Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-19
LOCAL NEWS.

1NSnGu i lCSlOSuC W NSoASSoN"A oSASSS1
n,eached, in St. Mary's Church, yesterday
Icuadragesima Sunday morning, to one Of the
lorpest congregations ever assembled in this
,;tv. an eloquent and effective Charity Sermon,
fr the benefit of the poor Of this parish. AT
TOR a brief historical account Of Lent-the
term is derived from the Saxon word Mncten,
yignifying S~pring-wbich humiliation was in
,ttuted more than eighteen and a half centu-
res ago, when the Saviour of mankind tasted
hrty days; and a beautiful allusion to the GER
e%monials Of Ash Wednesday, as performed in
the old countries, when King and subject,
Prince and beggar, forgetting for the time the
difference in the pride of their places, and
speeling side by side around the Altar Of God,
! are told by the officiating priest, as he s%prinkles
The head of each alike with ashes, "dust thou
art, and unto dust thou shalt return" he de-
tailed the obligations imposed upon, and the
duties required of, consistent Catholics, during
this period, aud then made a powerful, stirring
! and productive appeal to the liberality and
generosity of his numerous h~earers-nay, he
slemnly issued to them an enioined command
that they should take care of the poor. He
stated, during the latter part Of his sermon,
that the contrast between wealth and poverty
in Washington city was more apparent this
winter than at any previous time-that while
lavish and profuse expenditure held high car
mval in som quarters Of the city, in others,
not far removed, the most abb ect restitution
eked out it's miserable life and that though
some in that city would spend one thousand
dollars for a dress in which to make a single ap-
pearance, they would refuse to give five, which
might rescue a young girls soul from perdition.
The able Father did not indulge the hope that
much good would result to those militant phil
! anthropists whose efforts had been so active
during the last four or five years-nor did his
congregation. The sermon, which continued
more than an hour, was listened to with mark
ed. and attracted rivited attention.
We have received from Lieut.. Smith Turner,
&Co. B, 18th Va. Inf'y., now a school teach
/ in Winchester, through the hands OF COL.
Arthur Herbert, the following appeal, with
the request that it should be published. Any
! subscriptions in furtherance of so laudable an
Misunderstanding will be received by Col. Her
bert and forwarded to their destination:
10 the People of the South:
The frequent battles around Winchester, Va,
have left their traces In the many graves scat
tered broadcast over an area Of twelve miles ra-
dIus. The dead were generally buried where
they fell, and their rude graves are fast dlsap-
pearing beneath the feet of men and beasts,
Tree from the want of enclosures, to go where
they will.
Those who died in the hospitals were mostly
buried in the old Episcopal graveyard, but it's
/ enclosure has long been destroyed and cattle
gaze over it's whole extent.
The farming operations of next season, the
+ wear of the winter, and the disappearance by
removal and death of those who were present
at their burials, will in few months leave no
knowledge Of the resting places OF many mar
tyed dead.
lmpelled by these considerations, some OF
the citizens of Winchester and It's vicinity nave
determined to endeavor to collec5 these scatter
ed remains in one cemetery and surround them
by substantial enclosure. This, OF course,
will require a considerable amount OF money.
The means of our citizens are very much al
FINISHED by the war and It's results, we are
therefore induced to appeal to you Tor ald IN
ms matter, encouraged by the 6ellef that you
aFl feel it a privilege as well as duty to pay thls
1nbute CT respect to the memory OF those VINO
He'll in your cause.
Every Southern State has its representative
among these fallen heroes; we ask all then for
such Contributions as they feel able to give.
Should we succeed in raising the necessary
funds it is proposed to remove the remains On On
The first Of April, 1866, and would respectfully
suggest to ali whose friends lie under these