The Springfield herald., 1916-06-09
MEMORIAL DAY
Address delivered by r. z. Scarffe at Springfield
on Decoration Day.

1t is now nearly half a century
since the order instituting me-
mortal day ventforth-issued by
commander in Chief Cen. Logan
in 1888 to tile Grand Army of the
Republic.
Blessed are the Dead, whose
memory is perpetuated by the
flower service of a greatfnl peo-
pie. How truly immortal are
those who give their lives for lib
erty. To have lived long, pur-
poseless, neutral yearsis nothing.
To have lived few glorious
hours, to have bravely faced the
Infinite, to have calmly met the
Master in Huuanity's cause is
sublime. Why mourn these dead
of ours? They sleep in the bos-
ON of the land they love. Their
epitaphs are written in the grand
est history Of the ages. Before
them will reverently pass tie
procession of the centuries.
1t is a day of memories, a day
when we meet in the followed
past and hold communion with
our holy dead. A day when we
recall the glorious aspirations
which thrilled mems souls in
that heroic time. A day filled
with that same spirit of freedom,
patriotism and devotion. A day
when we rekindle the fires of
patriotism liberties, and
renew the loyal vows
that these our noble dead
in the years gone by consecrated
with their lives.
The great conflict in which our
dead fought was, in the begin
ming, contest between men, be-
tween sections. 1t was the Un-
ion against the Confederacy,
But it is evident that over and
above the purposes of men was
Gods purpose. IIe would not
permit the government OF the
United States remain under
constitution that sanctioned hu-
man slavery. He would not give
victory to the Union arms until
with it would come liberty to
race In chains. Disaster had
followed disaster until Lincoln
himself almost dispaired of ulti-
mate victory. Until it seemed as
if the exulting southern hosts
were about to make good their
boasts of proclaiming the Con-
federate government from the
steps of the nations capitol.
But from the hour of Emancipa.
tion, from the hour in which the
cause of the Union became the
cause of liberty, from the hour
in which the flag of the Repub-
lie became the flag of humanity,
from tine nour in which the stars
and stripes no longer tloated ov.
err slaves, yea, from the sacred
hour of the nations new birth,
that dear old bannei never faded
from the skies, and the brave
boys who bore it never wavered
in their onward march to victory.
With the single exception of
Charlottesville and that stub
born doubtful day at Chickamau.
ga, no decisive field of battle was
ever lost.
From Chattanooga to Aspomat-
tox, from Atlanta to the sea, the
hearts of the war worn, battle
SCARED veterans took new cour-
age. All alLng the line
they joined with a new inspira-
ton in that glorious anthem
mine Eyes lave Seen the Glory
of the Coming of the Lord"
| believe our service should be
a love. service of prayer and
praise and song, and that out of
the heroic memories of the past,
we should draw new inspirations
of patriotism and find new ardor
for the preservation of the free
institutions which came to us
through the baptism of fire and
blood. From day to day the boys
in blue pass by. The bugle call
is heard even in this city of the
dead. There are no brothers ar
rayed against brothers, n" Amer
leans arrayed against Americans
There is only one uniform in all
| a d. -, oil