Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-01-06
ADDRE
LADIES OF THE SOUTH
FRoN TIE LADIES OF THE
SOUTHERN MONUMENTAL CHURCH
ASSOCIATION"

In presenting to you ladies, the subjec
which especially engages our attention
we would premise that, although the re
ligious creeds of the members Of this as
ISOLATION are sadly at variance with eael
other, we nevertheless cOnsideri it no sac
ridce of principle to assist E~ipiscopalean
who first after the war suggested tn
captivating idea Of building a monu
mental church To the Confederate dead
especially since they have already raise,
a considerable sum toward it, and Az
anxious 10 assist any other denomina
tiOns in like enterprises, whenever they
attempt them. We, therefore, ask the
hearty cooperation Of all southern peo
pie, without distinction of parties, Oh
the following grounds
/. 1t has been the custom of all civil
lied nations TO honor even their rebeI
dead, whose career was marked by hero
ism and virtue. Russia permitted the
Poles to build a monument to their dead
at Cracow. a great federal general and
statesman, Hon. Francis J.. Blair, has
said, "howeveF much we may regret the
errors Of these brave men Confederate
soldiers in taking up arms against the
government, the heroism they displayed,
their c%onstaney, courage end endurance
in a cause which they GeticUedtO bertGht,
deserve to be remembaS ed.n Even Ma
pole0n, as his wounded prisoners passed
him in wagons at Austerlitz, lifted his
hat in homage. eXclaiming, -" Honour on
courage aidtheUr."
The Walhala of Bavaria, the Madeleine
of Paris, aud the Santa Croce enshrine
the names Of all parties and all creeds.
Even in Westminster Abbey the names
of rOyalists and rebels are inscribed TO-
gether, under the shadow of the throne;
and no people on the face Of the earth,
but savages, have ever denied the dead
3" eternal marble" and monuments to
commemorate their deeds.
Unsuccessful a. well as more fortunate
patriots have thus been honOred alike.
Robert Emmett as well as George Wash
ington will be dear 10 tie heart wherever
freedom has a shrine upon earth, and
the names of Albert Sidney johnson and
Leonidas Polk, Of Pat Cleburne and Of
Stonewal jackson, inscribed GpOn the
landmarks of time, will be read by all
generations Of men with honor and AT
fectiOn-with conscious pride in com
mon humanity which notwithstanding
its weakness and errors, sometimes rises
above the storm and the cloud to mOnu-
mental grandeur aud magnihcence.
? While many are engaged in a
ing columns, shafts and obelisks to their
local heroes, it seemed proper to build
on q grand scale, one monument 10
artO fcH, privates as well as
officers, and to inscribe as far as pTactI-
cable, their names upon it. But archi-
tects decide that on no other graceful
structure han a temple can such q mul-
ritude Of names be given to posterity;
and we would ave our children read
them on fTeseoed walls, On mural tablets
and eternal columns.
3. We would build such q temple, not
without hope that many might be drawn
to its sacred precincts who, otherwise, in
an age Of growing l-icenticuSness, migat
worship AT all.
4. Finally, ladies, having thus adj
dressed your sober judgements We
also, appeal to your generous
hearts.
Honor was the soldiers chief reward !
For this, che sought the bubble
reputation in the Ganons mouth"
This, he expected from those
white hands waved him on
to battle-and for UhOse honor ne
would gladly die. Shall he sleep like his
horse, upon the battle field, unremem-
Oered or shall he rise in living marble
to the sky? Shall unborn ages read his
name or shall eternal forgetfulness en-
him ,
Your lofty career, ladies, through long
7ears OF suffering and sorrow, can fur
lish but one answer to these questions.
fear of d~ispleasing the ungenerous
lmoDg our former foes. No mawkish
.ensibiIity which would have the church
,bOve al human sympathy, can deter
your noble hearts or paralyze your gene
Gus hands. You will form societies
n every neighborhood, and forward the
idHles Of yOUr dead, with such offerings
IS poverty and ruin allow. At your Uja,
temple shall rise-tae glory Of the liv-
ug and the dead Your fingers shall
wine immortal garlands for It's sacred
and if the dear departed ever
evisit earth, u "Brave Boys" still
obed in snow-white honor, will walk
hose uisles in conscious gratitude and
riumph.
Til then, faif couutry-wOmen, we
the honor to subscribe ourselves
our sisters in common sorrow.