The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-22


mer, Major W. H. Gibbes, Captain w.
K. Bachman.
The following were the committee OF
ushers: Messrs. j. NJ. Morris, ]. Q. Mar
shall, NJ. c. Robertson, J. NJ. English, j.
G. Maxcy, w. Fry, Julius G. Walker, F.
j. Brooke.
While the throng was becoming set
tied there was appropriate music from
one of the bands on the ground.
THE CEREMONIES.
Governor Simpson called the meeting
to order, and Rev. Ellison Capers, of
Greenville, offered the opening prayer:
O most gracious God, our Creator, our
Redeemer and our constant Benefactor,
blessed be Thy name, that it hath pleas
ed Thee to put into the hearts of the wo-
men 0f Carolina to raise this monument
to the memory of Thy servants, the brave
men who died in the solemn discharge of
their duty. Blessed be Thy name Holy
Father, that Thou didst give them grace
to endure and to stand fast unto the end
of their course! That they did not count
their lives too dear unto themselves to
be freely laid down in defense of the
most sacred convictions of their souls.
We thank Thee, 0 Thou inspirer of our
hearts, for the good examples of our fa-
theirs, our brothers and our sons May we
follow them in all that is true, and no.
BILE, and good, and cherish their memo
ries from generation to generation. Here,
D Holy Father, we have assembled 10
dedicate to the memory of our brethren
this work of woman's devotion, and with
earnest faith in Thy overwhelming pro-
vidence to ask Thy blessing upon it.
Accept this offering of love from hearts
that adore Thee, Heavenly Father, and
protect and preserve it from all harm or
accident. May it ever be dear to our
people. May it be a lasting blessing t. our
State by reminding US that true virtues
are indestructible. That though the
piN of man may be denied by Thy all
wise providence, the character of man is
ever to be preserved and precious in
Thy sight. May this monument bear to
the stranger q constant testimony to the
costly sacrifices which true men must be
ever ready to make in asserting and de-
Tending their principles. May it re-
main for ages to come a witness to the
love and honor Carolina's daughters be-
stow upon the memory of Carolina's
as-oic dead! And when our people
assemble, through their representatives,
in the capital to discharge the impor-
tant trusts of legislation, may the silent
soldier on this noble obelisk remind
them of the self.sacri6ce and courage
which faithful discharge of duty ever
demands. Erected in the presence of
yonder sacred temple, consecrated to
Thy truth and worship, may this monu-
ment, Holy Father, be a faithful symbol
of peace to our people; the peace
which comes to the good conscience in
the midst of life's disappointmeuts and
trials; the peace which comes to the be-
lieving heart in the time of trouble; the
peace which comes to the steadfast soul
(which fears no foe with Thee at hand to
Bless" the peace which submission
brings only when duty has been done,
and Thy will, Holy Father, is fulfilled.
And now, o God, our Heavenly Father,
bless the hands that will unveil the ever
dear image of the Confederate soldier!
May they and all of Carolina's children be
true to the valor and the virtue which
"power could not corrupt, nor death ter.
rify, nor defeat dishonor." To Thee, o
Lord, we bring our service of prayer and
speech, and ask thy blessing upon US, in
the name of Him who laid down his life
for all mankind! And may the eloquent
words which will be spoken to us by thy
honored servants to-day be words of sob
erness and truth, and prove blessing to
every bleeding heart, and strength to us
all. And now, 0 God, unto whom all
hearts are open, all desires kno,pn, and
from whom no secrets are hid, cleanse the
thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration
of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may truly
love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy ho-
ly name, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Governor Simpson then said:
The ladies of the monumental Associa-
ton of this city, aided by the ladies of
the State, have been struggling for years
to raise the necessary means to erect a
monument to the Confederate dead of
South Carolina. In this effort they have
encountered many difficulties, trials and
vexatious delays; but with women aud q
cause like this, there is no such words as
fail, and they. have at length succeeded,
and to. day the monument is to be un-
yeiled and their work will have been
done. Yes, yonder it stands in all its
beautiful proportions, a splendid specimen
of perfect art, and long may it stand and
long will it stand, though voiceless and
silent, yet speaking in tones of unrivalled
eloquence of the heroic deeds of those
noble men of ours whose remains lie en-
tombed upon almost every hilltop and
in every vale in this beautiful Southern
land of ours; and long may it perpetuate
the noble sentiments and principles
which encircled the deeds of these men
with such halo of glory.
As part of the exercises of the day,
they have selected Carolina's most elo-
quent son to deliver an address; one in
whose veins flows a portion of that cur
rent which. flowing from the soil of the
old Dominion over this continent, gave
birth to the revolution of 1776, unsheath.
ing the sword of Washington, and calling
around him that heroic band of revolu-
tionary times by whom its independence
was achieved.
After these remarks, it is needless fol
me, now, to say that l have the honor tc
introduce General John S. Preston, oi
this city.
Governor Simpsons speech was greet
ed with rounds of applause, and Gener.
al Preston's appearance was the signal
for its renewal.
General Preston then spoke as fol-
lows:
When the people of Israel fled from
their oppressors, the God of their father;
babe them be Of good courage, and hi:
hand closed the waves of the sea over the
countless hosts of their pursuers, anc
their prophet stood upon the banks o
the holy river, and in the name of thu
God of their fathers promised them lib
erty, and for country all the land from