Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1899 — Decoration Day Observance. [ARTICLE]

Decoration Day Observance.

More Than Ordinarily Successful Exercises in Rensselaer. Again, under the direction of the local G. A. R. post, Decoration Day in Rensselaer has been most fittingly observed. The weather was exceptionally fine, and the attendance was very large. Not only did the people of the town attend, almost in's body, but vast numbers came in from the surrounding country, from all directions. The march to Weston cemetery began promptly at two o’clock, under the direction of Capt, M. IF. Chilcote, marshal of the day and his aids, D. H. Yeoman, Wm. M. Hoover and J. C. Gwin. The procession was composed, as follows. Citizens’ Cornet Band. Zouave Corps of St. Joseph’s College, in uniforms, and with arms. Iroquois Lodge, I. O. O. F. with regalias. Rensselaer Lodge, Knights of Pythias* preceded by flower bearers. Rensselaer Temple, Rathbone Sisters. ReAsselaer Fire Company, in uniforms. College Band. Minim Department, from College, in sailor uniforms. Willard Court, Catholic order of Foresters. Sunday School Children. Rensselaer Relief Corps. Detachment of returned soldiers of the Spanish War. Rensselaer Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and other civil war veterans. Citizens in carriages. The exercises at the cemetery, consisted of a song, “Red, White and Blue.” Opening address by Post Commander, J. A. Burnham. ’ Song, “Star Spangled Banner,” Prayer by Rev. H. M. Middleton.

Song, “Scatter Beautiful Flowers,” by the male quartette, Messrs. Hershman, Sheppard, Wishard and Barcus. Reading Memorial Orders, by Post Adjutant, Capt. J. M. Wasson. Introduction of the orator, by Capt. M. F. Chilcote. The principal oration was delivered by Capt. Guthrie, of Monticello, commander of Company 1., of the 161st Indiana regiment, lately returned from Cuba. The address was up to the highest anticipations of the audience in all respects. A song by the College choir, a dirge by the bands and decorating representatives graves, completed the exercises. Regarding a universally deplored incident which abruptly ended the exercises, before their conclusion, we need only say, at this time, that nothing ever occurred at any public occasion here, at least at any public patriotic occasion, which our citizens so unanimously regret. By the action of a few persons the College Zouaves, on account of their religious belief, were prevented from firing the salute over the graves, and thus a public insult was put upon them and upon all other people of the Catholic faith. But the overwhelming sentiment of the people and also, we well know, of the Grand Army, condemns the insult; and so far at least as the G. A. R. part is concerned, they will soon put their condemnation in effective form, by official action.