Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-06-03
MEMORIAL DAY.

Il
auspices of the Southern Soldiers Me-
mortal Association of this place. Not
withstanding the intense heat, at early
noon persons from all sections began to
assemble, and at o'clock the hour des-
ignated, several thousand had gathered
together. Many from Maryland were
with us. They came not as idle specta-
tors, but as true Marylanders, who will
ever reverence the memory of those who
battled and died with Maryland's sons
The concourse in charge of Col. VIM
A. Morgan, Chief Marshal, proceeded
to the beautiful Cemetery of the patriot
dead, bearing their treasures OF beautiful
flowers, their tribute to the memory OF
the brave. Criswell's Cornet Band and
the Junior Band, of this place, gave
sweet and appropriate music.
On the ground the ceremony was sad
ly interesting; after an appropriate air
by Criswell's Band, the SOLDIERS
Grave" was sung by the Lutheran
Choir in an elegant manner. AT the
conclusion of the singing, the following
eloquent and impressive Prayer was
offered by Rcy. DR.. Bittle, of the Lu-
theran Church, Of this place
Eternal God ! Creator and Prescrv-
er of all. Thy mercy and goodness per
nit us this day to stand, the living
amongst the dead. Thy care has pre-
served us during another year, from
1.-The pestilence that walketh i'll darkness,
and the destruction that wasteth at noon
day." Thousands have left the busy
scenes of life, during the short year that
has passed, and we remain the monu-
ments of thy forbearance. The fresh
graves near us, remind us that not all
are here who joined with us when we
last met. May the lives Thou dost so
mercifully prolong be spent to Thy hon
or and service. IT, in Thy wise Provi-
dence, we should be numbered among
the dead, when again the living assem-
bic to drop the tear Of sympathy and
strew the flowers of affection upon the
graves of the sleepers around us, . may
our names be found enrolled upon the
Lambs Book of Life, and our ransomed
spirits be dwelling in the sunlight of
Thy blissful Presence. Bless, we be-
seech Thee, the parents, widows, or
phans and friends of those whorest here.
Assuage their sorrows, and pour into
their wounded hearts the blessed conso-
lation of our Holy Religion. Teach
them. and us, to look away from this
feeting, transitory world, where the
brightest prospects end in gloom, and
the fairest flowers fade, to Thy eternal
Home, where, beyond the silence OF the
grave, appears the glorious dawn of
Heaven, where thestreams of living wa
ter flow, and fragrant flowers immortal
bloom There sin and death can never
enter There Thine own gentle Hand
shall wipe away all tears There Thou
art In Thy presence is fullness OF JOY,
and at Thy right Hand are pleasures tor
ever more, where angels and archangels,
cherubim and seraphim continually
adore, and the innumerable throng,
whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy
most precious Blood, shall joytully sing
the new song of redeeming Love. To
participation of the happiness in that
world of glory may we be admitted
through Jesus Christ or Lord. Amen.
After prayer the Rev. J. B. Fitzpat-
rick, of the NJ. f. Church, South, of
this place, delivered the. following able
and eloquent address
Ladies and Gentlemen when call
ed upon to deliver an address on this
occasion, knew not where to begin or
what to say | find, however, these
words inscribed upon the southern side
of that beautiful monument, eve lie
here in obedience to the command OF
our sovereign States.
This language singularly touches my
heart it is the language of flial piety,
the language of obedient sons, who
were willing to give up all, even life it
self, to defend the honor and preserve
the integrity of their mothers. When
we look at it again,we discover the addi-
tional fact, that it holds doctrine to
which, patriots and statesmen reverently
bowed for three quarters Of a century
A doctrine, however, though, so long
supported by the eloquence and defend
ed by the logic and loved by the good
of we'll nigh whole country, had at
last to succumb to the mobilize fury of
an unthinking, unreasoning, political ia
naticism, and from the day that the
South's great hero ( God bless his mem
DRY J gave up his sword at Appomattox
Court House, until now, the doctrine of
States rights has been wantonly tram
pied under foot. 1t was to prevent this
terrible catastrophe that these noble
sons of the South, poured out their blood
and gave up their lives. They were
not, therefore, traitors to their country !;
they were not rebels in any proper sense,
but, they were patriots of the highest
order. Patriots, who stood up and
barred their bosoms to the death storm,
with love of right, love of liberty,
and love of country, as warm and as
pure as ever throbbed beneath the breast
plate Ola Spartan. We feel sure of the
correctness of our position, that we can
wait until prejudice, that foul monster,
whose giant tread, and deadly breath
daStrors co much rood Ne can afford