Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-06-08
Tbe Memor,nI Day Services.

Inc MSmUfIW bdJ SS''
The memorial day exercises at Shep-
herdstown last Saturday in honor OF
the Confederate soldiers buried IN
ElmwoodCemetery were distinguished
rather for their solemnity and simple
ity than by the number of persons
who participated in them. At o'clock
the procession formed in front OF
Shepherd College, and was composed
of Camp No. of Confederate Veter-
ans, the Shepherdstown Memorial As
ISOLATION, and citizens generally, I'M
der DR.. Charles F. Russell. Chief Mar
shall. and Charles Terrell, Orderly; and,
headed by the Shepherdstown Cornet
Band. marched to the cemetery, where
the exercises were held. The little
band of survivors marched slowly
around the graves of their fallen com
rades with uncovered heads, and final
w encircled the monument, when Col.
Morgan read the roll of honor, pre-
facing the roll call with the following
remarks:
COMRADES: 1t is my sad duty to call the
death roll of those who once stood shouloer
IN shoulder with us in the manly discharge
of duty. We are here to pay our annual V-sit
of devotion to these bundle mounds-aiI thal
is left OF our former comrades In arms-to re-
new our love and esteem OF their iamlllar
forms and faces. They have answered their
last roll call. They lie here in obedience 10
their country's call; in response to the de-
nand OF their sovereign States, and have Of
fered M their lives upon the altar of patriot
ic duty. We, their former comrades. come TO-
day 10 drop the tear Of love and affection 10
their memory. Comrades! as the march oil
time goes forward towards the unknown re-
sions OF "A mysterious future, aud in the even
Jug of our campaign, as we draw nearer the
bivouac of the dead, may we, their Survivors,
emulate their virtues, revere their record ana
draw closer to each other in the embrace OF
love and fidelity.
All the camp. Amen!
The exercises were continued at the
lodge house. Rev. l.. r. Mason, OF
the Episcopal Church, made the ad-
dress. and the earneStneSs and elo-
ouence of the speaker held the close
attention of the audience throughout.
1t was agreed by all that Mr.. Mason 5
address was one of the most sensible
and appropriate ever heard here
and he was loudly applauded at Its
close. The graves of the soldiers were
then decorated with flowers, not one
being overlooked.
The music for the occasion was eX-
cellent. The Shepherdstown Band
played number of selections in eX-
cellent stvle, and the choir of the NJ.
f. Church South rendered two choice
vocal pieces most tremendously.
A representative from Antietam
Post No. IA. Ct. y. r., was present and
participated in the exercises.
1t may not be amiss TO say that
the speaker of the day was a private
in Pickett's Division, and took part III
the famous charge up Cemetery
Heights, at Gettysburg, where he was
severely wounded.
The threatening aspect of the
weather prevented large crowd from
being present, yet the town was well
filled with strangers and people from
the county. The crowd was an order
" one, and the spirit of the occasion
seemed to impress the people to a
greater extent than is usually the
case.
One of the features of Memorial Day
that is not as it should be is the grow
ing custom of some persons to pay at
tention to the floral decoration of prl-
vate lots, to the neglect of the soldiers
graves. There is but one day set apart
to do honor to the soldiers memory
surely that one day should be given to
them exclusively.