Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-10
TO-DAY AT ATWOOD
THE MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE TO BE
MORE GENERAL THAN FOR YEARS.
The Governor. Mayor. and Military to he
Present-Dr Goodwin 60 Speak and
Captain Cunningham Sing.
This is Memorial.day at Oakwood.


death Of General Thomas j. (StonewalD
Jackson. and is the day that has been dedi-
Gated by the ladies comprising the Oak
wood Memorial Association for the decors-
ton of Confederate graves and holding
suitalle memorial services.
The observance promises TO be more
hearty and general to-day than it has been
for some years. Flowers being more plen-
tiinl than they usually are az this season Of
the year. they have been contributed more
hberally than heretofore and there will be
9 corresponding increase in the decora-
tons. The attractions 70 visitors are
greater than usual and the attendance
promises to be large
oTTrINo DECORATIONS READY.
All Of Yesterday afternoon the young Ia
dies having charge of that part Of the pro
pramme were al work making wreaths and
bouquets. The task will be renewed this
morning and continued until II o'clock. at
which time the managers have arranged TO
70 out 20 the cemetery and perform the
sad bat pleasing duty Of decorating the
graves of the Confederate dcad-those who
now sleep IN that beautiful spot. stage
has been erected near the lovely little
monument whichloving hands have placed
on little eminence in the grounds 10 COM
memorate "tbe loved and lost"
THE TxERCIsEs.
From this at o'clock in the afternoon
tie speeches and other exercises of o vocal
nature will take place. Hon. j. Taylor
Fllys0n Will preside and introduce those
who ore % take part in the exercises. Rev.
s A. Goodwin. -. d.. will deliver the an
uual address. and the well-knOwn powers
of the orator need no recommcndation to
insure large attendance 10 hear MIN.
Apart from all other reasons for going over
there this alone Will be an attraction which
will draw many. Captain Frank Cunning
ham will sing and any commentator or
liD would be mperduous. for all know
him and love 20 bear him.
oRI0Iy or MEMoRIAL-DAY.
This idea of honor'ng the dead heroes OF
The COntodcracy did not seem 10 spring at
once INTO life, but grew gradually so. no
ore organ Zation can claim the honor OF
stsrting them. but 80 far as can he seen
u appears that the association which cele-
hrntes its twenty-ffth anniversary to-day
las tho honor of luaugurdting them. In
The Dspqfch of the 18th OF April. 1866. is
notice calling on the residents OF the
eastern portion Of the city TO unite IN an
organization to thus perpetuate the mem
,rv ~ those who died IN battle. In local
notice calling the attention Of the public
o. 10 are these words. which would seem 10
indicate that the idea was a new one:
"The hearts Of The southern people arc still
zarin, their generosity and sympaihy hsye not
taen destroyed by war, and our honorod dea1
VIII not be forgotten While purify ~ NE ana
yalor 10 death Is yenernted and remembered"
On the following day the association was
formed, and the name given 10 It was The
ladies' Memorial Association for the Con
federate Dead of OakwoOd." At this meet
ing committee of one from each OF the
religious denominations represented made
nominations for permanent officers. These
were: Mrs. NJ. H. Smith, president; Alrs. A.
y. stokes. vice-president; Mrs. Il. >. 1ur-
pin. treasurer, and Mrs. A. X, Courtney,
secretary. Three hundred and thirty-two
members were enrolled.
The DAY CHOSEN.
As before stated they fixed dpOn tho 10th
of May as the day TO be observed, and ac-
cordlnclv on that day in 1866 the first OBJ
servance by them was held At 10 O'Clock
IN the morning they met In ~. johns
church, where the exercises were opened
with prayer 10y Rev. p. b. Price, the then
pastor of the Third PRESBYTERIAN church.
A brief but eloquent address was made 10y
hev. DR.. Norwood, rector of the church, III
which he spoke of the ancient custom OF
honoring the dead. His remarks seemed to
partake of the nature Of an inaugural
movement, and one which had not before
obtained anywhere else.
Those present, 10 the number Of about
6O0, rnen-women. and dchildron-thentorm-
ed and marched out 20 the grounds. where
the graves were decorated and the pro-
rramme concluded. They went out under
The guidance of the following named gen
tlemen as marshals: A. r. Courtney, i.
G.. Richardson, George Wait. +. ID. Lee,
W. j. Gilman. and +. W. Dawson. The
exercises consisted Of PRAYER 10y, Key.
Jacob Manning, of Union Station church,
and an address by Rev J. r.. Edwards, ID.
d.. pastor of Trinity church. During the
delivery of his address Dr. Edwards made
use of the following expression: The
South is now united by band OF graves
n tie that can never be sundered." AT
its close he paid noble tribute to General
Robert T.. Lee.
LETTER PROM GENERAL LEE
Just before he began the following let
ter from General Lee in response 10 an IN
vitation TO be present was read
LEXINGTON, Va, May 8, 1866.
MA William CopltHg:
Dear Madam,-I am very much obliged 20 the
aides Of the Monument Association for Con-
federate Dead +" for their invitation 70 attend the
inaugural celebration Oi their society on the 10Th
instant
IL would be most grateful 20 my feelings 10
unite In the celebration OF n society formed for
10 pions an object but II will DO impossible for
me 20 DO 70.
Tho graves OF the Confsiera:e dead will al
wsys be green In my memory, and their deeds
b. hallowed In my recollection.
with great respect your Obedient servant,
ROBERT T.. LIZ
After the exercises had closed and num-
ber had left the grounds Rev. Dr. Hose
came in, and at the solicitation of those
who were left made brief address.
GOVERNOR AND MAYOR.
Thus closed the first day at Oakwood of
the Memorial Association. and the celebTa-
ton Of to-day will exceed 1t in some re-
epects. for not only will the ladies be there,
but the Governor of the State, the Mayor
of the city, Their wives. and the military
will also be present. Hollywood Associa-
tion will be there IN full force, AZ also the
Jewish. and other similar organizations.
Altogether the occasion will be one long to
be remembered by all who take part III it.