The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-02-22
THE LAST SAD RITES.

4
phan, Fort Still, Oklahoma, on the
7th of February, while a member OF
the both Machine Gun Battalion, was
held from the Orpheum theatre Sun
day afternoon. 1t was the largest and
most impressive funeral ever held in
Oroville. Young Hodges was the first
soldier from this immediate part of the
| county to give up his life in the pres
ent war; his was the first soldiers fun
eral ever held here, and the patriotic
people of Oroville and vicinity turned
out almost en- masse to pay last trib-
ute of respect to the dead young SOL
der, a representative of the grand
army of America battling for the very
life of democracy. This funeral brought
close home to us the sacrifices that
war calls for. In the big audience that
crowded the hall even to the limit OF
standing room, there were many to
whom the services were particularly
significant, as they have relatives and
friends on the soil of France, or soon
to go to that foreign land, and none
can tell who may be the next called
upon to suffer the agony of the loss
of near and dear one.
The stage end of the hall was neatly
and appropriately decorated, the work
of the hands of the Red Cross. There
were several large. floral offerings pro-
v:ded by the Oroville Commercial Club,
residents of Ellemeham mountain,
where the parents live, and others. The
national colors were everywhere in
evidence, and the casket was draped in
large American flag.
The singing by a quartet consisting
of the Messrs. Starretts, Redhead and
Murray was a beautiful and touching
feature of the service. Rev. U. L..
Smothers of the Methodist church, led
in prayer and followed by most able
and patriotic sermon. 1t was an elO-
quent tribute to the cause for which
America is fighting and in which the
young soldier had laid down his life.
The sermon was an eloquent and pow
erful appeal to the Christian people Of
the community, and fervent demand
for religious awakening in this hour
of the country's danger.
The services closed with an patriot
ic address by Prosecuting Attorney
Charles A. Johnson, Of Okanogan, a
member of the County Council of De-
fense, who had been invited to repre-
sent that organization at the funeral.
Mr.. Johnson spoke in a clear and dis
tinct voice that could be heard in all
parts of the room, and his fervent ut
terances appealed directly to every
loyal man and woman in the audience
The following is the address:
Friends: In requesting a member of the
County Council of Defense tc be present
here today those in charge of arrange
ments no doubt feel thisis an event in
which the people of the county generally
take a heartfelt interest. and that the oc-
casion should not pass without some pub
lie expression of that interest. and some
event should teach. And so we have gath
cred here today for a three fold purpose:
To bid farewell to this soldier of the Re-
public; to extend word OF sympathy to
those to whom he was nearest and dearest
and, lastly, to pledge anew our allegiance
to our country, and our faith in the great
cause in which we are now engaged
Others of the men of this county en-
rolled in our armies have passed away,
but this, believe. is the first time that
the people of Otoville have assembled at a
soldiers funeral Occasions such as this
can have but one meaning for us. In this
hour of sorrow. in the presence of the
mortal remains of this young soldier OF
liberty-now enfolded by that flag in the
all love so well--it may be that we come
nearer to realization of what this war
actually means and of what we must ac-
complish and endure before it can be
brought to a successful close.
A few months ago, even after congress
had declared that state of war existed
there were those. who professed that they
could nee no reason why America should
enter the war. But as the weeks have
passed, and the evidence has been gath
cred and placed before us, it has become
plain to all that our entrance into the con-
flict was inevitable.
In August 1914, the people of the earth.
including the German people, were enjoy
ing prosperity and peace. There was no
cause nor excuse for change in those
peaceful happy conditions. But the Ger
until they believed them to be invincible.
their we'll organized band of spies reported
that the time had come to strike, and the
lust of the kaiser and his autocrats for
strained Selling upon the first flimsey
pretext that presented itself, practically
without warning. the German government
plunged the world into the inferno of the
present conflict. The much vaunted Ger
man kultur was unmasked and revealed
its true and sinister aspect and the plans
of the so called War Lord "to conquer and
rule the world by force" were made
known.
Barely to enumerate the crimes against
humanity and civilization that have been
since committed would consume hours of
time The most solemn treaties have been
torn to shreds as so many scraps of paper.
The freedom of the seas has been denied,
and the hitherto safe pathways of ocean
travel have been made death traps in
which helpless women and children have
been ruthlessly destroyed by the murder
Gus sinking Y boats. The Red Cross.
which in other wars has saved the hos
pitals on land and sea from hostile attack.
serves now to make better target for the
torpedoes and bombs of the Hun. Beauti-
have not been spared. BY crimes unspeak-
able the sacred rights of womanhood have
been violated, children tortured and de-
stroyed and every principle of chivalry
and decenHy has been violated. In short
the crimes committed by the Huns of the
kaiser, in the name of German science and
kultur have made DanteS Inferno appear
as the work of a mere amateur.
BY such a course of action was the free
dom of the world to be destroyed. We had
our choice To have stood by indifferent
towards. would have meant the renuncia
tion of the principles upon which our gov
ernment is founded. Moreover, our immu-
nifty would have been of short duration.
for with Europe conquered America would
/ have been surely invaded. And so. true to
our traditions we have entered the war on
/ shall not turn back until the world is safe
| once more
| AS yet in spite of the casualty lists
which come with greater frequency and
grow in length. in spite of the transfer.
nation which our industries have under.
gone, in spite of the restrictions placed
upon our daily customs with respect tc
food fuel and the like we have scarcely
felt the burdens or realized the horrors o.
war in the sense that they have been fell
and rallied by the people of Belgium
France and England. Even the Tuscania
disaster. while ii has strengthened ou,
purpose to defeat the Huns has left u.
with feeling of gratitude that it was M
| worse rather than with a sense of horror
But we cannot hope to remain immune. II
the next few weeks we must expect {
heavy loss. I believe that II will help VI