The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-21
IN THE CAPITOL SQUARE.
The Arrangements Made for the, Tn.
Yelling distinguished Pcrs0nagcs-.
Order OF Ceremonies,

l ~ SNtlIc Il III 7 lDllill 'luitIi i"C.slE ~
$criptinn. 70 the left Of the main drive and
Immediately north OF the monument was
erected the grand stand from which the oril-
tlon Of the day was to he delivered. This was
4 massive structure. by 80 feet. surrounded
by bnluStrmdcs and supported with columns
at the corners. The woodwork was entirely
hidden from view by tho wrcaths, evergreen.
moss and flowers which willing and SE:ilful
hands had prepared. The columns were sur
mounted with State flags, and from tic top Of
II pillar which rose from the centre ~ the
floor were huns gnrlanhs of cedar. forming. M
II were. n canopy over the seats below. Upon
this pillar, about twenty feet from the floor OF
the stand. was placed transparency bearing
the following inscription "If am to die
now; ] give my lite clrcrfuiIy for the indr-
pcndcncc of South Carolina.' To the South
of the stand and flcing IT. stood the ln"nu;
4 mcnt. vciled from tho public gaze bya shroud
Of white cloth. TO the south of the mnnr-
mcnt, and somewhat to the west of It rose n
tier Of seats reaching rs high rs the first WIN
dowS of the Capitol. This tier Of seats was
erected together with other similar seats in
front Of the Statc-horsc. for the especial use
OF The ladies', and ut the honr appointed for
opening the ceremonies every inch Of space
was occupied, and 5000 fair faces were turned
towards the stand.
The military upon entering the Capitol
SQUARE were formed on plaSSc 10 the east and
west Of tho monument, and the intervening
yracc covering several acres. was crowded
with ladies and gentlemen who were unable
TO obtain seats.
rE~RsONAL-wITo WE'RE on THE STAND.
At Up. VI. Governor Simpson with Gen.
John s. Preston. tho orator Of the occasion.
on his arm, followed by the Rev. Ellison Ca
prrs and tho Rev. William Martin. assembled
the steps leading to the stand and took the
seats provided for them In the centre Of the
picture. TO tho right Of Mr.. tapcrs, who sat
on Governor simpsons right, were seated
Miss Chcves McCOrh. Miss Roberta Beck.
Miss Nay Dargan and Miss Beverly Means.
four Young ladies whose fathers had given
! tbnir n y-ul FIR f1,n Lost (Dlisn and IN thpSn
young daughters Of Carolina. all clad In spot
less white, had appropriately been assigned
the honor of unveilin" the monument. To
the right of these sat the bnardo of diTectresSrS
of TIC monuments Association. TO the left
OF Gen. Preston who sat Mt the lefi hand Of
Governor simpson. sat the ltcv. Mm. Martin
who was to deliver the dcdicatinG, prayer.
and Gen. McGowan. ex-governor Bonhnm,
Maj. Hamilton. Gen: Rrntton: Gen. Noise,
and Col, i. c. Gaillard. and tothc left OF these
gentlemen in especially reserved seats, were
seated Col. J. &. Haskell, tot s. l.. I.caphart,
Col. James Fraser and Col =. w. Rowan, four
acknowledgements. who had each lost an arm.
and who had been assigned the pleasing duty
of oscorting the young ladies from the stand
TO the monument and assisting them in the
unwilling. To the rear of this front row Of
seals were grouped the officers Of the several
commands in the parade with their rolors
and color bearers. and Il number OF prominent
citizens and visitors.
CALLING THE MEETING TO RIDE
Athftccn minutes after o'clock. Governor
Simpson called the immense multitude to or.
der. and announced that the ceremonies
wo@ld be opened wit with Pr"ysr al by the Rev ",
and offered the following prayer:
GEN. ELLISON cArERs's PRAYER.
o, most gracious God, our Creator, our Re-
dcmer and our constant bencfactor. Blessed
be Thy name, that 1t hath pleased Thee to
put 1t into the hearts OF the womcn OF Caro-
lima to raise this monument to the memory
| ~ . 49, ny..n ,,t 70 tIn 1~t ~, ~ n,, .t,r II-1 -,
The solemn discharge of their duty. blessed
be Thy name, Holy Father, that Thou didst
give them grace 10 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 defence OF the most
sacred convictions of their souls. We thank
thee, q thou inspirer OF ourhcartS, for the good
exam pie of our fathers, our brothers and our
sons. May we follow them in all that Is true,
noble and good, and cherish their memories
from generation TO generation. Here, o Holy
Father, we have assembled to dedicate to the
memory Of our brethren this work of wonl-
ans devotion, and with earnest faith in Thy
ovcrruling providence to ask thy blessing up
tn it. AcccptthiS offering Of love from hearts
, that adore Thee, Heavenly Father, and pro-
tect and preserve 1t from all harm Oh accldcnt.
May H. ever be dear to our people; may it be q
lasting blessing to our state by reminding us
that trut virtues arc indistructable, that
though the will Of man DO denied by Thy all.
wise providence, the character of man Is ever
to be preserved and precious in thy sight.
! May this mbnu,tihnt bear to tho stranger Il
. constant testimony TO the costly sacrifices
! which true men must ever DC ready to make
In asserting anu defending their principles.
May 1t remain for ages to cOlnc a witness of
the love and honor Chrolina'S. daughters be-
stow upOi the memory of Cardinals heroic
dead. and when our people assemble through
their representatives in the Capitol to dis
charge the important trusts of legislation,
remind them of the seIfsacritlce and courage
which Il faithful DISCHARGE Of duty ever de-