Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-14
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER ID 1892

preserves them for us. He has trans.
lated into temporal bronze the infinite
meaning OF our struggle and our sorrow |:
the image of o soul which can arm itself
against the executioner OF the body I;
"a Il were. the free soul in the cap
tive body. The delicate and living
lines. the lines OF solemn thought
and silent sorrow, which unite and
converge upon the clear counte-
nance OF honor, outline spirit. over
which the great calm has come OF one
who has learned the worst that fate can
do. Ii is the truth which is wrought 10y
action into a unanimity oil soul and
body, making each a portrait OF tho
other. There is our Howitzer. "his soul
well-knit and oil his battles won.
There he stands, waiting in silence.
The breastwork he surmounts he
has made his own. He stands
upon the rampant which is only
bnilt in peoples heart. lie
who stands there is victor. There
he stands with mute appeal as II to say.
"the self | sacrifice is the lower aud
transitory self to the higher and eternal.
A prayer in bronze supplIcates thu
heavens-that prayer of which it has
written, Qpi precdri nOUH I)rcnii DOfest
oDpriBli non potest figure Of faith
stands upon the pedestal Of war. To
plant the hopes of reason on the prophe-
cies OF the heart, as beverrier planted
himself on the calculations OF his
science, is faith To follow the
hearts sense OF rectitude through
doubt and disaster; - stand IN
the crash which drives virtue to despair
10 see the overthrow Of hope and all It's
leaves Of promise trampled like a rebel
in the dust, and still not TO doubt, not
10 despair. is faith. in the vast mystic
riouness which throws its deep but ten
der shadow across our way faith fears
not. The very darkness is lamp. On
the face OF the deep il felt foothold
from an unknowa world. and the coun-
tenance is kindled by a sun which is not
seen.
A STATUE OF THE SOULS STRENGTH.
There is q ritual which the inarticulate
communion OF all natural things re-
peats-the languages OF leaf and flower
the sweet blossom of spring and the
sweeter sorrow Of the falling year; the
patient returning of the stars the look.
of living and the tears OF silent things
the uproar OF city and Of sea the gen
tleness around the clamOr, seeming anger
of the universe, the sweetness above It's
storms We dedicate to-day statue OF
the soul and the soupsstrength. kneeling
souls requite it with their homage. 1t
is our chapter in the last book OF the
Had of Chiyalry. 1t is our hero on
whose tranquil face is graved the
light of duty beautifully done" As we
draw aside the veil OF the martial form
and barred brow OF duty, let Us also un-
veil the voice which says: 1.-The very
light shall clothe thee, and the shadow
of the passing cloud shall be as a royal
mantle. Thou shalt share IN the azure
of Heaven, aud the youngest and
whitest cloud of summers sky shall
nestle in thy bosom. Thou beIongesi
half to us.
At the conclusion of his remarks Mr..
Robinson was Literally applauded, and
Just before he resumed bis seat mum
Der Of tho veterans arose and heartily
congratulated him upon his splendid
effort.
Judge Christian then extended an IN
vitation to all the old members OF the
battalion to be present at the banquet
after which Bishop Randolph, who oc
cupied a seat upon the stage, dismissed
the audience with the benediction.