Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-05-12
MEMORIAL DAY.
Its Observance in GOIdSboro with Mil
itary Honors, L loraI Decorations,
Gathering of Confederate Vetera ms,
and an Appropriate Address.

True to her cherishing of the
memory of the Confederate Dead
Goldsboro did honor to them yester-
day with becoming ostentation.
AS the hour for the ceremonies at
the cemetery approached the weather
grew so threatening that it was de-
cided to hold the services in the
Messenger Opera House, and soon
that spacious building was tnronged
to its utmost capacity.
The Confederate Veterans, who
turned out in goodly number, were
given seats upon the stage. The
ladies of the Memorial Association
were seated in the right dress circle,
and the Goldsboro Rifles occupied a
section of the parquet.
After a fervent and eloquent pray
er by the Chaplain of the Rifles,
Rev. G. L. Hoffman,, the orator of
the occasion, Mr.. Jos. e. Robinson,
was introduced by the Chief Mar
shall, Mr.. Henry Lee, in words of
commendation that were sincerely
appreciated.
Mr.. Robinson spoke as follows:
Teterans Of the Gray: Ladies Of the Memorial
association of Golds6oro: Comrades of the
Go1ds6Oro Rifles: Ladies and GenHmaen =
1t was after much hesitation, chiefly on ac
count of the consciousness of certain unfit
ness for the task that accel It'd the invitation
to deliver this Memorial address. The highest
qualification for speech on such an occasion
as this, is one that, unfortunately, 1 do not
possess-an appropriate experience, the ex-
perience of one who has been tried in the frey
furnace Of war, and who knows what war
means, and hence who has more just and in
tense appreciation than / can have of the
meaning and purpose of this day. And so it
has always seemed to ne that the principal
actors in this, as we'll as other Memorial ex-
ercises, should, when possible, be those who
were active participants s in the stirring events
to which they all relate. That the public in
terest in them would be enhansed thereby, it
is fair to assume. Who so well qualified to
speak of the gallant soldiers. whose graves we
were, stood shoulder to shoulder with them
in the great conflict in which they fighting
FELL and was, perhaps, an eyewitness of their
patience and fortitude, their suffering-for
they did suffer-and their heroic death And
who knows SO well to appreciate the tender
significance of these ceremonies as the old
soldiers among us? The thought, therefore, at
once suggests itself to you as it did to nae,
that soldier orators may not be every where
available, even now, and still less will they be
so in the future. The time is not far distant
when the old soldier will cease to participate
in any of the exercises of this day. One by
one they are passing away +" over the river to
rest beneath the trees. Ere long the Army
of the Gray will be marshalled on the other
side. God grant that when the last reveille
shall sound upon the plains of immortality His
great orderly may report the ranks all tull-
not soldier missing. 1t was with some such
thought as this in mind, comrades of the
g oldSboro Rifles. that 1 accepted the invita-
tion with which you honored me, to address
you at this time.
Unable, then, to draw upon the sources Of a
personal experience in war. can only pre-
sent to your consideration such thoughts as
observation and reflection have furnished me,
and shall. at least, address you seriously. II
not time for hollow or unmeaning speech
Too many wounds, made by cruel war, still
bleed and pain. perhaps insilence and in secret
toe many mothers i'll live to mourn over
darling boys sleeping in soldier graves, it may
be far away where mothers tears of grief
and affection can never fall above them-for
the South has had to gather her own dead to-
gether and care for them as best she could
too many stricken hearts are sadly beating
away ife's weary years in widowed solitude
heavily burdened wi the cares that belong
only to the husband and father. but which he
will carry no more; and there are too many
surviving soldiers, veterans of many hard
campaign, still among US, with minds solemn
with the memories and reflections that crowd
upon them on such a day as this, for indul
gence In sectional baraneue. or in the affecta-
tions of mere oratory. But would. Veterans
| of the Gray-would that could speak to you
with the soul of an old soldier to-day. who
might recall with kindling of the old war
fire in his own heart, and quick response in
yours, the time when, each morning as un.
complainingly renewing the wearisome
march, or silently taking his place in the line
of battle. he laid his life, fresh sacrifice be
| side your own on the altar Of his country
What reminisC ences of those eventful year,
must thropg your minds to-day, some sad an6
| touching. some hard and painful some bright
! and exultant. but all invested with that abid
| ing, thrilling interest that always comes with
| the rcco lection of a great experience!
| What contrast between thse and noae! A
great calm has followed the raging storm
| Scarcely ripple now disturbs the surface o.
| the national life. The arbitament OF arms ha
Sc, tied the issues that were then involved: ant
whatever side the fault lay. the nation is nov
one-and at peace.
But it is not of this that would speak. Tht
lesson of the day and hour is one of patriotism
and the old and young alike should heed it
| So long as these memorial exercises shall b.
| observed in the spirit in which they were con
| ceived, SO long will they exert potent inf1u
ence in promoting among the people a love o
country, and they are admirably calculated t.
do this. appealing as they do to reason AM
emotion alike.
Yes, many hea is have been stirred to-day