Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-26
G. A. R. SERVICES
FOR HONOREO DEAD
ARE HELD SUNDAY
CONTINUED from page -

ram of patriotic hymns, and the !
prayer service and special sermon |
was preached by the rector, Rev. &. /
W Farrar Rev Farrar spoke of the
sradual thinning of the ranks during
he past five years, since the organ |
zation last held "A Memorial Day
service in Christ church.
He spoke of the placing a flower
N the graves of the departed heroes
and declaring that any man or woman
who did this. planted a seed of pa
riotism in his own heart. He called
attention to the fact, that memorial
lay would mean more to the present
generation this year, than it ever
meant before. on account of the re
tent war, and the many heroes who
rad died in France. Saying in part:
1T brings to the men of the G. a.
T. and to the mothers of the w. r.
: new memories, new honor and
aew glories won for them by their
grandsons at Chateau Thiery and the
trgonne and made possible because
tour blood was flowing in their veins.
made possible because they carried
With them into battle the memory and
Inspiration of gallant deeds done by
heir forefathers on southern battle
feds. Is it any wonder that your
BOYS fought as they did at Bellcau
Wood when we think of how their
athers fought at Gettysburg, For
our sakcs they have endured the
ong journey. faced the enemy and
Won the victory. They are returning
lay their laurels at your feet.
come Of them will not return. Let Us
'emember them in our prayers and
ulfll the new duties of this memorial
sunday 1t beckons MS to distant
ands, across the Atlantic 5000 miles
rom home under wooden crosses lie
thousands of American boys We
mink Of those soldiers graves in
rance; of those crosses. row on row;
We are thinking today of the costly
,ffering which has been laid upon the
liar of liberty by the soldiers Of
he Civil war and the American EX-
'editionary Forces,
He urged upon the people, TO look
sfter the future of the returning sol
Iiers. to see that they were cared for
in every way in order that the boy
would retain his self respect. upon
MS return to civil life. He spoke of
lrotherly love of mankind, saying:
God grant that we may learn in
hese days of victory the lesson that
'od would teach us. He says to this
ation today what He said to it after
he Civil War. I have given you a
reat victory; | have crowned your
rms with success because you We're
ighting for humanity and justice, be-
ause you cared for the down trOddcn
n dthe oppressed; because of your
mercy to your foes; because you were
esolved to put an end to war; to
he passions that feed it; to the in
ustices that gave it birth, Now you
re in a position Of leadership and
'ower; tie world is yours to make it
yer int GA new world wherein every
ne shall have an equal right and a
quare deal; wherein respect for the
lWs of God and man shall rule su-
rene God help us if we fail to
make good ON tn professions WC
made when we entered the war We
hDEnttin
. a people a great shining light and
hen deliberately put it under a bush
i. | believe that this will never hap
en-. | believe that we va 90 for
ictory into a league Of nations which
ill make future wars impossible
md now we bring our memorial scry-
ce to an end, In faith and hope We
commit our dead unto the safe keen
ng of God They are living in a
ruer sense than we. THE strife is
re'r tho battle won"
Rev. Briggs Speaks,
Rev Briggs spoke of his topic from
/ different side than that which il
usually given attention at a memorial
day service, suggesting a few of tho
BENEFITS which the people of the ma
zion have derived from the G. A. X
and the w. Il, c.
First the G. A. r. has given the on
coming generation a recital of actual
experiences OF the war Of the rebel
ion and has produced higher type OF
patriotism through the teaching OF
he historical events OF the war.
Second. the work of the G. A. Il
md the w. II, c. has done more than
anything else to place a just reco2ni
ton upon the personal courage and
self-saCrifice of those who took part
n the great war.
Third, the activities of those organi
@atiCnS have warranted the raising up
IF any army to protect the future in.
jerests Of the country and are re
ponsiblc for the spirit Of he a. L. F.
He spoke Of the present spirit Of
Memorial day, and the custom OF
erecting monuments and placing flow
ers on the graves of the departed sol,
diers and civilians giving the mem
bers of the G A. r. and w. Il. c..
credit for establishing this day an