Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-05

memory, as the Laburum of Constantine
with its heaven sent legend of "in hoe signo
vinces," as were the Eagles of Rome, the
Lilies OF France, the Star and Garter of Eng
land, or even the star spangled banner of our
own now united and beloved country.
70 effect this object, therefore, we have or
ganized Bivouacs of the true and faithful
soldiers of the Confederacy, and 1t is every
mans high duty and privilege to see that no
unworthy soldier enters its ranks, or If he
does that the necessary steps for his expul-
sion be at once and boldly taken. Ii Is thus
only that we can preserve our order pure and
untainted, and make its membership not
only privilege, but a high and priceless
honor.
But comrades not only does our organiza-
ton have these objects in view, but by asso-
ciation into first single bivouacs, and two or
more into divisions, we propose to keep our
social relations in all their strength and fresh
ness and purity, as when In the hour of battle
we together went through the baptism OF nre
or shared with each other the solitary crust
and blanket, the latter not the first, always too
short to Keep the camp nres OF an abiding,
trusting friendship burning, not only in the
bivouac as of yore, but in the heart of every
member, BY the light OF which his comrades
may see to walk in the dark and dangerous
and unknown places, may warm when cold
and cook the rations, not OF charity, but OF a
heart Offering stored away and always ready
for the eating by hungry comrade, Not only
has our organization this social and self sus-
tanning aspect, but though he be n stranger
within our gates" he BECOMES when made
known "as one of u.s." as much mem
Der of your family as II g dweller under
your rooftree, or ono OF the loved circle around
your hearthstone.
To designate the members Of our organiza-
ton, we have adopted this badge, to be worn
If you please "every day and Sunday too"
but especially to beworn in public procession
and on all public occasions of the order. A
society similar to this was organized by our
revolutionary ancestors. 1t was known as
the Society Of the Cincinnati, and It's diplomas
were and are now regarded assources ofhigher
honor and distinction than the possession of
great wealth or Office of the highest dignity.
Unlike that society, however, ours is open to
every honorable and worthy soldier, while
theirs was confined to commissioned officers.
Such organizations are not unusual or I'M
known to history, and in almost every case
they have adopted and worn badges whereby
their membership may be "know of all men,"
1t may not be uninteresting to refer to some
of these as showing that we are not singular
in our actions or without precedent in the
past--indeed If a custom $50 honored In the
observance" need be justified.
If we may without socrelige-certainly
none is ntended-compare thr works of man
with those of God, we have the ancient
badge or symbol OF the covenant with Nouh
after the flood in the familiar rainbow span
ing the heavens, made up as it is, of every
color known to us, 1t looks as If "every flower
had lent hue to build bridge to tempt the
angles down." God said to Noah, 81 do set
my bow in the clouds and it shall be token
of covenant between me and the earth, +" and
again: "this is a token of the covenant be-
tween me and you" The arch, the strong
est shape in which material things can he
formed, may well have been the token SYM
boil, or badge of the Almighty in his covenant
with man. But descending from the heavens
TO sublunary things we find that every nation
has its own peculiar badge, every soveigntry
one peculiar to self, by which it seals its cove
rue with nations, but cities both great and
small have their badges, even private corpor
atoms and companies and families and indi--
viduals set up and claim their coat of arms
and it is no mean source Of profit to the King
1t arms of the college of hearaldy in England
5he making out Of new ones, or adapting new
)nes to the parvenue arstocracy Of our
own country, free constitutonally free at
east, from all titles of nobility.
Like other similar organizations we have
adopted our badge, which as you will see is
both emblematic and commemorative. First,
We find the coat of arms of our own State,
impressed on the first bar, with It's simple
egend of agriculture and Commerce." the
heaf of wheat and the plOw, emblematic of
agriculture, the loaded ship plowing the
waves of the ocean, speeding on to some port
where it may exchange the supe,abundant
products of the state for those of some other
lation. Then comes the thirteen stars of the
I'D and new Confederacy, displayed on blue
ield. Then the three bars, red, white and
ed, the colors of our Confederacy; red
strength, courage, endurance, the
White the purity of our purpose and cause.
from these colors Is found a sus-
pended star, strengthened and sustained by
cannon. In the very center of this star
displayed, and with every inch OF its
anvass given 10 the winds, is seen our battle
lag, on the red field OF which is the
ialtese Cross, the cross of our adoption, and
n this cross is repeated the thirteen stars
'hus, my comrades, we say to the world
While we wear it next our hearts and its folds
re displayed that all may see and know IL is
ur battle flag, we know equally well 1t has
10 abiding place on this earth, but its home
5 with the stars. TO us 1t is a memory
,ut memory that will be cherished as long
s one drop OF blood is left to pulsate in the
eart ofone survivor of the "lost cause"
A tribute to Gen. Cheatham from
he graceful pen of Bishop Quintard
vas then read in a very impressive
nd feeling manner by Capt. j. j.
Jrusman. Bishop Quintard's trib-
tie was as follows:
o Polk G. Johnson, Esq, ClarksvIlie:
Ny Dear Friend-I have delayed my reply /.
D your last kind letter in order that ] might [
ay definitely whether it would be possible 1
Or me TO Join you at the grand gathering on /
be 4th of October. To my very great regret .
m Obliged to decline your generous. hospi- /
llity. Ny pressing official dnties will obiige |