Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1910 — SOLDIER DEAD HONORED BY LARGE GATHERING. [ARTICLE]

SOLDIER DEAD HONORED BY LARGE GATHERING.

Impressive Service Sunday and Good Parade and Fine Oration Monday Are features.

The observation of Memorial Day was never more Impressively performed in Rensselaer than It wat Monday and few larger crowds ever gathered here to pay their annual tributes of respect to the country • heros, living and dead, than assembled Monday and participated in the oceassion.

On Sunday the soldiers had attended services at the M. E. church in a body and listened to an able, enthusiastic and patriotic sermon delivered by the pastor, Rev. C. L. Harper. Many unhesitatingly pronounce I ii one of the very best sermons ever , preached in Rensselaer to a gathering of soldiers and Rev. Harper pleased the large audience that had gathered to hear him. With this auspicious beginning everything seemed to work well Monday. The business men decorated their places of business* and many residences were also decorated. A large crowd gathered before noon and by the time the parade marched at 2 o’clock the crowd extended all along Washington street. The boys’ band led the procession, the militia company followed, then crime the .Sunday school children, the Odd Fellows Knights of Pythias and- the Mddern Woodmen of America;, arid then came the old soldiers, something like 68 in line and they made a flrie' appearance arid stepped out cheerfully to the beat of the drum, some slightly faltering but .all surprisingly alert. The large numbers seemed to inspire each veteran with increased vigor. Just inside the cemetery the militia company was baited and facing to the center in open ranks saluted the old soldiers by coming to present arms as they passed through. At the cemetery the Ctflcei of the Day, Milbrin Griffin, called the assemblage to order and after a few opening remarks by George H. Healey, who spoke on behalf of the commander of the Post, music was furnished by a male quartette composed of C. E. Prior. W. R. Lee, J. D. Allman and James Matheson. The singing was very much appreciated. The address was made by Attorney George A. Williams, and many unhesitatingly pronounced it the best memorial address they have ever heard. He was interrupted at several stages by applause.

The boys’ band contributed more music and following the address the large audience sang “America” and following the benediction marched back to the court houhe yard and disbanded.

The Ladles of the G. A. R., true to their custom of several years, spread a sumptuous dinner in the G. A. 11.

room in the basement of the court house, for the soldiers, and had so much that the band boys and a large number of others were also fed.

From beginning end the program was a success, the soldiers were pleased and everything went off gloriously to the honor of the country’s noble defenders, both living and dead.