Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-07-22

had the post OF honor IN the nue. anu were
followed by organizations of Confederate
Veterans from Virginia, West Virginia,
MARYLAND and North Carolina-the Mary
land Line being conspicuous, with General
Bradley Johnson at the head. The second
division was composed Of uniformed mill
tarv organizations, with the gallant Col.
Joe Mutton, 2nd Virginia Regiment, and
staf.at their head-companie from the Val
lev. Lynchburg, Richmond, etc.,-with nu-
merous bands Of music; all followed by car
riages occupied by Mr.. Jackson, Gems.
Hampton and Early, and other distinguish
ed guests The procession marched to the
Washington and Lee University grounds
where a stand and seats had been placed
Gen. Wade Hampton presided, and appro-
priately introduced DR.. Hopkins who offer
ed prayer. Gen. Early was greeted with
cheers. and read an extended paper upon the
military career of Gen. Jackson and his gem
ius and character Among the noted persons
present were Gems. Fitz Lee, Payne, G. w.
@. Lee. Eppa Hunton, ROsser, Walker, Ech-
OILS and Lomax; Col O'Ferrall, Senator
Daniel. Gov Fleming, Judge II. Kyd Doug
las. Col. 5. J. c. Moore, Mrs. Jackson, Misses
Mary and Mildred Lee daughter Of R. E.
Leel. Rev. J. VIM. Jones, and many others.
At the close Of Gen. Early's grafton, DR.
Hopkins pronounced the benediction, and
the procession reformed. Mrs. Jack
son. with the two grand children
son and daughter of Gen. Jackson's only
daughter. the late Mrs Julia Jackson
Christian-ascended the platform; and the
/ little girl, Julia Jackson Christian, pulled
the cord which unveiled the statue. At the
same moment the Rockbridge Artillery fired
a salute with the guns that were used by
them at the first battle of Manassas, and
something like the old rebel yell went up
| from the throng around the monument and
the veterans in the field below. Salute af-
ter salute by the artillery followed the in
fantry fired by companies and then contin-
uously-a sound so natural that it took
the old Coufederates back thirty years; and
then the procession marched up the hill
past the statue, cheering as they went. The
statue is of bronze, eight feet high, erect,
with the left foot thrown slightly forward,
the left hand resting on the hilt Of his sword
and the right grasping a ield-gass. The
posture is that In which the General was
observed to stand at the battle of Freder
/ icksburg; the likeness is pronounced ex-
celent. The statue was designed by the
/ Virginia sculptor, Valentine; the pedestal
is of Richmond granite. The site Of the
monument commands a magnificent view of
mountain scenery.
Rev. Dr. A. c. Hopkins, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church at Charlestown, and
known as the Fighting Chaplain Of the
Stonewall Brigade" offered the following
PRAYER ooh, Lord our God, Thou only
art infinite, eternal aud unchangeable.-
Thou, Most High, rulest in the kingdom OF
men and givest it to whomsoever Thou wilt.
Not a sparrow falleth without Thee. In
Thy kind providence these veterans are per
mitted to meet here to celebrate the charac-
ter and achievement of the man who led
them through hardship and battle TO victory.
Like him. who prepared for all action by
PRAYER. we invoke Thy blessing upon these
exercises, and as to Thee be ascribed the
honor and power for victory, so TO Thee we
give thanks for our hero aud his renown-
for his greatness, most conspicuous in his
goodness.
Chou didst teach his hands 20 war aud
diist grid him with strength into the bat
tie. Thou madest his feet swift as Asaheps.
| His name Thou madest an inspiration and
tower of strength to his followers, a shifting
aud a terror to his enemies. In the industry
and care of his preparations, in the fulluess
and accuracy Of his calculation, in the GER
tainty of his movements, in the might of his
resistance we recognize Thy counsel and
Thy hand. For the steadfastness and iutens-
it's OF his religion midst the temptations of
campaign, camp and battle, we give Thee
thanks. For his worldwide fame, spotless,
uutarnished aud pure, we would render
Thee our thanks. Thy hand has written
his name imperishably among the worlds
great captains and thrown over it the halo
of sanctity, that men may learn the beauty
and the power Of Christian faith When he
had reached the zenith Of his earthly glory,
Thou didst call him higher into Thine own
glory and so didst veil his mortal eyes that he
should not look upon the humiliation of
defeat
"And now we pray that the influence of
his life may become immortal and univer-
sal; that the people of the land he loved
NAV learn from his example to pray aud to
believe, to fear God and to keep His COM
mandments, and specially that his surviving
comrades and their children may stand as a
stone walP against all tides of social or pc
litical corruption Of moral decay aud re-
ligious apostacy, unbelief or irreverence. SO
I long as this monument shall stand its guard
over his sleeping body and this statue look
down upon the generations, may the world
here catch the idea and the dimensions of
the Christian hero-the patriot, the saintand
the soldier Nay the people Of our whole
land learn that righteousness exalteth ma
ton. but sin is a reproach to any people