Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-11-29
Grand Gathering to Express Graf
itude to the Living and SOr-
row for the Dead.
The Opera House Filled with a
Large but Select Audience.
Address by w. ". G. Humes, an
ex-COnfederate General.
The Resolutions Adopted Esprit Of the
Meeting, Floral Decorations, Etc.


and gentlemen-all wearing an expression
Of some serious and important purpose,
assembled the wide stairway of the Green
law Opera House, and filed down the
until the house was full to overflow
ing. Many of them had just come from
the various churches where thanksgiving
services had been held, and the same air
of propriety prevailed in the Opera House
that is usually observed in churches. 1t
an assemblage of our best and most
representative people, regardless of politi-
cal afinities, creed or class. The meeting
was called by returned refugees, and while
others were invited to be present as guests
and spectators this element controlled the
proceedings.
DECORATIONS.
Thanks to the good taste and personal
effort of General Cotton Greene, this large
and rather u~nsightly Opera House was for
once tastefully decorated with ever
greens, shrubbery of different kinds and
choice flowers. The stairway was set on
either side with woodland trophies, mag
nolias, cedars, hollys and ferns, which con-
tributed TO make it more like an arcadian
stairway than the ordinary entrance. In
side the arrangement, both on the stage
and all around the galleries and walls, was
tasteful and elaborate, e~liciting the admir-
alton Of all. A full description would
occupy much Of our space and then hardly
convey an adequate idea ofthe transfer
nation that had been wrought. The
ushers were General r. F. Patterson,
Captain Richard w. Lightburne, and Mr..
Charles Hunt, who performed their duties
gracefully and efficiently.
on THE STAGE
were seated the following gentlemen, and
perhaps a few others: Hon. Jacob Thomp-
son. Mr.. j. S. Menken, Mr.. Jos. Bruce,
Mr.. James Speed, Captain George H.
Mitchell, Mr.. w. B. Galloway, Mr.. Jas.
Elder. Major G. V. Rambaut, Mr.. j. G.
johnson, Mr.. Day, Mr.. j. 7. Petit, Hon.
H. G. Smith, Rev. DIR. S. Landrum, Mr..
w. S. Bruce, Mr. NJ. D. l.. Stewart, Judge
T. H. Logwood, J.. Harvey Mathes, Col
Il. w. Avery, Judge T. W. Brown, Mr.
B. NJ. Estes, Hon. Hosea Townsend, ex
: Chancellor R. j. Morgan, A. NJ. Angel
: asto, Mr.. L. Hanauer, DR.. Samel Watson
: Mr.. j. w. Moores, Rev. Dr. Stainback
, Colonel Sam Mosby, Colonel w. B. Wal
dron, Colonel VIM. Bowles and Ben Else
man.
n, CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARIES.
When the house was filed and the au
dince seated as far as there was room, Mr.
". B. Galbreath came forward on tn
stage and nominated General w. Y. c
Humes for chairman. This carried unani
-, mously. General Humes came FORWARD
: from the audience and was introduced a
chairman of the meeting. Mr.. It's. Davi
moved that the members of the city pres
/. present be requested to act as secretaries
! This also carried.
PRAYER.
The Rev. DR.. Landrum, upon request
! rose on the platform, the audience ais
q rising, and offered very touching, ferven
and beautiful prayer. 1t had reference t
e the great plague and the events arising
from it in connection with the oecasio
which had brought the people togethe.
He was visibly affected in alluding to tn
4 suffering and death of the people, and
d the great charity Of the world extended {
a our stricken community. All hear
seemed touched and tears filled man
II eyes.
lei COMMITTEE on RESOLUTIONS.
Isl At the conclusion of the prayer, Colon
rs A. j. Kellar, of the Avalanche, move
ID the appointment Of a committee of sixteC
to present resolutions embodyingt the SEN
of the meeting. Colonel r. f. LoonC
seconded the motion, and it was carrie
rs The chairman announced the followiI
COMMITTEE, and the members Of it asser
bled in the adjoining room: Colonel A.
Kellar, G.. P. Hunt, Benz. Eisman, +.
- Davis, Captain VIC. Fowlkes, Hos
Townsend, Robert Woolfenden, n. ]
:. Jones, Louis Hanauer, Colonel NJ. G. G.,
loway, james Speed, A. Vaccaro,
:, Lowenstein, w. B. Galbreath, Jno. Gun
. w. H. Rhea.
This having been accomplished, Genel
Hume arose and stated that he had be
given short notice that he would be call
upon TO preside over the meeting. 7
~ address he had prepared, however, need
no apology, as will be seen:
SPEECH OF GEN. HUMEs, CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The sentiments Of gratitude and adr
ration which have called together d
~, crowded assemblage Of the people
ON Memphis, and which beam from the faI
I'm of this audience are as sincere, as profou
"a and enduring, and the devotion and q
erosity which called it forth were hero
ny noble, bounteOus and benefcent in th
blessings.
The highest powers Of ~eloquenoe wol
fail adequately 10 express these sen
| A ments, and they animate with glowi
warmth your hearts towards the people
- the North and Of the Sonth for th
ample charity TO our stricken city a
. country,
Sometimes, but rarely In tho history
the world, the conduct Of a people Is
noble a. 10 arouse in the heart an emit
siasm Of admiration which language c
not compass. The recent hbcrality Of
North, showing one Of the brightest ii
]trations Of this rare nobility Of conduc
be found in history, was 50 free, so prom
so ample, so benehcient, and the appre
ton by the people Of Memphis Of this c
duct on tho part Of their Northern
Southern friends, 50 keen, so ieryid I
no, language cannot add O single tint TO
WI beauty Of the former, nor a ray TO
sarmth Of the latter. Eloquent We
cannot reach the reality Of that char
7St and must fall shogt Of tho warm graft
with which II IS cherished.