The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-09
OAKWOOD ASSOCIATION.
ANNUAL MEETING.

&. 1uS duuudl utelluS VI euc cdhUooo
Memorial Association was held yesterday
afternoon in the lecture room of the Third
Presbyterian church. Present: Mrs. NJ.
II. Smith tpresident), Mrs. c. Poythress
(secretary), Mrs. E. S. Turpin (treasurer),
Mrs. John Knox, Mrs. DR.. Vest, Mrs. Thos.
S. Baldwin, Mrs. A. Y. Stokes, Mrs. A. s.
Lee, Mrs. G. ". Allen, Mrs. John Sinton,
Misses Lee, Lyme, White, and others.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. P. B. Price, who was requested to act
as chairman. DR.. J. B. Brock was appoint
ed secretary pro tenn.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The following report of Mrs. NJ. H.
Smith, president, was then read and ac-
cepted.
"The President and Board of Managers
of Oakwood Memorial Association have the
pleasure to inform the members and other
friends of the cause that the past year,
though not marked by the general zeal and
affection which first gave rise and impulse
to the organization, has, by favor of kind
and oyerruling Providence, not been desti-
tutue of solid and pleasing results.
"The report of the treasurer will show
that though our receipts have been far,
very far, below the range of our desires and
plan towards the establishment of the sad
but cherished burial-place under our care,
they have yet been sufficient to enable us
to accomplish at least one important OBJ
ject, and to give us hope that the interest
in our enterprise will not perish rs soon as
some have predicted, but will steadily, in
time to come, yield those liberal offerings
that will enable us and our successors to
place it upon sure and permanent founda-
tion.
"While erecting monument to the worth
of the patriotic dead, it will yet be ours, we
hope, to transmit to posterity some fresh
and beautiful memorials Of their survivors
in the same generation, showing that, not
withstanding the poverty and demoralza
ton succeeding the war, they still retained
the virtue and self-denial to appreciate its
victims, and to embalm their memories by
doing what could be done amid the weak
ness and the tears of g general disaster.
"The great work Of last year was the
completion of the white boards which mark
the graves of about ten thousand soldiers
whose names we had been enabled to dis
cover. The principal part of our opera
tions this year has been: First, the addi-
ton of black boards marking rows and di-
visions SO as to facilitate the discovery and
preservation of graves and second, the
thorough improvement of the grounds by
careful preparation of the soil, the appli-
cation of o fertilizer, and the sowing Of
grass seed, which, it is hoped, will next
wear give to the whole scene an appropriate
and grateful aspect.
"The Common Council of the city made
an appropriation last fall for the plowlng
and sowing of the grounds, which was ex-
pended under their own direction. The re-
suit was rough and insecure falloW,
the displacement of many of our boards,
and wilderness Of weeds this year, which,
in many places, hid the rest of them from
our view, and made it painful to see the
place. The removal of all this wild growth
and the thorough preparation of the ground
already alluded to gives US q prospect OF
success, at our own expense, in achieving
that for which our only donation of public
money in this State was spent in vain
and at the same time yields US already
great satisfaction in the neat appearance of
all that part Of the cemetery. But we
deeply regret that money reserved for an
other purpose had to be spent in this way.
awe have under our care about eleven
acres of burying ground, and, in addition,
have improved an open space IN the eastern
part which will be an appropriate resting
spot for those who may visit the grounds.
Some Of the adjacent parts Of the cemetery
are much oyerrun with wild growth, but BY
the judicious cooperation of the city autho-
rites we hope for improvement in those
places also.
"We have been cheered by substantial
tokens that our work is appreciated in the
States south of us. Georgia and Mississippi
have this year aided US by Legislative ap-
propriations-the former giving $1,000,
the latter s744.37. A previous contribu-
ton of this sort was from North Carolina
81 900. ...
ain the course of the yearthere have been
instances which abundantly prove the use
fulness of our efortg to surviving friends
who were seeking the remains of their dead.
The grateful joy of parents and others in
such cases rewards us for many days Of
anxiety and toll.
"The work before US is Of such proper
tons as to demand energy and perseve-
rance, but the success that has crowned
our efforts thus far encourages to contem-
plate it without dismay. While the pre-
sent members Of the Association live much
will ever remain to be done, but with the
general and hearty cooperation. of all to-
wards the great and noble end, we may,
by the blessing of God, leave the fair fabric
in state of beauty and perfection far be-
yond that to which we have already at
tanned, and commit it to other hands, fra
grant not only with its own memories, but
eloquent likewise in an example which
will teach them to be faithful to their trust
under every encouragement.
TREAsURERs REPORT.
The report of Mrs. E. S. Turpin, reasu-
rer, was then read as follows:
Receipts. October l, 1867, to cash on
hand as per last report, s27.99; October Is,
net proceeds Of festival, $34S.94. January
2l, 1865, appropriation Of Georgia Legisla-
ture, 1900 August Is, appropriation OF
Mississippi Legislature, s744.37 !; private
contributions, SIT; membership fess, Si5.
Total, 50, 1870.
Dis6msemsnts.-ls6s, by amount paid as
per vouchers, s354.2S; by amount paid
per checks, s273.30; by cash on hand,
Sl,523.72. Total, So, 2,l5l.3O.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The old officers of the Association were
then reelected, with one or two exceptions
in cases in which there have been removals
from the city.
The meeting then adjourned.
Tur Doc-c,TcHrRs were out in full forcs