Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-03-13

co1ors, followed by the guard of hon
or of sixteen men, was seen moving
| directly toward the altar On reach
ing it, the colors divided, one to the
right and one to the left of the altar,
while the guard of honor faced about
in platoon 'front.'" Again the bugles
sounded, this time ITO the Colors''-
the guard presented arms and the
regiment stood rigid. When the notes
died away to echoes, the chaplain and
his assistants We're at the foot of the
altar and the Requiem Mass for the
dead of the 18th Infantry began Tt
was eleven o'clock
One hour later the ceremony was
over. First came the Mass itself, an
act of worship and supplication to
God for the repose of the souls of the
departed. The Kyrie, the Sanctus and
the Agnus Del, in Greek and Latin
were chanted in the ancient music of
posed of French civilians and Amer
lean soldiers. During the Ofertory
there rose on the air, from nearly
every throat, the grand and familiar
notes of Nearer My God to Thee"
After the reading of the Gospel, the
cerem onies ceased for a short inter
val while Chaplain Sawkins explain
ed briefly the significance of the oc-
casion. The prayers of the Mass were
then resumed The most striking
m or1ent was at the Elevation of the
Host and Chalice, when the guard of
honor, who had been standing at ease,
presented arms and the bug1es far
ed three times again. When the Mass
was finished, there followed the brief
but significant ceremony of the Alb
solution Of the Dead, conducted in pre-
cIsely the same manner as if the bod
les of the fallen soldiers were actually
present. Facing north toward the Ar
come, the Chaplain scattered the
drops of Holy Water and the smoke
of the incense in that direction and
then blessed the distant graves.
Before the military act of homage
a significant thing took p1ace-the
Catholic chaplain introduced the Prot
estant chaplain, VIM. E. Sullens, as
the man who had joined the regiment
two weeks before the great Argonne
battle began, who had shared with
them every hardship and every dan
ger until the titanic struggle was
over and who could feel that he, to-
day, possessed the respect, admira-
ton and love of every officer and
soldier before him.
'EThey We're Crusaders of Freedom, -
said Chaplain Sullens, of their fallen
comrades, they knew what they were
fighting for, and they We're willing to
lay down their lives in a holy cause.
Wherever the body of an American
soldier lies in France, there will be a
bit of France which will be forever
| America and will be shrine of
Americas undying patriotic devo-
ton"
He spoke briefly but with feeling
born of tremendous experiences
Then came the end. After the last
! line of FFAmerica'' was sung. there
came sharp command to the guard
/ honor-sixteen rifles rent the stiffness
with their report-once, twice, three
times Immediately, in shrap con
trast, the trembling hills were sooth-
ed with the sweet, sad notes of The
| trumpet, sounding the signal for sleer
and repose- It was the salute for the
hundred soldiers-sha1I it be said, the
soldiers who will not go home? No
| to the soldiers who have alre;alv gone
| hone-to that eternal home, let us
| nope and pray, in the country where
| there is no strife, no suffering nc
tears, but only peace and rest without
end.
Some day very soon, amid cheering
crowds along the streets at home
there VIII be some who look in vair
for their own in the marching ranks
But their faces will brighten and then
| hearts will be comforted when they
hear that the brave who lived did not
depart for the homeland until they
gave every honor in the power OF
! Church and Army to the glorious
/ dead.-The Jayhawker in France. The
unofficial organ of the 137th infantry
! February 5, 1919,