Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-16
FLORAL CEREMONIES
In Honor Of the Confederate
Dead.
The Beautiful Custom Fittingly OBJ,
served Yesterday.
An Immense Crowd Participate
In the Sacred ObserVances.

Elmwood was converted into a floral
bower yesterday. During the afternoon
the greatest human gathering ever col
lected within the grounds Of the cemetery
on any occasion was there to join with one
another in the annual and appropriate
custom Of honoring departed Confederate
braves.
The day was bright and clear, the suns
rays being cooled by pleasant north
westerly breeze, while the ample shade Of
the broad trees within the enclosure rem
dered the walks and avenues delightful
for all disposed to stroll about and
view the last resting places Of fallen heroes
and others.
The graves of many who have passed
from earth, not as battle SCARED warriors,
had been adorned profusely with flowers
on the day before, and the labor Of rela-
tives and friends was everywhere visible
All manner Of conveyances were in full
requisltion yesterday to convey people to
the cemetery. The Charleston railway
ran trains every half hour, taking passen-
gers at five cents each way; the street
cars in extra numbers went crowded,
omnbuses, private conveyances and every
mode OF locomotion, even to going aioot,
were numerously patronized
The speakers stand near the foot OF q
sloping hill and directly in front Of the
Confederate monument was surrounded
by over 100 seats. These were all occu-
pied an hour before the ceremonies COM
menced, and many thousands stood
throughout the service, viii le a large con-
course, not being able to hear distinctly
exercised themselves in going about
among the graves. The attendance was
variously estimated at from six to ten
thousand.
The executive committee did their work
thoroughly, the best Of order prevailing
throughout indeed, no camp meeting or
other out Of door religions gathering ever
observed the Sabbath day with more
strict regard for piety. Every one seemed
to be on their good behavior. The i'm
pressive and sacred nature of the cere-
monies seemed to influence the partici-
pants with feelings of religious order.
THE EXERCISES
began promptly at o'clock in the after
noon, Arnold's brass band opening with
sacred airs, the torres of which spread to
and were distinct at the farthermost limits
of the enclosure Next followed "The
Soldiers Sleep" by a double quartette Of
male voices, with an accompaniment by
the banda lovely selection impressively
sung by members of the Mozart musical
club. After that prayer by the Rev.
Edmund Organ; then hymn, NEARER,
NV God. to Thee" with musical accom-
paniment; then the impressive Episcopal
burial service was read by the Rev. MIR.
OrRain; "The Warriors Night Song" fol-
lowed. and double quartette Of male
voices, with accompaniment by the band,
rendered this selection in peculiarly inn
pressiye ard lovely manner Miss Olivia
p. Hill next delivered recitation, partly
her own composition, with extracts from
the late Henry Timrods and Father
Ryans productions. The young lady was
rewarded at the close by an enthusiastic
: clapping of hands, the only incident OF
] the entire programme which would not
have been strictly appropriate within the
walls of a church. Miss Hills felctous
effort drew many compliments, both be-
yond her hearing and to her in person
TIE fair lady possesses many accomplish
meuts and among Others is that of prom
isipg literary gifts "Shal We Meet Be
vond the River2" hymn, followed Miss
Hill. Next the Hon. Casey Young's ora
tion, of which the following is a synopsis
Hon. Casey YOung's Grafton.
1 appear before you at the invitation of
the committee having charge of the sol
emn services of to-day, with anxious diff
fdences of my fitness to discharge in a
Incoming manner the difficult, but CRATE
fil task they have assigned me, and an
embarrassing apprehension that a better
minister might have been selected to con-
duct that part Of the touchinga sacred
rights we meet to celebrate, which has
been allotted to me.
/ am called upon to revive the memory,
and speak the voice of their living COM
rades, in honor of the immortal dead-the
heroic actors in the grandest drama and
most stupendous struggle recorded IN the
pages of modern history, while you are
assembled on this quiet Sabbath day, IN
ebN revered and beautiful city of our dead,
amid its smiling flowers and silent monu-
menta AID hallowed tombs, to perform a
duty bern of feelings and emotions higher
than the insHrations OF earth, ana winch
robes our fraii hpmanity IN a mantle
pureand spotless as celestial raimen''
greet you, ladies and gentlemen, as
pilgrims, bringing offerings rlcher Snen
pold or jewels, and sTeeter tnan Irahhuh-
eense or myrrh, to shrine holy as any
ever sanctifed by blessing OF saint OF
PRAYER of devotee-speaking aloud thc
soft whisperings Of that higher faculty
of the mind, which lifts Us toward
the Infinite, and that gehtt
inspiration Of the heart that makes 1t re-
feet the image of divinity, welcome you
as worshipers at an altar sacred as any
ever buided in mosque or tempe ano
consecrated by human affection to molly
uses.
Surrounded by, and standing above, tht
buried dust of eight hundred Oonfederai'
soldiers--every humble grave the sepul'
chre and every grassy hilloek the monu-
the world 10 the unselGsh devotion apc
Fearless courage that carried them without
halt or fear TO the stricken fields upor
which they fell. "a
instiocts and love of liberty inherent "
4he AnQlo-SaxCn character, and that hai
made that historic race victors on every
Reldin al The wars and struggles for free
dom In FIVE centuries Of progress and civ
flization. they donned the plumed helme
of the knight, girded on tbe ggord Of thu
soldier and went forth to battle With tn.
courage Of high convictions, thrice aFHasq
with the inspiration Of a quarrel jGst
Whether in victory or defeat, whether
doating proudly oyer the yictoriouI
delds of Manassas, Seven Pines or Chick
amaiiga, or burning to ashes IN the con
sumipe fame that blazed and leaPad OF
She heights Of Gettysburg, or the lnEiC
srts which famed amid the rocks anC
Iogs of Mission Ridge, the banner OF tn
sadenacv was the symbol Of soldlerlJ
80 and fond devotion through oil ~
Wears Years SE the frightful struggle for 8, southern
sndsnentbece. 1t was as dear to the near
ma Sce,tifIs 20 the eye Of its followers o