The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-16

held at the Third rresDyterIon Cnurcn
yesterday afternoon. Upon motion Of Rev.
Mr.. Dickinson, the Rev. Mr.. Edwards pre-
sided. The meeting was opened with
prayer by Mr.. Dickinson; after which the
annual report of the President was read.
The report was q very beautiful one, full
of interest, and well worthy Of publication.
We give It:
Presidents Report.
RICHMOND, October II, 1866.
To the Members Of The Ladies' Memorial
Association for Confederate Dead Of Oak
rood:
Ladies,-In presenting my first annual
report. II becomes me to acknowledge the
zeal and efficiency of those associates in
the Board of Managers to whom, with my
self. YOU have committed the control of
its affairs. Among the duties assigned to
nv Office l consider it truly pleasing as
we'll as an imperative one to award, in
this public manner, warm and grateful
culogy to the talents, the social refinement,
and delicacy, and disinterestedness, and
self.sacrificiug devotion to our cause which
I have found in that band Of patriotic and
Christian women. .
1
combined with their indOmitable and un-
wearied perseverance, is, l am sure, to be
principally ascribed the fact that the en-
thusiasm with which we engaged in this
movement to repair and preserve the
graves of our beloved countrymen has
proved to be something more substantial
than the transient impulse Of an hour, and
has grown into regular and steady love,
taking the form of useful action, and so
bringing forth enduring and delightful
fruit.
For all virtuous aspirations-,for every
thing in human conduct which tends to
promote the faithful performance Of duty
to the living or to the dead-or, as in this
case, to both at once, it becomes us to rem
der devout acknowledgements to Almighty
God-to Him who, as we humbly trust,
moved the hearts of so many to engage in
this undertaking, whose blessing we sought
in the infancy as in all the subsequent
progress Of the enterprise, and whose
goodness has been most manifest in rails
ing up friends, furnishing means, removing
Obstacles, and bestowing success beyond
the measure of our expectations, We owe
the tribute of our gratitude and praise;
while, encouraged by His vast mercies, We
cheerfully grid ourselves for the vast un-
finished part of the work which yet lies
before us.
The second section of our constitution
declares that the object of the Association
"shall be, first, to have that portion of
Oakwood Cemetery in which the COnfede-
rate soldiers are buried we'll enclosed and
each grave turfed and marked by q neat
head-piece properly inscribed. This ac-
complished, ever afterwards to keep the
grounds in proper condition"
Towards this object we have progressed
thus far, viz: We have, by careful exami-
tion of the books and other data at the
cemetery, located 3,056 graves, or about
one-fourth of the whole number there;
the number of boards received and put
down, all properly inscribed, is 2,3s7; the
number in the hands of the painters is
4s5; making a total of 2,S72, which in q
short time will be all in their places in the
cemetery. !
BY resolution of the Board, the graves
are to be turfed and leSelled as the boards
are placed by them, and committee of
gentlemen is appointed to ascertain what
fertilizers are best adapted to make suitable
grasses grow upon them to mound them
permanently having been, after long and
anxious consideration, found to be inexpe-
dent and impracticable. At the last
meeting of the Board, in view Of the fact
that another winter would, in many cases,
obliterate the marks already existing upon
the graves, and render the location Of all
more difficult to determine" it was
"Resolred, That the Board Of Managers
proceed as rapidly as possible with the
work of erecting head. boards, and that
most Of the funds in the treasury be ap-
propriated to that purpose"
For our expenditures thus far, and our
ability to 90 forward with these operations,
I refer you to the report Of the Treasurer.
In this connection cannot forbear to
mention as part of the history of the AS
sociation that on the 4th of July last the
Young men of Richmond turned out in
large numbers to putdown the first boards,
to the number Of 1000, and otherwise to
improve the graves at the cemetery. Nor
would it be proper to withhold the state
ment that we are largely indebted to
number of gentlemen who have rendered
to lis valuable and lab0rious assistance In
this department.
In raising money we have successfully
employed the agencies recognized In Sec
ton 3 of the constitution, viz: the efforts
of the members in obtaining voluntary
subscriptions, and public entertainments.
While tile citizens Of Richmond have libe-
rally patronized our lectures and tableaux,
they and others in various parts OF the
country have, notwithstanding the general
scarcity Of money, caused regular If not
a bountiful flow of funds into our treasury.
Our appeals have evidently been read far
and near, and many are the touching and
beautiful responsive letters, replete with
sympathy nd,patriotic feeling, that have
borne to MS the offerings Of ga poor and
afflicted people,"
We have been led to feel that this cause
may, beyond our immediate object, carry
blessing for the country by binding to-
gether its different States with golden
cords of affection, and so joining the hearts
of the suffering that they shall be enabled
more cheerfully to bear the mournful re-
membranes with which the land is full.
In the exercise Of the discretion and
authority conferred upon the Board at
your last meeting with reference to union
Of the Oakwood and Hollywood Associa-
tions, this Board finally determined not to
unite upon the terms proposed by the
other. We were guided to this decision
by what seemed best for our undertaking,
but have ever desired to bear In mind that
as the objects Of the Associations are enc,
we should as sincerely desire the pros
perity of the other work as IL the two