Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-06-01
PAY A TRIBUTE
To THE HEROES
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES CAR.
RIED OUT TUESDAY At THE
MYRTLE THEATER.
GRAFTON BY THE REV. \ P, GRECO

ing fitting tribute to Americas SOL
dier dead at the Myrtle theater Tues
day afternoon. The theater plat.
form was decorated appropriately
with the Stars and Stripes and At.
torney T.. G. Worden, member of
the Sons of Veterans, presided at the
services dedicated to Memorial day.
The Rev. e. l.. Kechley opened the
program with prayer and following
this Miss Edith Foley sang "The Vac.
ant Chair" Mr.. Worden. in introduc.
ing the speaker of the day, briefly
voiced some excellent sentiments re-
garding patriotism and the need OF
patriotic citizens
Memorial c STAT.
The Rev. H. p Libra.
speaker, delivered a mast HEaan
entirely in keeping with the : ~
and stately occasion. He drew fron.
the history OF the world and of the
United States several great lessons
for the problems which this country
is facing today. History has shown
us that q mighty unrest politically,
educationally. economically, such as
the United States is experiencing to.
day, precedes some great crisis, and
in the United States should lie the up
lift, salvation and peace of the entire
world. History has shown that great
crises have given birth to great me.
MORALS. and our own Memorial day,
typical as it is of what American his.
tory has been, should serve to ever
increase the obligation of what Amer.
lea should stand for in the future.
The history of the past is some.
thing definite upon which to base
lessons which should sink deep into
the heart of every American. First,
patriotism and America above all.
Second. love for the flag and those
things it symbolizes purity, truth
and sacrifice. Third, reliance
in God-the God that Abraham Lin.
coin trusted when he said:
Il do not doubt; l have not doubt.
ed for moment that our country
would finally come through safe and
undaunted. l do not know how 1t can
be. | do rot rely on the patriotism of
our people, although no people have
rallied aroung their king as ours have
rallied around me. l do not trust in
the bravery and devotion of the boys
in blue, though God never gave a gen.
eral such an army as he has given me-
Nor yet dc | rely on the loyalty and
skill of generals, although l believe
we have the best generals in the
world at the head of our armies. But
the God of our fathers, who raised up
this country to be refuge and an
asylum for the oppressed of all ma.
lions. He will not let it perish now"
Preparedness for Peace.
In closing, Mr.. Gregg stated that he
believed in preparedness with all his
leart, but not the kind of prepared.
less which will make more of tho
Kind of army and navy that we now
have 1t is essential that we have
great army and great navy, but the
man is greater than his munitions and
he man is greater than the ship. Pre-.
paredness should begin with war
against intemperance and vice;
against waste and graft. Patriotism
should be that of good morals before
all. for, as the poet says, it is brave,
high-minded men that constitute a
state and it is the man behind the
gun rather than the guns themselves.
When the speaker had closed his
address the audience sang america"
and were once more deeply moved
when Miss Foley sang, as closing
song, "Just Before the Battle, Moth.
err The benediction was pronounced
by Mr. Kechley.
Final Tribute.
Immediately after the services the
Judith Basin band, which had ren.
aered a patriotic concert just preced-
ing the services. led a procession OF
veterans, members of the Rifle asso.
citation and others to the graveyard.
where. as final tribute to the sol
dlers buried there. salute was fired
and taps was sounded by buglers
from the Elks trumpet corps. 1t was
an impressive ceremony and one
which did honor to the heroes who
have passed beyond
SUNDAY EVENING UNION SERVICE
The regular Memorial day exercises
were preceded by the Sunday evening
union service of Presbyterian church.
where large audience heard the adj
dress by Rev. c. M. Donaldson. A