Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-29
THE MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
Meeting at the Grsenlaw Opera House Sat
urday Night.
Speeches Of Col. stephens and Judge Brown.

the morning papers of the city, the
Greenlaw Opera House was comfort
ably filed on Saturday night with the
elite of our city to hear the addreSse:
from Col. W. H. Stephens and Judge
ThOs. w. Brown.
AT s o'clock Gen. Pillow called the
Rev. DR.. Ford TO the chair, and the
Doctor Immediately introduced Col.
Stephens to the audience in about the
following words:
Ladies and Gentlemen: ! learn from
the public prints that the object of this
meeting is 10 rear monumental pile
TO transmit 10 other generations the
laemOry of the sufferings and the tri-
um6hs of the Confederate dead. The
plan am details viii be explained to
you by the speakers.
DIR. Ford then introduced Col. Ste
phens, who spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: You are
aware that the organization Oi the st.
Lazarus parish, in this city, was based
upon the idea of erecting an edifice
which should meet the requirements,
both of an Episcopal and of a MOnu-
mental church to the memory Of the
Confederate dead. The financial dis
tress so universal in the South, had,
however, postponed until now any de-
cisive movement towards its accom-
plishmeut: but in the opinion of the
friends Of the object the proper time
for action has now come, and they
have accordingly determined to pre-
sent its claims boldly and confidently
TO this enlightened and patriotic COM
munity. They have engaged the SER
vices of an accomplished architect TO
furnish suitable drawings, and after
mature deliberatiOn have adopted
the design of an edifice, and have
agreed upon u general plan Of opera
tiOns. The estimated cost Of the build
ing is three hundred Thousand dol
lars, and it has TO be beth a complete
church and a complete monument;
each perfect in the style belonging to
its peculiar use, and yet, each in har-
mOny with the Other-the two FORM
ing together, a blended union OF the
highest orders OF Gothic architecture.
This structure is not intended to
We any political significance, nor
ia il designed TO perpetuate section
al aninOsities or strife. Being COM
memorative of Confederate soldiers,
if must, OF course, rely chiefly upon
Southern Iiberality. 1t will employ
our own labor and viii use, as far
as possible, our own materials, such as
wood and stone and iron.
The first object would be TO secure 1
an eligible and commanding site, Wis
ible from every part of the city, and !
then to pay for ii out OF the first means
which came to hand; and we would /
aim to contract no debt, either for
work or material, until resources were 4
provided to secure its payment. And |
thus, when the edifiee was completed, I
il would stand forth unencumbered, |
an ornament to our city, credit 10 its |
founders, and perpetual memorial OF !
the liberality of our people. The ar |
list has provided in his draft a space |
sufficient TO contain six thousand 1
names, with a brief statement show /!
ing their regiment and company, and |
the date Of their death. Provisions
would be made that the donation Of q /
given sum of money, say about one l
hundred dollars, would entitle the
donors TO have inscribed upon a tablet |
lhe name of any Confederate soldier
VINO died in service, either ia battle or
frOm wounds or sickness.
Tao only out of that army Of mar
tyrs have been singled out for especial /
honor. High upon the outer face of
the tower are 60 be placed inches for
the statues Of the tao Christian Gene
rails, LeOnidas Polk and Thomas J.
Jackson. Applause. The one a
most beloved and hOnOred bishop IN
this church, who took up the sword to
protect his people, and laid it not
down until it dropt from his grasp in
the moment of death; the other
Presbyterian layman, whose piety was
50 pure and so constant and so fervid,
that nov, while the world stands
wrapt in wonder at his magnificent
genius for war, it is difficult to decide
whether we love and admire him most
for his Christian graces or for the
SplendOr Of his military achievements.
r, Ireat applause. lie then went on
sav that, except in the case Of these
two Christian warriors. there would
he no distinction of rank or merit {
uDon ,bCSe commemorative tablets.
All were alike actuated by sense OF
duty and by fherSnce to principle.
They had been IA ught ~ the Fathers
of the Republic that all Zee govern
ments were fOunGed n the cC'usent OF
the governed; and this political axiom
had so incorporated itsest with their
habits Of thought and speech as TO ]
have become almost an article OF re- {
ligiOus faith. There were ojversities Of
opinion, ii is true, as to the eXpediency I
and policy Of a separation; and there I
were different degrees of reluctance to '
dissolve the ties which had bound the :
sections together, but when the 5
presence of an invading army made q
il necessary either TO renOunce the I
right of self-gOvernment by submis- 1
sion to the central power, or else to ]
M. qintain it boldly, even at the risk OF {
life they met the issue with the same I
,sedats, courage and the same Canvic-
lion of light, and the same high trust {
in Provf, 1ence which in other days I
had insured holy martyrs to testify at {
the stake to the reality Of their re-
Iioion. TApplaTse.l Profoundly i'm {
messed with the belief that fidelity to {
the principles Of free government re- {
.uuired the sacrifice, and with thei {
same implicit faith which sustained {
Abraham when he laid his son Isaac {
upon the altar, they committed their
wives and children, their kindred and {
friends to the care of Heaven, and [
with sad hearts indeed, but with un-
faltering purpose, turned their backs
forever upon homes which, until then, {
had been the scenes Of the tenderest s
doves and the sweetest Joys that ever
blessed our fallen race. Faith in !
themselves and in the protection of I
Providence sustained them through |
all the trials and Vicissitudes of that {
prOtracted struggle, and illumined !
with hope even the darkest hours of s
that dark and weary might which
knew no morning. To commemorate {
such Christian virtues as theirs upon {
shafts of heather architecture, and
with devices drawn from their cor
rupt and idOlatrOus mythology, would
be unworthy of them, unworthy Of US,
and unworthy of the religious ele-
ment which ahOunded in our army
and pervaded the Confederate institu-
lions. Such Christian heroes should
he associated i'm our memories with
those high and ennObling thoughts
and aspirations which belong only to
Christian theology. That their pray
,ers for the success of their arms and
Sbe establishment Of their indepen-
denee were not answered; that their
sacri6ces and heroic self-devOtiOn were
apparently all in vain, surely cannot
a, ~ged either as a personal reprOach
be "a. them, or as an Impeachment
against iee of their cause. What
OF the just vet be in store for us Of
blessings may ward for our fidelity
the South as a re, iph destiny may
80 nrinciple; what Ia horn Isnd~it
-. await our dear Sou :. snfi.io,t
= not for US to know. II h - Him
- ns to bow submissiYely IA '
" who doeth all things wei.
..cod moves in q mysterious Way,