| Funeral of Another VolunteerGeorge O. Raymond, of this town, a member of Company I, 15th massachusetts Regiment, died in one of the hospitals in Gettysburg, on Wednesday, July 22, of wounds received in the late battle of Gettyburg. Intelligence of the serious character of his wound was received here Wednesday, and the same evening his wife and a brother took the steamboat train with the hope of reaching him while yet living and ministering to his comfort.They arrived in Gettysburg only to find him dead. Measures were taken to bring the remains to this place, which was accomplished on Tuesday last. Funeral excercises were held on Wednesday at the Congregational Church, conducted by Rev. Mr. Fish, and by rev. T.W. Lewis of Laurel st. Church of Worcester.
The remains were intered with masonic ceremonies, the desceased being a member of that fraternity in this place, members of the lodges in Worcester and Oxford were in attendance. At about 2 o’clock the body was taken from the tomb, and at the same time aprocession was forming undre the marshalship of Solomon Shimway, in front of the Masonic Hall, which at the strocke of the bell moved in the following order to the church: The escort consisted of lieut Joy’s company in uniforms, and the fire company (of which the deceased was a member), in citizens dress. At the church a very impressive funeral discource was delivered, which embraced also a review of the military services of the deceased, and a fitting tribute of respect to his memory. At the close of exercises at the church , the procession re-formed and proceded to the East Village Cemetery, where the remains were committed to the earth. The Masonic services here were conducted by Rev. Mr. Lewis in all solemnity of thr ritual of the Order. At the close the procession returned to this village, the mourning friends to their homes, the masons and escort to Masonic hall. During the day the flag over Engine Hall was suspended at half mast, and during the movement of the procession the church bell was tolled. a large number of citizens joined in the services of the occasion, which would doubtless have materially increased but for the inclement weather of the morning. The entire proceedings were conducted with eminent order and propriety, befitting the funeral obsequies of an upright man, a good citizen, a true patriot and soldier. Mr. Raymond joined the 15th Regiment about a year ago, passed safely through several engagements, was with company I at Gettysburg, where he received the wound which caused his death. He was highly esteemed as a citizen by our people and as a soldier by his comrades in arms. In recording this death the fact is brought again to notice, that of our town’s original pioneer company in this war but a small minority now remain. Many of the brave boys have fallen in the baptisms of fire through which the company have been called to pass; others have returned crippled in form and feeble in health; while a few only remain stalwart men, still doing battle for the cause in which their comrades fell. Webster has a long list of marytred sons, whose memory (is) to cherish. The names of (Lucius H.) Briggs, (Edwin L.) Parmenter, (Frank S.) Corbin, (William Franklyn) Converse, (Moses) Wood, (Albert H.) Snow, Raymond, (Abram) Sargent, (Alfred) Tourtellotte, (Henry L.) Amidon, (Joseph) Holland, and a score of others whose names do not at this moment occur to us, are treasured up, and will in good time be sculpted upon enduring marble, to tell future generations their noble sacrifices of life in a holy cause, and the appreciative gratitude of the town wich sent them forth. |