Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-11-01
OBLIGATORY CEREMONIES.

ME At the same time the remains OF General
TunsER AsHBY were buried under the auspices of
The Masonic Lodges of the Valley, Of which order
several hundred were present The bodies of 1t.
Col. Marshall and Capt. Richard Ashby were, also,
re-interred
! The procession formed ON Braddock Street, Gen.
Fauntleroy, Chief Marshal, assisted by Majs. Hun
ter, Douglas, and others. The hearse containing
the remains of General Ashby, preceded by Coils
r. W. Baylor and J. S. Mosby, and attended by
Col r. P. Chew, Capt. David Humphreys, and o.
theirs, PslbeGers, was drawn BY four beautiful
white horses under the excellent management Of
Mr.. Ned Smith, OF Berryville Immediately fol-
lowing was the hearse containing the bodies of
1t. Col Marshall and Capt Ashby. after which
followed the representatives of the Masonic Lodges
of Virginia, the survivors of the Ashby Brigade,
Odd Fellows, and citizens As the procession reach
ed the entrance to the cemetery it filed to the left
by broad avenue 10 the graves prepared for the
burial of those whose obsequies they had assembled
TO perform. The lodges gathered around the
grave of Gen. Ashby, when Worshipful Master Jo-
seph 5. Carso. {, assisted by p G. W. r. Denny, in
imposing manner performed the Masonic ceremo-
MES At the conclusion Of these services Rev. DIR.
Hough, Of the Episcopal Methodist Church, offered
prayer, which was followed by the reading Of a por-
ton of scripture by Rev. Mr.. Meredith, of the T.
pscopal Church Rev. Mr.. Dosh, Of the Lutheran
Church, read the hymn, al would not live Away"
and the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Nor
val Wilson. The ceremonies thus closed at the
graves they were filed and attention was directed
toward the stand whittier the people 1ocked to
& n n
Col. F. W. NJ. Holiday read an interesting re-
rort of the Il. Joseph II. Sherrard, Chairman of
the Central Executive Committee, giving detailed
account of the work performed by the Cemetery
Committee, from which we learn that 2494 bodies
have been coflined and buried within the past eight
months ib
Mr. Sherrard introduced the Orator, Ex-Gov.
Henry A. Wise, whose appearance was greeted with
marked manifestations of qualification, though the
solemnity of the occasion was not disturbed by any
audible demonstration. He occupied about two
hours in the delivery. His remarks were the en-
bodiment of eloquence, and, Independent of some
reflections peculiar to the speaker fruitful of sound
advice to the young men Of Virginia. He said he
had come to meet mourning people in the holy
cred than that of kindred. They had met to do ho-
mage to the memory of stricken heroes, who died
for the land they lived in and loved. He had come
to invoke the spirits of the mighty Confederate dead
that they might teach the living to live after their
example. The dead were free, and their names
and deeds need no monuments or mausoleums to per-
petuate their memory. They were above at head
quarters in Heaven, and Heavens adutant would
keep them in the book of martyrdom They were
martyrs TO law. liberty, and right and no maligni-
ty could injure them. Eternity has the record OF
their work, and with them all was well. They are
now clad in armor more than bullet proof as they
we're approved of Heaven when they fell. His
friend was not dead, but yet lived, never to die
He paid glowing tribute to the civil and militia
nv character of Stonewall Jackson and held up his
life as an example for the young men Of Virginia
to emulate. His faith would be found a saving
faith, and history will point to the fact that the
Confederate effort sanctioned by the faith OF
Stonewall Jackson. He would not have walked
arm in arm into convention with his oppressor.
Stonewall Jackson would not have consented to
keep imprisoned his sick chief, and join hands with
Radicals, had he been Vice President of the Con-
itePOhsSo II oaA4 WAC "ee
dead were sad rebuke.
The cause which Stonewall Jackson fought for
and died for is malgned by calling it lost cause.
The God of Heaven laid down his life that the cause
might lve-so with these gallant dead. Except
the seed die it cannot bring forth" If lost, the
cause false if true it was not lost 1t was not
lost and at the proper time will surely illumine the
/ q.
Confederate cause was won. 1t was not waiting
for resurrection or reconstruction, for the cause
still lives. Stonewall Jackson would not cry out
''what better can we do 2" when Constitutional a.
mendments might be offered, because his faith was
strong. The darkest hour always precedes the ri
sing sun, and grace might come when least expect
ed. 'Old things shall pass away, and all things be-
come new" So should old weaknesses pass away,
and light awake the world. The aged might die
before the day breaks, but their children will sec
the dawn. They must have patience and strive to
bear on without reproach or guilt Should bitter
| thoughts drive the youth from his native land? Ii
they give up in despair, and give up the State for
expediency and doubt, the change will be loath-
some to Virginia. They should rather go TO work.
Stonewall Jackson had no capital, and he went to
work and he succeeded. The time had come when
the young men of Virginia must take bold Of the
pillow, and no more think of life of idleness and
mint julips; of syren retreats in summer and city
bells in winter. Stonewa Jackson was not asham-
ed to work 1T home, and by patient toll he reached
position which shook States to their centres.
The young men should stay at home and work al
home for there was no land so lovely to work in
as the mother of them all. He loved his native
land more than all the outer world-no mongrel
Virginia, but the Old Dominion which led the ar
mics and councils of the country for more than
three-quarters of century. She could not re-
main divided She was Old Virginia still-sacred
to honor and liberty STILL lie spoke of the resource:
of the State, which must be developed now that the
incubus of negro slavery has passed away. OF the
prospects of manufacturing development, with a
water-power equal to any in the world, and of the
commercial development when the great trade Of
the West far the Pacific coast and even to Chi
ma. viii find its way to the Atlantic board her
soil to Hampton Roads