The Republican journal., 1918-06-06
Memorial Day Observances.
lhey Were Unusually Appropriate. The
Part Taken by the Red Gross a New and
Interesting Feature. Influence of World
War Aonaror<

Interesting Feature. Influence of World
War Apparent.
Memorial Day was most appropriately
observed last Thursday. The sky was
overcast with an occasional glimmer oi
sunshine and no rain fell. The comman-
der, chaplain and other leading members
OF Thomas H. Marshall Post, G. A. R.,
expressed their appreciation in no uncer-
tain terms, saying it was the best the
post had ever had and while acknowledg-
ing the assistance of all were deeply
grateful to the Red Cross participation.
The exercises of the day were opened
at 9.45 a. m. with union prayer meet
ing of the city churches in the Methodist
auditorium, in accordance with the request
of President Wilson. Rev. Arthur E.
Wilson of the Unitarian church explained
the motives of the meeting, ETC., Rev.
Walter T. Hawthorne of the Congreqa-
tional church offered prayer and Rev.
Chas. w. Martin, Methodist, conducted
the music, ETC., Rev. j. Wilbor Richard
son, Baptist, was out of town.
Committees under the direction of the
Post had marked their comrades graves
in Grove Cemetery with flags and built a
mound to the unknown dead on the G. A.
R. lot early in''the.morning. Grove Gene
terry as a whole never presented better
appearance. The grounds around the new
chapel have been graded, trees set out
and flowers planted. The vivid green of
the we'll kept family lots everywhere was
frightened with flowers of which there is
unusual abundance this season.
Flags were displayed on many of the
public buildings and private residences,
particularly on the line of march.
| Sixty children under the direction of
Mrs. Belle P. Towle, patriotic instructor,
Mrs. Rose Fairbrother, chaplain, and Mrs.
Nettie M. White, senior vice of Thomas
H. Marshall Circle, with an escort of Boy
| Scouts, marched to the lower bridge
where the impressive ceremony took place
of casting flowers on the water for the sail
osr who gave their lives for their country.
The chaplain read a selection concerning
the service and offered an appropriate
prayer. After singing the Star Spangled
Banner and America the children return
ed to Memorial Hall led by the Scouts,
where they disbanded.
At 10. 80 a. m. every available seat was
taken in the Colonial Theatre, which was
very generously given for the regular hall
exercises. After the assembly the pro-
gram was opened with the audience sing
ing Star Spangled Banner, the Belfast
Band accompanying. In the American
Overture-a medley of National airs-the
Band was never heard to better advant-
age. The general orders were read by L,
| C. Putnam, Adj1., who also read the names
of the members of the Post who have
died since last Memorial Day-George w.
Patterson, Daniel o. Bowen, Alexander
McCambridge, Rev. Michael Andrews, j.
Gilmore, Fitz W. Patterson, Capt. George
T. Osborne. A brief but very cordial ad-
dress of welcome was given by Comman-
der Thomas Cannon, followed by the
Chaplain, DR.. A. o. Stoddard, in prayer.
The Gettysburg Address, now fraught
with new meaning, was very gracefully
read by Miss Sabra B. Dyer as were also
the three patriotic selections, The Veter-
ans, The Little Green Tents, and Toasts
to the Flags by Mrs. S. A. Parker; and
The Little Bronze Button by Miss Alice
E. Simmons.
| One of the new war songs, "Keep the
Home Fires Burning" was beautifully
rendered by Miss katherine E. Brier,
bringing tears to the eyes of all. The
quartet Freedom for All Forever'-by
Mrs. E. P. Frost, Mrs. E. S. Pitcher,
Chas. F. Hammons and Mr.. Pitcher with
Mrs. M. o. Dickey at the piano was also
very appropriate. A patriotic tableau was
given-"Flags of the Allies"-Eva v.
Dutch, France; Jennie Roberts, England;
Olive Robertson, Belgium; Beulah Young,
Italy; Vivian Howard, America, who
slowly unfurled their flags as Miss Julia
Littlefield at the piano played their Ma
tional airs. The address by Rev. Walter
T. Hawthorne was excellent from begin
ming to end. He acknowledged his loyalty
to England, his birthplace and early home;
the land for which several of his broth
ers have recently given their lives. In
every sentence he expressed a deeper.
broader and stronger love for the country
of his adoption, devotion born of re-
spect and alteration. His references to
the Boston Tea party and to events in
the lives of the Civil War veterans show
ed a knowledge of Americas history as
well as vital intimacy with its present
national affairs. No Memorial Day ora
tor of recent years ever had the oppor-
tunity to speak as Mr.. Hawthorne did in
the presence of the fast depicting ranks
of the boys who wore the blue, with their
SONS and grandsons engaged that very
hour in defending what they had in
herited from the Civil War. The pro-
gram closed with America.