I have heard severe criticism on the part of Southerners regarding the illustrious dead, but I often remember the olden story, in the Holy Book, of similar criticism made by the enemies of Christ, and I also read that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” So, in our homes, in our workshops, in the fields, in the churches and schools, through the pages of history, and within our own hearts, we will never forget the boys in blue who saved the Union, and the glorious hero who laid down his life willingly and freely, that the curse of slavery should be forever extinguished from the bright, fair pages of our history. And while we strew bright flowers over the graves of the departed heroes, we shall always remember, with swelling heart and deep affection, the great work accomplished by old John Brown of Ossawatomie. Russell, Kansas. FRANK E. JEROME. * * * * * AT THE MONUMENT OF LINCOLN. The General Association of Illinois, at its recent meeting in Springfield, as it had done once before, went in a body to that shrine of patriotism, the monument to Abraham Lincoln. That patriotic song, now turned to a Christian psalm, “My country, ’tis of thee,” was sung by the people, and a prayer of thanksgiving was offered by Dr. G. S. F. Savage, who has now come to be one of the veteran ministers of the State. Words of welcome were offered by the Attorney-General of Illinois, Mr. Geo. H. Hunt, and these were gracefully responded to by the Moderator, Rev. W. F. Day. Addresses were also made by Rev. E. K. Alden, D.D., Hon. Wm. H. Collins, and Rev. Jos. E. Roy. At the former visit of this body, the Jubilee Singers were present to voice the gratitude of the emancipated race. The colored troops, after their muster-out, gave for the monument more than $50,000, one-fourth of the whole. The scroll held in the left hand of the bronze statue of Mr. Lincoln bears on it, in large letters, the word “Emancipation,” and the pen in his right hand indicates the signing of that talismanic instrument, while the coat-of-arms, set into the pedestal, represents the eagle as holding in his beak the broken chain of slaves.