Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-06-08
FLORAL DECORATION.

ny OF decorating the - @'SS ~ ~
federate Dead was performed at tins
place on Saturday evening last. Men,
women and children lovingly partici-
pated in the exercises and paid their an
nual tribute to the memory of the hon
ored dead. Surely, no one can object
to so simple and touching an exhibition
of love and affection as this. Flowers
are Loves Memorial and Natures atfec-
tionate gift, and what is more beautiful
than the placing Of them upon the
graves of our beloved dead, so emblem
atical of our transitory life, carrying our
thoughts Heaven-ward as their perfume
is exhaled by the balmy evening air and
suggesting that loving life that is LETT
on earth to pay their tribute Of affection
to departed worth.
Early in the day our quiet village be
gan to be crowded with busy throng
and long before the time arrived for
beginning the exercises the visitors be
gan to wend their way to the cemetery.
At , o'clock Criswell's Cornet Band
struck up their sweet notes as signal
for the procession to move, which soom
reached the Cemetery, when the exer-
cises were opened with singing by the
Choir, followed by the following i'm
pressiye prayer by Rev. y. y. p. Neel,
of the Methodist Church South =
Eternal and Almighty God, Makerand
Prrscrycr Of all things, upon Thee are
we dependent for all blessings, and it is
of Thy goodness that we enjoy this
privilege Of meeting and chcrishing the
memory OF these orr fellows who gave
their hres to a cause we esteemed right.
We thank Thee, O Lord that Thou
hast so constituted Us as to care for our
dead, and that Thy word dost warrant
us to care for the scpulchres Of the IA
Tiers.
Father grant unto us Thy Holy SPir-
it upon this occasion 10 influence us in
thought, feeling and affection, that We
may receive spiritual profit. May we
he sanctiiicd in this our reunion and be
the better preparcdtorthe great re union
when these that sleep here in Christ and
we shall be brought together in the
general resurrection. We pray Thy
blessing especially upon those of our
number here who have laid III these
graves those nearest and dearest to them
on earth and upon those Of us who
have loved ones elsewhere, and upon
those of our country whose homes have
been desoated and hearts have been
stricken by the deSolations of oar land.
Let the Holy Comforter be grntedmto
us all. And, O Father, We besccch
Thee to remember and bless those of
our country who are noW oppressed.
Speedily send them relict.and may peace
and prosperity be given to all the bar
ders Of our land. We thank Thee for
indications OF relief; that some are COM
ing to our help, and that we are finding
friends in those who Uere our enemies.
And. o We bcseech Thee to bless
those W no are sfiH our political enemies.
Father, forgive them, they know not
what they do" Blinded by prejudice
they seem not to know that they are
wickcdly expressing the innocent. Has
ten the period, gracious Father, when
in orr whois land peace, quictude and
happiness may he restored to all our
people and their homes. And to this
end may Ihy Kingdom come and
nightly prevail over all hcarts,-oycr
those in authority that they may rule
rightcously and Justly.
Now let Thy blessing rest upon us
individually here in our associations,
that each Of us may be prottci and our
proceedings here may be to Thy names
honor and glory. These mcrcies We
beg through Jesus Christ our Redeem
en- Amen
Prof. W. l.. Wilson, of Charlcstown,
then delivered the following appropriate
address -
Ladies of the Memorial Association {:
-Obcdicnt to your summons, we are
gathered, to offer incense at the shrine
of Southern hcroism. In accordance
with that simple and touching ccrcmo-
ny, which has so deseryedly become a
custom among us, we hrin" flowers for
the graves of our dead, and for their
memories, tribute Of love and of graf
itudc
To the brave and the true among
men, the grave of the heroic soldier,
wherever itmay be, is hallowcd ground,
his memory precious inheritance but
for us who gather to this service, there
are voices from these graves which no
other ears can hear. there are memories
in them, which no other hearts can feel
The living were ours, of us and from
us, bound to us in life, by the ties of
kinShip, Of friendship, of sympathy. of
association in suffering and danger; and
the dead are ours. ours not more their
treasured dust, gathered into this peace
full cemetery, than all the. thronging,
glorious memories, that spring immor
tal from that dust
Holy indeed was the love. kindled at
the altar of woman's devotion, which.
ere the echoes of war had died in the
land, and when gloom and dismay were
brooding over all things, sought out, be
fore time could lay his effacing hand
upon them. the graves of orr fallen sol