The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-12
THE MEMORIAL MEETING.
ASHEVILLE'S TRIBUTE TO
THE DEAD STATESMAN.
The Beautiful and Appropriate
Ceremonies in Central MethO-
dist Church YeSterday-TOuCh
ing Music, Eloquent OratiOns.

Our people yesterday generally united
with the people Of the whole South in
the last sad tribute to the dead chieltain
Heart answered to heart, and tear fol.
lowed tear as, at the appointed moment,
all seemed to stand by the side of the
grave opened to receive all that was
mortal of him so universally beloved
and respected, to hear the clods fall upon
the coffin lid, to hear the solemn dust
to dust, earth to earth, ashes to ashes" "
to feel the sudden startling throb at this
reminder that this was the last of earth
for Jefferson Davis, and that to us
the sign was thus given that to him
was now opened up the book Of life, and
that here we would see him no more for
ever. There among those who gathered
here yesterday were many who knew
him in the flesh, some who had stood by
him in the battlefield, who had shared
with him the secrets of the council who
had been governed by him through the
wisdom of his craftsmanship, who went
to the campaign under the guidance OF
his military genius. There were women,
mothers and wives and sisters who were
patient. silent, accomplishing sufferers,
through their husbands and sons, of the
pains and the sorrows of the long war,
to whom the name of Jefferson Davis
was familiar one, to them ennobled by
heroism and wisdom, and afterwards
sanctitied by persecution and long manly
endurance of wrong; and there was the
younger generation, to whom the past
had become history, but who had grown
up. to idolize courage, to reverence wis
dom, to do honor to character, to ad-
mire the virtues of fortitude, and who
might find SO near them i'll their own
day and time living illustration of the
ideal hero of the pages Of ancient his
tory.
And these all gathered to share in
the last sad tribute of honor, love and
veneration. The day was bright and
beautiful one, as if nature was telling us
that death was the gateway to immor-
tality, and that its gateways were not
to be shrouded with the embems of sor-
row. Yet humanity must yield to its in
hrmities and be slow to see what so
cheers the eye of faith therefore it found
for its emotions in those out
ward saddening signs Of dropping flags,
and trailing drapery and tolling bells,
and the streets ot the city were sad in the
proIuson Of funereal vesture, suspended
from the front of, we may say, every
building, public and private; and al
those buildings were closed, all business
and the streets wore the SOL
rmnity of the Sabbath. Through them
throngs Of men, Of ladies and children
passed on to the point of chicteSt inter
est, the Central Methodist church. the
ample space Of which offered the largest
accommodation to the gathering crowd.
The large auditorium was appropriately
hung with the emblems of mourning.
The portrait of Mr.. Davis was sur
by flags draped in Grape, and
near by in undraped splendor was dis
played the flag of the Union; the pulpit
was icStooned with the sad draperv, the
galleries, the chandeliers and other prom,
inent points being likewise enshrouded.
\ large number were already seated
when a most striking body entered the
the pupils of the Ashelille Fc-
male College in their picturesque uniform
caps and their neat and comely uniform
costume, and took their seats on the
right hand of the chancel. A little while,
and then entered the head of the column
Of Confederate veterans. As their ap-
proaCh was made known, the whole au-
dicnce rose as by one impulse and re-
ceivcd them standing, and remained
standing until the veterans were seated
"a touching tribute to valor and fldel-
ity. The clergy then entered and took
their seats i'll the chancel, all denomina-
lions being represented except the Ro-
man Catholic, Father White, who was
included in the program, having been I'M
called away. Professor Kner-
niger, as prelude to the exercises,
opened with fine voluntary on the or
gan; and then Rev. DR.. Barker, President
Of the Female College, solemnly and i'm
pressively uttered an eloquent prayer.
Then the choir, composed of eight gen
.lemen, with the accompaniment of the
organ, beautifully and touchingly sang
he anthem Call of the Roll on High"
Music never to our ear, and to our heart,
seemed to have had such pathos, such
.loqucnce, such holiness; for it came
home to all of us, as we looked at the
hin ranks of the veterans before us, how
often they had heard the roll call to SER
vice on the field, how after battle they
had found the response feeber and
ewer, how, as time passed on, the num-
bers still lessened, and how, if they were
asked for their comrades, the answer
would come, Gone to answer the roll
call on high"
Then came the reading of selections
from the burial service, by the Rev. Dr.
nobly and impressively done,
the sublime scriptural language lending
its form and spirit with peculiar sig
nifcance under conditions so fitted to APP
preciate its grand solemnity.
The reading of THE Conquered Ban
ner" by Miss Willie Ray then followed.
Then the first address upon the program,
by the Rev. ]. l.. Carroll, followed. His