A Fine Military Display

A FINE MILITARY DISPLAY. Annual Inspection of the Fusiliers and Rifles. The Presentation of the Old Colon to Trinity Church for Future Keeping Imposing ceremony and Impressive Service in the Sacred Edifice. The annual inspection of the 62nd battalion St. John Fusiliers and the St. John Rifles, Lt. Col. Blaine and Capt. Hartt respectively in command, took place yesterday afternoon on the Barrack square. Shortly after 1 o’clock the several companies formed in the drill shed in column and marched out in the square where they formed in line. When the inspecting officer, Major Gordon, R.I.S. (the acting D. A. G.) arrived he was received with a salute.. Major Gordon inspected the men and expressed himself as greatly pleased with their appearance. The men were then formed into guards by Adjutant Hartt for the purpose of trooping the color of the old St. John city militia. Lient. Churchill was in command of the escort for the color, and Lieut. Sterling was the lieutenant for the color. THE TROOPIING OF THE COLOR was one of the finest military movements ever seen in St. John. Major Tucker, as brigade-major, called the non-commissioned officers commanding the guards to the front. The fife and drum band played a march and the non-commissioned officers marched across the parade ground where they halted, closed and turned toward the guards. The assembly was then played by the fife and drum band, and during the march the officers for the guards fell in in front of the non-commissioned officers with their swords at the carry. The brigade major pointed out to the commanders of the guards their duties and the respective guards they were to command. The guards were then brought to attention, arms having been shouldered, and they were TURNED OVER TO THE FIELD OFFICER of the day, Lt Col. Blaine. The officers and non-commissioned officers were turned outwards and took poet in front of their guards. They next moved across the parade grounds with swords and rifles at the recover, the band playing a slow march. There they were halted and fronted, and when they arrived at their positions the guards, having been inspected and reports collected, the command "troop the color" was given. The bands marched across the parade grounds in slow time and retired in quick time. The escort for the color, preceded by the bands, then marched down and received the color, presenting arms, the band playing GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. The escort with the color and headed by the bands, marched through the line of guards to the right of the line, the guards presenting arms as they entered the line. On arriving at the right of the line the escort halted and presented arms and the command, "Close Order," was given. The battalion then formed in column and the roll was called by Major Gordon and District Paymaster Armstrong. This concluded the inspection. There still remained the interesting cere-mony of presenting to Trinity church for future keeping the venerable colors presented to the 2nd battalion, St. John city militia, on Sept. 18th, 1827. The battalion formed for the march to the church, the old colors being borne by Lieutenants Lordly and Churchill. The men marched up Carmarthen street to Broad; along Broad to Charlotte; up Charlotte to St James; along St. James to Ger-main, and up to Trinity church. When the church was reached, the old colors were placed directly in front of the church. Col. Blaine, Major Gordon, Col. Domville, Col. Armstrong and staff, having saluted them, took their post in rear of them. The regiment then MARCHED PAST IN COLUMN and saluted the colors. Ranks having been changed by Major Tucker the battalion marched post in quarter column. Companies then formed four deep and the rear companies were brought to the front and halted at column distance. The regiment formed into line, ranks were opened and a general salute was given to the old colors. The escort for the colors was formed and marched up to the church, Majors Tucker and McLean now bearing the colors. AT THE CHURCH. Germain street and the open space before Trinity church were packed with an eager crowd numbering thousands, when the battalion first came up and marched past the saluting point. A light breeze unfolded the old colors as the battalion saluted them for the last time. It was a brilliant scene. So great was the public desire to gain admittance to the church that the moment the doors were opened there was a literal crush from rear and flank, and the flashing sword of Major Hartt and the muscular activity of Detective Ring and Officer Weatherhead on the church steps were absolutely without effect. The crowd, largely composed of ladies, was determined to go in—and it went. The tall major bore himself gallantly, and the police officers struggled bravely, but womankind won the day. All the available seats in the church were filled in a twinkling. When all the preliminaries had been arranged, the escort with fixed bayonets marched in, and lined the central aisle, facing inwards. Presently the organ pealed out a voluntary, with the conclusion of which the choir and clergy, entering from the eastern door, passed down the northern aisle to meet the colors at the western door. The escort presented arms and choir and clergy preceded the colors, now borne by Major Tucker and Major McLean, into the church and up the central aisle, singing as a processional the hymn Onward Christian Soldier. The white robed choristers passing slowly along between the lines of scarlet uniform and gleaming bayonet presented a most striking and impressive picture. The clergymen who followed the choristers in the procession were Rev. Mr. Parnther. Rev. Mr. Simonds, Rev. Canon Brigstocke, rector of Trinity, Rev. Dr. Merritt, Rev. Mr. Gollmer and Rev. J. M. Davenport. Immediately after these were borne the colors, followed by Lieut Col. Blaine and the other officers. The choir went to their places and the colors were borne within the chancel rail, followed by the following officers: Lt-Col. Blaine, Major Gordon, Lt-Col. Domville, Major A. J. Armstrong, Adjt. Wedderburn, Lieut. Carpenter, Lieut Wedderburn. The wardens, John Sears and C. W. Weldon, M. P., with several vestrymen, were there with the rector to receive them. The re¬tired officers advanced and took seats reserved for them in the central aisle. The escort shouldered arms. LIEUT. COL. BLAINE then delivered the following address: To the rector, church wardens and vestry of Trinity church: Gentlemen—By your permission, we come today to place at rest within this sacred edifice the colors of one of the earliest militia organizations of this city. Originally presented in the year 1827 to the Second Battalion St. John City Militia, they have been successfully borne by the various city corps which, under provincial militia laws, were organized in succession to that battalion. The last of these was the St. John City Rifles, under the command of Lt-Col. J. V. Thurgar. Finally, upon the death of Col. Thurgar, these colon passed into my bands, as the officer commanding the corps which under existing dominion regulations virtually represents the former city battalion. It is by reason of this fact that I am privileged today to commit them to your custody. Of their presentation to the old 2nd battalion only a brief record now exists. From it we learn that the colors, having been pro¬cured by the battalion, were presented to it on September 18th, 1827, by the then commanding officer, Major Charles Ward. The two officers who respectively received the King’s and Regimental colon were Ensign Sneden and Ensign John Wishart, the latter of whom, honored and honorable in his great age, is present with us today at this final ceremony. Major Ward, in handing the colors to these officers, gave expression to his confidence in their loyalty and courage to defend them, even with their lives, should they ever be unfurled in defence of the crown and constitution. In the mercy of Providence the occasion never arose for the battalion to give proof of these qualities in the face of the enemy. We doubt not that such duty as its members were called upon to do, they did well, and that had the necessity arisen, this battalion, which numbered in its ranks so many decendants of the New Brunswick loyalists, would in no way have belied the courage, loyalty and endurance of that noble band, to which we owe so much in this city and province. The colors continued to be used on par¬ade and at inspections down to 1867, when the confederation of the provinces put an end to the provincial militia. It was this king’s color which was carried by the guard of honor and lowered to H. R. H. the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his visit to this city in 1860. Under them have served both with commissions and in the ranks many representatives of two generations, whose history is in no small degree the history of oar city; and though these colors possess no claim to the glory of a battle field, yet to our predecessors they were none the less the emblems of loyalty and fidelity to king and country. It seems fitting that we should ask for them a resting place in this church, which with its many hallowed associations must ever stand as a memorial of those of our citizens who have gone before. THE RECTOR OF TRINITY received the colors from Lt Col. Blaine and read the following reply: To Lieutenant Colonel Blaine: Dear Sir—The rector, churchwardens and vestry of Trinity church have pleasure in accepting at your hands for safe custody the colors of the 2nd St. John city militia, which you have now presented to us. As emblems of patriotism and loyalty to the throne of the empire, we judge them worthy of being carefully preserved, and shall therefore gladly give them a place within the walls of this church. Already many historical associations gather round this sacred edifice, and the colors which we have received from you to¬ day will make to them a happy and appropriate addition. Signed on behalf of the corporation, T. H. J. BRIGSTOCKE, D. D., Rector. St. John, August 15, 1890. The escort formed in the cross-aisle in front of the chancel facing the colors, and stood at attention. The 275th hymn was sung, followed by prayer, intoned by Rev. J. M. Davenport. Psalm 98 was chanted by the choir, after which the rector, Rev. Canon Brigstocke, delivered THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS. The occasion which has brought us here today, naturally suggests many thoughts, to some of which it seems to me appropriate that I should give expression. First of all, I would have it borne in mind, that we are assembled together not to honour men, or principles of human origin, but the goodness of the Lord and those virtues which are begotten of Christianity. The goodness of the Lord which we are now called upon the recount, is the success which has almost invariably attended the forces of Her Majesty, the Queen, and the peace and prosperity which have for so long a time marked the history of our nation. Standing on this continent, and indeed on this spot, we cannot say that the British army has never suffered defeat, but so marked has been its success, that victory has for the most part crowned its efforts. The decisive blow struck at Waterloo in 1815 has never been reversed. The Crimean war and the Indian mutiny were both great struggles, taxing to a great extent the resources of the nation, calling out the military genius, skill and courage of the British army, and involving very heavy losses; but no defeat was was experienced. We know what the his¬tory of this country is, and how through the prowess of the British army we today own this fair Canada of ours. For all the success which it has pleased Almighty God to thus give to our forces, we trust and take up the words of the Holy Scripture, and say: “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty.” "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be the praise.” Again, we are called to think of our national peace and prosperity. In what a marked degree have these blessings been vouchsafed to us! We have at times heard of wars and rumors of wars; we have heard of scarcity and famine with all their heart-rending sufferings visiting other countries, but throughout the British dominions the reign of peace has been almost unbroken and plenty has crowned the labors of our hands. It has been well said, that it was something to have lived in the days of Queen Elizabeth—an age of great men; it was something to have lived in the days of Queen Anne — an age of military triumph, but it is something more to have lived in the age of Queen Victoria, an age of peace. Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than those of war. The triumphs of science, the advancement of learning, and the growth of benevolence and philanthropy, which have done so much to lessen the burden of life are the proud trophies of the present reign. Again, we have pressed upon us the memories of the past, and deeply affecting, I can well understand, these are to many amongst us. Sixty-three years ago—the exact date is Sept. 18, 1827, these standards were presented by the officer then in command, Major Charles Ward, to the 2nd battalion of the St. John city militia, representatives of which I am glad to say, are with us today. In words used at their presentation, they were given to be the rallying point for the defence of those invaluable privileges and blessings which as British subjects are peculiarly and exclusively our own. They have, we believe, been duly honored by the maintenance of the loyalty, devotion and patriotism in those to whom they were en¬trusted, and who held themselves in readiness to obey their adopted watchword, "Advance," whenever the summons should be given. Through the inevitable changes which mark life in all its departments, they are no longer needed for active service, and are therefore granted an honored place of rest in the house of God, to keep in memory the virtues they symbolize, as well as those in whom those virtues appeared. One word more. While honoring the past, we must not forget duties in the present. If patriotism, loyalty and devotion to the country’s cause marked the lives of our forefathers; if great things were done by them for the maintenance of principles which, as a matter of fact, have made the British nation the greatest on earth, we must see to it that these principles are now duly preserved, and handed down to our children. There are sounds in the air which are the reverse of loyalty; there are voices beard which proclaim principles subversive of the present constitution, but they shall not prevail if we are faithful to our trust. If it be a time of peace, we still need the duly equipped soldier, and the skilfully marshalled battalion; we still need the discipline, full of courage, gal¬lantry and chivalry; ready to fight, and not shrinking to die. We need this as the guarantee of peace. We are glad to know we have it in those who now wear the Queen’s uniform, and believe that they are ready to repel every foreign foe with all the powers at their command. To do this successfully, none may forget that our first duty is to Him who is the Lord of Hosts, under whose banner we most fight manfully against the world, the flesh and the devil. Above all banners there floats the Banner of the Cross; above all other service we must obey the Lord Jesus Christ. That was a great word of England’s greatest admiral: "England expects every man to do his duty;" but greater still is the inspired exhortation, "Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life." The anthem taken from the 105th psalm, 1st and 2nd verses was sang, after which the benediction by the rector concluded the religious portion of the service. The escort then saluted the colors for the last time, the band playing the national anthem. The choir accompanied by the band sang the anthem and the services were over. The colors of the 2nd Batt., St. John city militia, had been fittingly laid to rest. The escort marched out of the church and the battalion, preceded by the band, re¬turned to the barracks, where they were dismissed. THE FUSILIERS AND RIFLES. The badge and motto of the 62nd Battalion, St. John Fusiliers, are thus described in the Militia List: "Two moose rampant confrontee, supporting a garter clasped with a buckle, whereupon is inscribed, "Saint John Fusiliers," surmounted by a royal crown. Within the garter a hand grenade, flamant, with the numerals 62 underneath. On an escrol below, the motto Semper Paratus." The present officers are: Liut colonel, A. Blaine; majors, J. J. Tucker, H. H. McLean, E. T. Sturdee; captains, W. C. Magee, M. B. Edwards, G. F. Thompson, J. F. Fraser, H. H. Godard; lieutenants, D. Churchill, S. B. Lordly, J. P. Vroom, James Manning, G. M. Cleveland; 2nd lieutenants, J. H. Kaye, W. C. Sterling, G. A. Hetherington, Wm. Parks, J. L. McAvity, H. P. Wetmore; paymaster, M. F. Bruce; major and adjutant, F. H. Hartt; quarter master, J. S. Hall; surgeon, Thos. Walker, M. D.; assistant surgeon, Murray MacLaren. The badge of the St. John Rifle company is a bugle, the motto Quo Patria Vocat. The officers are: Captain, J. T. T. Hartt; lieutenant, E. A. Smith; 2nd lieutenant, L. P. Tilley. Of the above named officers Lt.-Col. Blaine, Capt. Thompson and Quartermaster Hall served at the time of the Fenian raid, and Lieut. Sterling saw service in the North¬west campaign. NOTES. The movements at the Barrack Square were witnessed by hundreds of people, and the men acquitted themselves in a very creditable meaner. Their marching was exceptionally good, and the comments passed upon it showed that the spectators were very favorably impressed with the battalion and all they did. Ensign John Wishart, who received the Regimental color from the hands of the presenting officer, Major Ward, in 1827, was a deeply interested spectator of yesterday’s proceedings. Had the Duke of Connaught been in Trinity church yesterday afternoon, judging from his Montreal record, he would have ordered the military escort to ground arms and stand at ease. To ask men who had stood the fatigue of inspection and the march to the church, accoutred as they were, to stand at attention for an hour in the heavy atmosphere of a crowded room was little short of absolute cruelty. Three of the men were overcome toward the close and had to be assisted from the ranks. Surely "somebody blundered." At the conclusion of the parade yesterday the retired officers were entertained at the regimental club room at light luncheon, prepared by Mr. Woodlands, the club steward. In addition to the colors placed there yesterday, Trinity church contains the bust of the Queen and the Royal Arms, which prior to the revolutionary war adorned the council chamber of the Old State House in Boston. Among the clergymen who walked in the procession yesterday was Rev. Dr. Merritt, resident of the standing committee of the Diocese of Newark, N. J. Among the officers who attended the inspection, etc., were Col. Sullivan, formerly commander of the 62nd battalion and the immediate predecessor of Col. Blaine, Capt. Farren, Capt. Hegan, Capt. H. J. A. Godard, Capt. Berton, Capt. Leavitt, Capt. Chas. Campbell, formerly of the 62nd, Col. Armstrong, Paymaster Smith, Major Farmer, Surgeon Daniel and Assistant Surgeon Andrews of the N. B. B. G. A., and Col. Canard and Col. Underhill, formerly of the N. B. B. G. A., Col. Dom-ville, Captain and Adjt. Wedderburn and Lieut. Wedderburn of the 8th Cavalry. Among ths retired officers present were: B. Lester Peters, T. Amos Godsoe, Hurd Peters, H. L. Sturdee, W. M. Jarvis, J. S. Kaye, W. H. Thorne. Among the gentlemen who witnessed the show were Dr. Girdwood, now the professor of chemistry of McGill college, who was surgeon of the Grenadier Guards when they came to St. John in 1862; Lt. Col. Bremner, Halifax, who commanded the Halifax provincial battalion in the Riel rebellion; Rev. J. E. Lloyd, now rector of Rothesay, who is chaplain of the Queen’s Own, Toronto, and served with them during the same rebellion.