the sacred acts Of the iv-
ing, and the interpretations as ex.
pressed in the songs, vibrating and ar.
ticulating to the intelligence of ouI
ears, that caused the hearts of men to
beat with martial airs of
"By Thy Rivers Gently Flowing, Hi
nois, Illinois,
Der thy prairies verdant growing
Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an Echo on the breeze, rustling
thro', the leafy trees,
And its mellow tones are these Illinois
And its mellow tones are these, Hi
nois.
"When you heard your country calling
Illinois, Illinois.
Where the shot and shell were falling
Illinois, Illinois,
When the southern host withdrew, pit
ting gray against the blue
There were none more brave than you
Illinois, HliOis,
Not without thy wondrous story, nh-
nois, Illinois,
Can be writ the nations glory, Illinois
Illinois.
On the record Of thy years, Abraham
Hneoln's name appears,
Grant and Logan and our tears, Mi.
nOis, nlinois.
A host Of others with Loyejoy and
Palmer, have no fear have no fear,
For their spirit is dear and near us
Illinois, illinois.
In an Of this grand display Of patri,
otto, and National eSnmenOration, you
may ask, what part II any did the
American Negro have in its III were