The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-14
HISTORIC OLD MIDWAY.
DESCENDANTS OF EARLY MEM
BERS GATHER AT ITS SHRINE.


Church Takes Place Under Weeping
Skies-CoL Charles @. Jones Grafton
The Annual Meeting of Midway
Society - The Old Selectmen Re-
Elected-The Laying of the Corner
Stone Postponed Until May 8.
Midway church is now the Mecca OF the
remnant of those who in the palmy ante
bellum days worshiped at its shrine. They,
and their descendants and the descendants
of Midway's members who sleep their last
sleep come annually like the pilgrims to
render reverence to the Deity at the sacred
fame from which they once drew inspira-
ton and spiritual consolation.
They gather together and preserve scraps
of unwritten history to rescue from obliv-
ion the traditions Of the past, and to
commemorate and perpetuate the
noble deeds of their ancestors. Scattered
by the dire results of the war Of secession
to the remotest bounds of the continent.
alas this is all that they can do in the prem
iseS.
1t was the last of their yearly convoca-
tons that was held yesterday. The day
was ushered in With weeping skies,
and as the morning advanced the
down-pour of rain increased until
locOmotion ont of doors was well
nigh impossible. The Savannah, Florida
and Western fast mail train was delayed 40
minutes and it was about o'clock a m.
when it drew up at Mcintosh station. The
rain was descending in torrents and the
prospect for the celebration was gloomy.
An hour passed away without any let up in
the rain, and then, after consulting the
orator of the day, and taking the sense of
the score or more visitors, Marshal Stacy
decided that nolenS rOienS good or bad
weather, the programme should be carried
out.
A PROCESSION IN THE RAIN.
There was a mastering of vehicles, all
topless and drawn by steeds of every de-
scription from the marsh tacky to the
stately roadster, and the procession moved
off to the JOY of everyone. 1t passed be-
tween hedges Of Cherokee roses and through
swamps trellised over with yellow jessa-
mines whose fragrance filled the air, and de-
spite the driving rain reached its destination
in safety. Quite number Of the best citizens
of the county and a few noted strangers
from abroad had assembled, including a
considerable detachment of the Liberty
independent Troop in their new and hand
some uniforms.
AS the hour was lace, there was no delay
IN proceeding to business. Rev. James
Stacy of Newman, Ga, was elected chair
man, and William Quarterman was APP
pointed secretary after the doxology had
been sung by the choir.
The marshal Of the day Mr.. T. G. Stacy,
announced the programme, which began
with the rendition Of that grand old hymn
coronation" Next came an eloquent and
beautiful prayer from Rev. James Stacy,
D. D., after which the minutes of the last
meeting were read and confirmed, followed
by the reading of the articles of incorpora-
ton Of the Midway Society passed in Au5
gust, 1854 New members were then en-
rolled, and the old board of selectmen was
unanimously reelected. Next in order
came the address of Col C. c. Jones, Jr.,
LID, which was listened to with rapt
attention.
THE ANNUAL DINNER.
A recess of thirty minutes for dinner was
taken, and a sumptuous and delicate
spread of good things showed that old
Liberty was still the land of Goshen, and
both citizens and guests did ample justice
to the choice viands set before them.
When the meeting re-a sembled, the fol
lowing resolution offered by Mr. Thomas
w. Fleming WAS unanimously adopted by
a rising vote:
RESOLVED, That the thanks of this meeting be
rendered to Col. G. G. Jones, Jr, Ii D., for his
very impressive and eloquent address delivered
on this occasion, and that copy Of the same
be requested for publication, and fund be
raised for that purpose; also that 800 copies or
more Of the same be printed in pamphlet form
and disposed of at 80 cents each. and the pro-
ceeds to be devoted to the erection of cur pro-
posed monument in honor of the founders OF
this church.
In consequence Of the inclemency of the
weather and the unavoidable absence of
many of the articles to be deposited in the
cornerstone, 1t was decided TO postpone
the RELAXING of the stone until May s, and
that all the arrangements on that occasion
should be confded to the direction
and management of the Liberty Iudepend-
ent Troop. The meeting then adjourned to
meet at that time. Albeit hundreds were
kept away by the pitiless rain, the pro-
ceedings were deeply interesting and the
celebration an eminent success.
AN OUTLINE OF COL. JONES' GRAFTON.
Col. c. c. Jones began his address with a
graphic sketch OF the centennial celebra-
ton Of the founding of Midway church in
Liberty county, on the days of Dec and
z, 1852. On the Sabbath preceding that
celebration, he said, Rev. |. S. K. Arson,
ID. D., the pastor Of the church, delivered
an eloquent preliminary discourse. The
celebration began on Monday with a salute
of guns at sunrise by a detachment of the
Chatham Artillery, and soon all the roads
duu dpDrOacneS were CnrOnged with vehi-
cles Of every description, filled with patriotic
people, who had turned out en- M dSSe 10 do
honor to the occasion. The gallant ard
venerable Col. William Maxwell was presi-
dent Of the day, assisted by Capt. p. w.
Fleming and Abril VIM, two old COM
manders of the Liberty Independent Troop,
as grand marshals. A band from Savan-
nah furnished the music, and soon on the
Sunbury road an imposing procession was
formed, led by the chairman of the com
mlttee of arrangements, bearing a broad
banner inscribed with appropriate and
stirring legends
When the procession had reached the
church, after an ode for the occasion by
the Rev. Samuel J. Cassels had been sung,
an Grafton was pronounced by John b.
Mallard the historian of the church and
community. Then followed the laying of
{ Q cornerstone on a green plateau in front
Of the church, with prayer and impressive
followed by salvos of artil-
lery, a generous banquet browning the
events of the day.
Again the next morning did the people
assemble in large numbers TO complete the
that had been arranged for this
celebration. Another process
sion was formed and marched into the
church, bearing with it the distinguished
orator Hon. William Law OF Savannah, a
native Of Liberty county, Of whom Col
Jones thus gracefully spoke: 1.-THE Hon.
William Law, than whom no moro cour-
teous gentleman, eloquent advocate, pro-
found jurist and fair-minded judge ever
adorned society and maintained the stand