The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-11
nan concluded with the general bencdic-

ria in the face, and yesterday suffered
great pain all day, and also last night, ana
am still suffering very much TINS morning,
though one side of my face has swoilcn
considerably, and is thus to some extent
relieved.
Il regret this disappointment, but hope
that on Some other occasion, when | am
well. may contribute my mite to your
sacred enterprise"
THE PROCESSION.
When the services in the church had
terminated, the following Marshals were
Amounted: Major Courtney and MesSrS.
Il. G.. Richardson, G.. Wall, +. d. Lee, j..
Brock. W. ]. Gilman, and F. w. Dawson.
The procession was soon formed anu S'artcu
on its way to lakewood. Or course the
formation was not very rigid, but some
idea NAV he obtained of the number pre-
sent when it is said that the entire process
sion was more than one mile in length:
Rain appeared to be probable, ana tilal nau
kept a number Of ladies from being pre-
sent but in spite of all this the aSsemoiaSe
was such as was worthy of our dear lallch
heroes" our city, our State, and the SOUTH
ARRIVED At LAKEWOOD.
From st. Johns Church to lakewood IS a
LONG and firing walk, but the ladies', al;
thonch encountered with bouquets ana
,,,rIands seemed not to feel the slightest
2T,ti~uotI,v we're animated and strength
nnrd Inv the thought of the task OF love
and devotion that lay before them. YAK
wood was calm and peaceful IN appearance ;
the birds chirpcd mcrrily; the sun Drohe
through the clouds; the boughS OF inc
trees waved with gentle glcc III the ira
Grant air; all was bright, bcautcouS, ana
lovely, crccpt tie grareS Of me poor con-
fedcrotc soldiers and they, sinking out ct
SIGHT. with shattered hcad-boardS, over
crown by weeds and rank grasses, showed
TOO plainly the extent of that paralysis OF
mind and soul from which our people are
but now awakening.
The Speakers stand had been hurricdly
erected at the summit of ravinc of little
depth. Rapidly the ladies came up, and
by half-paSt l0o'clock the last of the pro
ccS>ion had arrived. At the sides and be-
hind the speakers stand were large num-
bcrS OF ladies; while i'll front, on the gentle
slope of the opposite side Of the ravinc,
was terrace after terrace of fair young
women, all animated by as noble a pur-
pose as ever inspired the soldiers arm or
gave power to the tongue of the orator.
The President and some Of the Vice
Presidents and Managers of the Hollywood
Memorial Association were present, and
were invited to take seats on the stand
with the Directors OF the lakewood ASSo-
citation.
TIE ORATIoNS.
The Rev. Mr.. Price then said that the
ceremonies would be opened with prayer
bv the Rev. Jacob Manning, and that gen
tlcman offered an earnest appeal, implorlng
the blessing Of God upon the meeting. lie
alluded to the soldiers who had died in the
Southern cause, and invoked upon their
friends, relatives, the whole country, the
Door and afflicted, and the widow and or
phan, the blessing of Almighty God and
our Saviour and Rcdccmcr.
The Rev. Mr.. Price then said that he
would read letter from man whom all
respected and all loved:
"LExINGToN, VA, May 5, 1866.
" .NrS. William CoNiiS:
II ann very much obliged to the ladies
of the Memorial Association for Coincide
rate Dead for their invitation to attend
the inaugural celebration Of their So
cicty on the 10th instant.
1T would be most grateful to my feel
ingS to unite in the celebration Of So
cictv formed for 50 pious an object, but ii
will be impossible for me to do so.
"The graves of the Confederate dead
will always he green in my memory, and
their deeds be hallowcd in my recollection.
"With great respect,
Your obcdicnt servant,
ar. L. LEE"
Mr.. Price then continued his remarks,
and said that the work undertaken by the
Southern ladies was one Of great magni-
ude. This visit was but one of inSpcc-
tion-to see what was required to be done,
and all who pondercd the matter for mo-
mcnt would see that the ladies of the Me-
mortal Associations had before them a
mighty task, requiring time, money, and
ceaseleSS labor 10 insure its completion
He bespoke for the ladies the aid of all
who svmpathiZcd with them, and illus
tratcd the manner in which they had acted
by the well known incident, actually occur
ring in Southern city, which made "Lct
me kiss him for his mother a household
word in the South. When, then, nc con-
tinued, you come to plant flowers on the
graves of the dead, to turf their last rest
ing-placc, and guard them with your aficc-
ton, YOU do il for every mother, sister
and daughter in the South whose dear
ones lie in Virginia, and who would be
deeply moved could they, by any super
natural power, be present III spirit with us
this day, near to the spot where the dust
so dear to them has been laid to rest.
They would weep and bless you and call
down the choicest gifts of Heaven upon
your heads. May you do all this work OF
love, he said, for the Southern women
NAV YOU act as Christians should may
YOU all be united the more closely 10 that
dear country for which so much blood has
been shed and so much labor endured,
leaving us only the cultivation of those
pure and lofty principles which alone can
make us prosperous and happy.
The Rev. Mr.. j. f. Edwards was then
introduced, and addressed the meeting.
He said that he had but just returned from
a long and toilSome journey, and had had
not moment of preparation, but his de-
votiOn to the cause would justify him III
doing all that lay in his power, however
little that might be. He thought the title
of the Association an appropriate one. He
did not know five were justified in believ-
ing that the spirits Of the departed watched
around us; but if SO, then are the spirits
of the Confederate dead lowering around
those who are working and toiling in their
memory and in their honor. Soldiers
from Louisiana, Mississippi, and from