Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-01
REV. H. A. CLARK
Memorial Day Orator


The time -honored program of Memo
rial Day was carried out in detail Sat-
uday with clearing skies playing an
important part in it's success. During
the afternoon the sun came out and
the many persons who thronged the
Common found the wealth ideal. The
dozen remaining veterans of the Civil
War, assisted by the veterans of the
Spanish-American War and the World
War, went the old familiar rounds in
the morning, decorating the graves at
Randolph, pausing on the bridge for
the tribute to the sailors who died for
their country. The graves at the other
outlying cemeteries were also decorat-
ed in the morning.
In the afternoon the parade formed
at 2.30 o'clock at Grand Army hall
with Chief of Police Roscoe c. Dunn
as marshal, and the members of the
Gardiner police force as aides. Then
followed the Farmingdale Band with
Bandmaster Sears as leader. Follow
ing the band were the colorbearers of
the Veterans Of Foreign Wars, Pell
Clason Camp Sons of Veterans, and
veterans Of the Civil War in autono-
biles. The line of march was Bruns-
wick Hill to Water street, Vine street,
School, Lincoln avenue, Danforth
street, to Oak Grove cemetery. Re-
turning to Plummer street, to Bruns-
wick avenue, to Common, where the
usual exercises were held. Heath Post.
No. 6, carried out the regular order Of
ritual, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
being read by Comrade Hoyt. Prayer
was offered by Comrade Linwood Mer-
I'll Nf
gan's orders of the day by Hon. w. O..
Cobb, a member of the Sons of Vet
Grams.
Mayor Donald s. McNaughton acted
a master Of ceremonies and introduced
as the speaker Of the occasion Rev. H.
A. Clark, pastor of the Winter Street
Free Baptist church of this city, who
spoke a few words of introduction to
his general remarks, then In a not over
lengthy grafton gave to the hundreds
standing near the speaker words of eu-
logy to the memory of those of Ameri-
cas- wars Of all times who died that
we, the generations today, might have
the gift Of free popular government.
In passing. the speaker tenderly paid
his respects and the tribute Of COM
munity Of people who felt keenly the
lessening of the ranks of the living
with the passing years, a citizenry who
felt it an honor to have lived in this
their day, privilege in the years to
come would be national Inheritance
to be We'd by those who knew them
not.
While the remarks were directed
and intended to call to the attention
of the boys and girls, the youth of
today, the part the old soldier had
in shaping the destiny of this land,
yet the veterans of the Spanish
American and World Wars came in
for a share of the glory of nations
defender in times of war.
The speaker referred to history
as his backing for much of the vast
array of facts which were so, forci-
bly, placed before the minds of his
listeners. Following were some OF
the figures from which the aud
ience could make their own deduc-
tions.
Seventy two years had elapsed
since the formation of the Union
under Washington to the outbreak
of the Civil war. In 1889 our popu-
lation was four millions, u years
number. In 1850 four cities were al
we had. 1861 we had chartered 81
which banded together by r. R. Tel
and Tel. lines were carrying on Q
worldwide trade. In 1883 our ives,
coast was the Mississippi river
when the Civil War broke out we
had pushed our western confine tc
the Pacific. Our original 13 states
had developed to 81 aid added te
these were vast territories. Fifteen
of Americas brainest sons had sit ir
the president chair. Washington, the
first; Buchannon the last. One ha6
left us united the other divided
Seven states had left us four more
were ready to go.
After stating some Of the present
values to the world of our natior
among which were mentioned the
manufacturing and commerce, in.
ventions, leadership of educations
and religious realm, to say nothing
of the wealth and man power Amer
lea was free to place on the affairs
of world democracy. The picture
was drawn in comparison with what
we would have had If the union had
been cut up in north, south, etc
The cost Of this all was set forth
as the speaker took, his audience
over several of the great battlefields
of the Civil War. Gettysburg and its
three days of carnage was told as
an example to the boys and girls OF
the price paid for our flag. $4,000
men were killed. 10000 wounded
Bull RIln, Cold Harbor where in less
than 30 minutes the Union forces
We're hurled back with a loss of T.
600. Wilderness where for four
days fierce fighting waged. 1S2, ,00C
men went in to battle, 10000 were
left behind. Petersburg and the
famous mine was rehearsed. Mobile
Bay was set forth as one of the great
victories as It cut the base Of sup