Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1891-07-28

the power OF Christian faith. When
he had reached the zenith of his earth
liz glory, Thou didst call him higher
futo Thine own glory. and SO didst
veil his mortal eyes that he should not
look upon the humiliation Of defeat.
And now NE pray that the in
duence OF his life may become inn
mortal and universal that the peoz
pie Of the land he loved may learn
from his example to pray and TO be-
lieve, TO fear God and TO keep His
commandments, and specially that his
Surviving comrades and their children
may stand as stone wall against
all tides Of social or political corrup-
tion, of moral decay and religious
apostacy, unbelief or irreFerence. So
long rs this monument shall stand its
guard over his sleeping body and this
statue look down upon the genera
tions, may the world here catch the idea
and the dimensions Of the Christian
hero the patriot, the saint and the
soldier. May the people of our whole
land learnthat righteousness exalteth
q nation, but sin is areproach to any
people,, We ask Thy blessing upon
the negro race, for whom he prayed
and thought and labored, that they
may acquire intelligence, morality
and pure religion, and so become
qualifed for their new relations and
duties and for their Hig her eb ligations
4 to God. "A father Of the fathefless
and 4 judge Of the widow is God in
His holy habitation.' Protect and
provide for all who were made or
phans and widows by the casualties
of war. We specially ask that Thou
wilt amply provide and tenderly keep
Thy handmade to whom thou gayest
our leader in marriage and from whom
thou didst take him. May she and
her grandchildren be shielded from
every unfriendIy blast, and be en-
riched with all the blessings of a
covenant-keeping God. Oh, Spirit Of
Grace! Come, breathe effectually
upon the heart and touch the lips OF
Thy servant who shall now speak to
US of the Christian soldier, his COM
rade. Undue him plenteously with
the same grace that adorned the life
he shall portray. Sustain him in the
same faith and comfort him with the
same hope"
The prayer was followed by music,
after which Col. T. NJ. Semmes read
the poems. The President then in-
troduced Gen. Jubal A. Early, who
had been selected to deliver the adj
dress on Military Career of StonewalI
jackson. After the ceremonies were
concluded by benediction by DIR.
Hopkins, the procession was reformed
and marched to the fair grounds adj
joining the cemetery. The soldiers
were placed in good position and the
crowd in the cemetery also properly
disposed of. Mrs. Jackson and her
two grandchildren, escorted by Capt.
john Carmichael in carriage, we're
driven to the cemetery gate, the crowd
making passagewaY readily for Mrs.
jackson and 50 the babies" A stand
about six feet high had been erected
alongside the monument, and, with
the steps leading to it, had been COW
cred with white muslin and decorated
with red, white and blue ribbons.
Mrs. jackson assembled the plat
form with the children, and a few
moments were spent in the prepara-
tions for the unwilling. Presently
Mrs. Jackson's four-year-old grand
daughter stepped forward. her sunny
head thrown back as she grasped the
cord which held the veil and wrapped
it around her tiny hand. "A cannon
doomed, the little one gave a pull,
then, as the veil still held fast, she
gave another, throwing into it all her
Strength.
Slowly the veil slipped away from
the head of the statue and then
dropped suddenly to the ground, and
StoneWa1 Jackson in bronze stood
revealed to the vast assembIage. The
figure is lifelike in the extreme.
For q moment after the veil fell
there was profound silence, then
another mighty shout welled up.
Cheer after cheer rent the air, the
cannons that were heard to such
effect at Manassas doomed out sa-
lutte of fifteen guns.
The instant the veil fell to the
ground it was seized by half hum
dred hands and was torn into bits
After Mrs. jackson and the children
left the stand the ribbons were torn
from it, the muslin with which it was
covered, then the stand itself was
torn to pieces and carried triumph
antly away, every one pricing highly
the bits of silk, muslin or wood he
carried away. Nothing like the scene
ever has been or probably will be
witnessed in Lexington again. Old
soldiers who had followed jackson
through the heat of many a WELL
earned battle threw their hats in the
air, Rugged each other, and some of
them even cried. On to town they
came marching, with steady, eager
tramp, to the cemetery, and up around
the life-like image of their beloved
commander, cheering as they came,
and as they approached him lifting
their hats, and those with canes pre-
senting arms while the tattered old
battle-hags were reverently dropped.
After every one in the line had taken
. good look at the monument, the
crowd returned to their hotels and
luncheon, which had been bountifuIly
prepared for them. The enthusiasm
was not confined to the men alone,
but elderly matrons, whose husbands
had worn the gray, and their daugh-
tiers took part marching in the pro-
cession, keeping excellent step cheer
i Sro,