Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-06
OUR DEAD HEROES
Remembered by the "Southern Mothers"
with Flowers and Prayers and LOT-
ing Spes ch-fhe Graves OF
The Confederate Soldiers Covered with
Floral Tributes, from Gen. For
rests TO That Of The BBgler.

The association known as the Southern
Mothers were blessed With the most beauti-
fol weather yesterday on the occasion Of
thei- annual decoration Of the graves Of the
Confederate dead. From early IN the morn
ing until late in the evening, throngs OF
people visited the sacred spUt IN Elmwood,
a very large msiority being ladies of the as
ISOLATION. Each one bore a floral tribute,
some Of artistic design, aud every grave WISE
decorated of those "Who fought aide by eide,
men of youthful pride, disdaining fear and
deeming light the cost of life itself in
glorious battle lost." The greater part Ct
the day wss thus spent, and not until every
one had been visited did the throng assemble
around the Confederate monument.
PRAYER BY THE REV. DR.. EUGENE DANIEL.
About 4 O'Clock in the afternoon the Rev.
DR.. Eugene Daniel called the assemblsge to
prayer, and delivered the following elo.
quent appeal to the Throne of Grace:
almighty Godl Thou hast been our DWELL
ing place ia ali generation. Before the
mountains were brought forth, or even Thou
haest formed the earth and the world, even
from everlasting 10 everlasting, Thou art
God. Thou turnest man to destruction,
and sayest, Return, ye children of men,"
They are ss!eep. They are as grass which
groWeth up; in the morning it grow
eth up and hourisheth-in the even
ing it is cut down and withere h.
All about are the memorials Of
death; yet here, too, are the symbols OF
life; and We bless Thee for the truth that If
a man die he shall live again. We thank
Thee TODAY, o God, for this land in which
we live. We praise Thee for all our domss-
tic and social aud political and religious
privileges. And this afternoon, standing 10
this sacred place, We thank Thee for these
IL T. IL T..
that a lime shall ever come when we shall
cease gratefully to remember those who gave
for US all they had to give. Help us ever 10
revere ri.eiI 4aoEzoIy aud 20 emulate all tEet
was true and noble in their principles and in
their liyes. And now, o God, grant US Thy
blessing IN these simple memorial exercises,
We ask for Chrisl's sake. Amen.
ADDRESS BY THE REV. MR.. LAW.
When the prayer was concluded, Mr.
Daniel remarked that the Rev. Mr.. John G
Law was present and would address th
assemblage. Mr.. Law had served ss q pri.
vale soldier during the war, frat as a men,
Der Of the Hickory Rifles, from this city, in
the Oae Hundred and Fifty fourth Regi-
| ment and afterward as sdiu.ant of The
Thirty-eighth Geo. gia Regiment
Mr.. Law came forward and delivered a
| most appropriate exiemporaneous address,
which elected the most respectful attention
He said: When Joshua led the hosts Of
Israel over the Jordan he was commanded to
take twelve stones, one for each tribe oil
Israel, and set up monument, which was 10
attract attention through ali future genera
tious, and call forth the question, "Whai
mean ye BY these stonesw The answer OF
this question would keep fresh in the minds
OF the p.opie the division of the waters when
the Ark OF the Covenant passed through the
Jordan; the feet Of the priest stool firm,
aud all the people passed over dry
shod and took possession of the
Promised LIND. We are assembled on this
beautiful day in the flowery month OF
May to pay our sscred Tribute Of respect to
the memory Of the men who wore the gray,
and died In defense of the principles for
which our foref.thers coneldeG in the seven
years war with The Mother Country. Tee
result Of that protracted struggle was the
establishment of American independence,
and the fourth day of July is set apart for the
commemoratiod of the heroic deeds OF
American patriots. What mean ys by the
Observance of Independence Day? fu an
swer 10 this question children learn from the
lips OF their fathers the story Of the great
revolytion Our forefathers were successful,
and the struggle for Independence is dign-
fed by the term revolution" The effort TO
establish Southern Confederacy" failed,
and our four years struggle against over.
whelmiDg odds is called "lhe war of the re-
belIion," and the brave men who responded
to the call of duty, ard who sscri6ed their
lives upon the altar of their country, are
s;igmatizsd as TRAITORS and rebels" These
men are not traitors and rebels. No men
ever lived who were more loyal TO the gov
eminent TO which their allegiance was due
than the soldiers Of the Lost Cause"
To roll away the reproach from the names
of our dead is the grand mission of the
Southern mothers who come once year to
decorate the graves of our fallen heroes with
The flowers of May. Our monuments of
stone are erected by the hands OF the fair
daughters Of the "Sunpy South" and the
little green mounds are decorated and per-
fumtd by the sweet flowers that grow and
blossom in the soil that is enriched by the
blood of Southern patriots. What mean We
by this Decoration Day." these stones and
these fowers2 will be the question OF coming
generations, aud our Southern mothers will
tell TO their children and their children.
children the true story of the "wsr between
the States" and teach them TO revere the
memories OF their fathers VINO fell in defense
of the blood bought liberties that were OBJ
tanned for us and handed down 10 us by the
men of 1776. Southern mothers, your mis-
sion will not be fulfilled until the earth
gives up it's dead and blossoms with the
flowers of Paradise. Until then let your
association be perpetuated, and let each re-
turniog May witness the decoration CT the
graves OF our ia len heroes.
THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT DECORATED
Alter the conclusion Of the reverend gan
tlemsn's address, number of ladies APP
preached the Confederate monument and
began layi about in conspicuous PLACES
profusion Of flowers wrought in artistic de-
signs, such wreaths, gaIlsnds, festoons, and
some in clusters. Conspicuous among these
was wreath of evergreen and ivy surround
ing the name of our distinguished leader and
great aud good man, "R E. Lee" worked 10
pure white blossoms. This was placed on
the side OF the pliuth facing the east.
Others busted themselves among the graves
placing flowers here and there, seemingly
careful that none should be neglected-everv
hillock bore its tribute from the hands OF
those of those familiar with their heroic
deeds, and who loved 10 bestow upon them
evidences of that love. The crowd fingered
about the spot until The lepgthening shadows
warned them OF the approaching close of the
day, when one by one they departed, each
one seemingly leaving the last resting place
of relative or near and dear friend.