The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-11
MEMORIAL DAY.
DECORATION OF THE GRAVES.
LAYING OF A CORNERSTONE
The NIasons In Full Force--Address by
General James Conner-A Great Crowd,
Incidents, &c.

| The Masons In Full Force--AuuresS os
General James Conner-A Great Crowd
Incidents, &c.
There is no event in the year around which
clusters the sympathles and associations OF oul
people, especially of our noble women, like tht
ceremonial by which they annually perpetuatt
| the memory Of their heroic dead. Indeed, were
Ii not for the gentler sex-those who in the houl
Of travail "walked the earth with bleeding feet
yet smilcd;" those who suffered all the crack and
strain OF heart-stripgs while mourning for their
beloved; those who, when even the bravest men
quaed, faltered not in their devotion to principle
and home; were it not for gentle woman, there Is
little doubt that in the hustle and hurry Of life,
the dead Confederate soldier would, In thousands
of Instances, have continued to sleep In nameless
graves. and, before many years, have become ''as
the echo Of a song that was sung"
First among her self.imposed duties after the
close of the war, was the bestowal OF care upon
| the unmarked mounds that dotted our battle
| fields. Lots were purchased In the cemeteries,
tenderly the remains OF the dead were removed
thereto and then with patriotic sacrifice Of time
and labor she obtained the means OF perpetuating
in marble the humblest names Of those who, fight
ing, fell. This labor in part is accomplished.
Woman has set apart day in the month OF now-
ers when gathering around these new tarfed
graves, the mothers, wives and children OF the
South may lay their homage upon the earth that
covers the dead soldier, and tell in flowers the
story of their love.
Gathering Flowers.
xUhot bo1 hoan ,Iono oloouharo- Ricmond
Fredericksburg, Memphis, Savannah and other
places-was repeated In Charleston yesterday; 1t
being the anniversary, llAc|ise, of the death OF
Stonewall jackson.
Agreeably to the published announcement, the
ladies Of the garland committee assembled at an
early hour, and wagons then proceeded from
house to house to collect the bouquets. crosses,
evergreens and heaps Of flowers that seemed In
their beauty to have blessomed for the purpose.
The Assembling.
The day was unusually fine, and when the hour
approached for the ceremony Of decoration to
take place, there were few families In Charleston
who were not en- route to Magnolia Cemetery, or
already represented Oh the spot. Most OF the
stores In the city we're closed, and business gene
rally was suspended. Public and private vehl-
cles, baggage wagons and railway cars, and
every available species of conveyance, were
brought into requisltlon; and the shell-road
never presented more animatlng spectacle.
A part of the exercises OF the day consisted In
the laying Of the cornerstone OF monument to
the Confederate dead, by the Grand Lodge OF Free
Masons, and at O'Clock P NJ the entire Masonic
fraternity Of the city assembled for the purpose
OF participating in the ceremony.
Formed In line, they appeared Ia greater
strength than any body OF citizens that has
paraded since the war.
At O'Clock P. NJ long trains on the South Caro-
lima and Northeastern Railroads, loaded with
people, began to arrive In front Of Magnolia, and
for more than an hour thence the stream Of hu-
manity was incessant. II Is estimated that be-
tween five and seven thousand persons were pres.
ent on the ground-so many indeed that large
portion wee unable to hear the addresses deliv-
cred, and were forced to remain mere ''loekers
on In Vienna.n Committees Of citizens were ap-
pointed at the different depots to supertntend the
embarEation and dsbarkatlon Of the people. Car
riages were prevented from obtrudng on the
comfort OF the assembly, by ropes stretched
across the main cemetery avenues, and In short
the Committee or Arrangements, Messrs. II. B.
Olney, W. A. Kelly aud A. T. Smythe, fully COM
pretended and admirably performed the duties
OF their office.
The Ceremonies.
The four O'Clock train from Charleston brought
with 1t the Masons-in all the simple beauty OF
regalls, white gloves and black dress, and as the
procession filed into the grounds and opened
rank, to allow the passage Of the Grand Master
and Grand Lodge, there was no prettier sight
during the day than that double fringe Of gentle
men, with It's deep border OF ladies and children,
rich In colors, and burdened with flowers, who
looked on wonderingy from among the grave
stones and shrubbery behind.
The Grand Master and officers then ascended
the platform, which was elaborately decorated,
and the rest OF the brethren closed around the
grea. ssuare which contains the graves.
The following prayer. written by Rev. john
Bachmau, D. D., was then read by Rev. Ar.
W.nkler, the venerable divine first mentioned be-
ing confined at home by illness:
Prayer.
O! Thou great and merclful God, the Father OF
our Lord Jesus Christ-the former OF our boules-
the giyer OF every earthly comfort and every re-
lIgious hope. we adore Thee, that Thou art ever
ready to listen to the prayers or Tiny cnlldren;
And that amidst all our necessities, cares anu
LrlalS, INOU dTt waiting w SUSTAIN oha o4eS'
Look, we besesch Thee with paternal love upon
this multitude, who have gathered together to
mingle their tears TO embalm the memories OF
our dead heroes by placing fragrant garlands
upon their graves, and 10 lay the cornerstone OF
q monument to perpetuate the names OF the
brave defenders Of our homes and OF all that we
held dear. Heavenly Father, 1t was by Thy holy
viii, that these who willingly endangered their
lives, fell In battle, or perisscd the victims OF
disease Merciful Father, forgive US, II we do not
exercise that entire submission which Thy molly
will enjoins. And o teach US, Thy children, al
all times to say, "Not our will, Father, but Thine
be done.n 1900,
may foster In the hearts OF our sons and dauga-
ters the sentiments Of patriotism. And whist
the names Of the heroic defenders OF tnls, "Our
CITY by the Sea,n shall remain engrayen high on
the roll OF these earthly records to teach succeed.
ing generations that the noblest onertng we can
make to our country, is to die In its defence, we
beseech Thee to teach as still higher lesson; 70
impress upon the living the duty OF love, ooe-
dence and gratitude to the Divine Saviour, whose
religion teaches US, "Blessed are the dead, VINO
die in the Lord, yea, saith the Spirit, tney rest
from their labers and their works do lollow
them" Almighty God, we beseech Thee to wipe
away the tears Of the mourners, to comfort the
widowed hearts and to provide for the orphans
Whilst we live. Father, may 1t be In Thy fear,
and when we are summoned hence, may We all
be reuHited around that Throne in the Blessed
Land. where wars shall cease, and sorr0ws shall
end. We ask all these blessings, through the
merits Of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
The following ode, written for the occasion by
a yell.known and beloved citizen, was then sung
by an excellent choir, accompanied by Dir. T.