The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-26
VETERANS CHRISTMAS.
AROUND 4 PLENTIFUL hoard THE
Old SOLDIERS ASSEMBLE.
Rev. Moses ID. Hoge, ID. d., DeIIv.rsa spleu.
did Address at the Soldiers Home.
Aroused by Strains of Dixie.

I
Soldiers Home yesterday afternoon.
One by one the dear old veterans drop
off, and so when Christmas comes they
assemble together, and give loving remi-
niscences Of those who have passed away
from Christmas to Christmas.
The lips that tremble with emotion
when some sweet recollection is recalled
may be cold in death at the next meet
| ing: but they say. What matters that:
we all must 80 home some day." and
| though forSetfulness comes not, peace
/ does
DR. Moses d. Hoge asked the following
benediction before the banquet began:
Almighty God, we bless thee for the
return Of the day in which so many mil
! lions Of thy people all over the world are
! chanting that great anthem, Glory 10
| COD IN the Highest, on Earth Peace and
| goodwill TO Men. Grant thy benedic-
| ton, we beseech thee. TO all the inmates
| Of the Soldiers Home. and bless the food
| provided for us to our health and nour-
! lshment. Give us strength TO serve thee
and 70 fulfil all thy holy commandments.
! Eli our hearts with love and gratitude
| Tor thine immeasureable goodness. through
/ Jesus Christ, our Lord"
| ana tnen with a right good Will every
/ BODY with one accord started 10 demolisb
| the tempting viands. There was turkey.
with cranberry sauce; ham. shoat. corncd
peer and horse radish i'm remembrance Of
war times, all sorts Of vegetables. fruit.
| NUTS ralsins cakes. etc. Nobody could
nave imagined better menu.
After the Seven Stars Musical Club
! composed of Messrs. Edwards. Lacy. I'm
! derwood, Feldner. McAlwee and Cowar-
/ din. had rendered several spirited selec-
/ tons. including many old war-sones. Dr.
/ Hoge' the orator Of the evening. made the
/ following address:
DR.. Hoge's Address.
y want to congratulate the officers and
| inmates Of this Home. When I look
around on this spacious building and upon
/ these GROUNDS. so beautifully adorned.
when / see these comfortable homes
feel that we have discharged some small
! part OF the debt that we owe 10 the mon
who fought for us during the late war.
say q small part Of the debt has
been discharged, because I think we owe
Ine men who fought for the Confederacv
uept when we can never never repay.
| ana i cannot express TO YOU the tender
and revereutal regard with which 7 Iool,
| upon the bent frame Of the worn-out
confederate soldier and when / meet with
one OF Them with an empty sleeve or
waking upon crutches, / may not know
where be comes from or what is his name.
put feel like taking off my hat and say
lls' mere IS man TO whom / owe a
very great debt of gratitude
If men are entitled 10 gratitude no
cause OF the great sacrifice they have
MADE, this Is especially true Of the
soldiers Of the Confederate army. for
When did ever men make sacrifices SO
Great-when they gave up home and
an the comforts. as well as the occupa-
lions by which they earned an honorable
support for those dependent upon them2
DO not believe, since wars began in
the world, men ever bore their sacrifice
more patient or more cheerfully than did
ours. They were often i'm need of pa
tlence and 10 was a terrible strain upon
the cheerfulness with which they bore
those privations-men without sufficient
Iood, men oftentimes without sufficient
clothing; men who were destitute OF the
things that make up the comforts of
the soldier, and yet fighting on without
q murmur bearing 1t braycly for the
sake of the dear land they loved, and |
Tor which they were ready 20 die.
The ronfed rate Army.
There is another notable thing in the |
history Of the Confederate army which |
j wish 20 notice and that is: ! do not be- |
heve there ever was an army made up |
of such material. l DO not believe there |
was as intelligent am army gathered |
on this globe.
For instance the Rockbridee battery |
had i'm IL seven Masters of Art. Of the /
University Of Virginia. forty-two or three /
graduates Of the different colleges. and |
nineteen candidates for the gospel minis /
try. And this reminds me that my learned /
friend. DR. John Atkinson. president Of /
Hampden-Sidney College marched down |
from that institution with seventy or /
rffr ofrr
and nearly every one Of these young men /
was member Of the church. and, there
fore. there never was an army made mp |
or men OF such morality uprightness and |
devotion, as was that Confederate army |
Since the first note was sounded on |
the bugle summOning men 10 arms, or
the first tap Of the drum called men 10 |
battle. there never was an army that
had such noble commanders. 1 think one
reason why the men behaved so well |
was that it could not be otherwise when
such an influence was exerted by the
Confederate commanders.
our Great mmander.
When the statue of General Lee was
unveiled on that beautiful day, I'm Rich
mond, il is said there was not an act OF
indeCOrum in the whole town, and every
man was on his best behavior, because |
every one thought that 70 would not do for
anything TO happen that day, ont of |
harmony with the pure, lofty character
of the great Confederate leader These
great commanders, of whom j speak, did
everything in their power to upift the
morals Of their men. and did everything
possible for their temporal and spiritual
welfare"
He commented on the lack Of funds 10
properly care for all the old soldiers. and
thought the spirit which supports the
homes we now have was expressive of
the loyalty of southern people
In conclusion he said I'VE will never
forget the Confederate hero, and 1 think
the regard Of eur people is ever increas-
ing. We see the evidence Of il in monu-
ments reared to their memories. Their
immortal names are inseparably entwined !
with the memory Of their sacrifices, and
down to the last syllable Of
recorded time, their memories will
be cherished as the purest and
best I'm human history. Everything
that reminds Of the past touches a great
chord I'm our hearts. This evening while
we were dining. / noticed that while the
band played three or four beautiful airs
they attracted no attention until
they began Dixie and now / close with
the special request that our friends VIII
give another strain Of Dixie
Upon the conclusion Of his address the
veterans crowded around him with tears
in their eyes, and thanked him.
1t was truly a happy Christmas for
the battle-scarred remnants OF the
Southern Soldiers"
Into the Street TO Fight.