The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-05-17
WINsTON-sALEM N. G.. THURSDAY MAY IT, 1894
MARY WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
t'ffteen Thousand People Witness the
UnveilfDg at fredericksburg.

rlIteen Thousand People Witness the
Unveiifng at Fredericksburg.
F'REDERICKsBURG, Va, May H.
The monument to the mother of
Washington unveiled yesterday, is an
obelisk of white marble, fifty feet
high. Its base consists >ef three
courses, the upper one bevelled and
surmounted by die bearing the SIM
pie inscriptions: "Mary, the Mother
of Washington" A cap surmounts
the die, and from this rises the beauti-
full white shaft. The site is at the
edge of a beautiful plateau and near
the two gray boulders on which the
patriots mother was accustomed to
sit for hours daily with her knitting.
The exercises at tue monument were
OF most interesting character. They
were opened with prayer by Rev.
James p. Smith, who largely inspired
the movement that resulted in the
erection of the monument. He was
aide to StOnewall Jackson and helped
carry him off the field when mortally
wounded at charlottesville.
Major Rowe then extended a brief
and appropriate welcome on the part
of the city, after which Governor
O'Ferrall delivered fifteen minutes
address of welcome ON behalf of the
State, concluding his eloquent perora-
tion by intro Quoting President Cleve-
land. After acknowledging the hearty
welcome extended the official guests,
the President said:
Nothing can be more important to
those who have assumed the responsi-
bility of self-government, than, a
cultivation and stimulation among
themselves of sentiments which enable
and elevate and strengthen humanity.
AS clear and wholesome stream must
have it's flow from pure fountain
lead, so must clean and beneficient
popular government have its source in
pure and morally healthy men. This
purity and this moral health are in
nothing better exemplified than i'm
love and reverence for motherhood
The man who said he cared not who
made peoples laws tt he could write
their songs, might have said with
more truth that lie could gauge the
strength and honor Of people and
their fitness for rSelf-government if he
knew the depth and steadfastness
of their love for their mothers.
l believe that he who thinks it
brave and manly to outgrow his care
and devotion for mother, is more than
he who has no music in himself, fit
for, treason, strategems. and spoils,
call today as conclusive proof of the
close relation between American
greatness and lasting love and rever-
ence for our mothers the proud decla-
ration Of George Washington: Gan
am / owe to my MOTHER" and let us
not forget that when his glory was
greatest and when the plaudits of his
countrymen were loudest, he valued
more than these the blessing and ap-
proval of his aged mother.
While these exercises cannot fail
to inspire us anew with reverence for
American me therhood, we will re-
member that we are here to do honor
to the woman who gave to our nation
it's greatest and best citizen, and that
we have the privilege of participating
in the dedication of a monument
erected by the women of our land, in
loving and enduring testimony to the
virtues of the mother Of Washington.
Let us be proud today that the nobili
tinguiShed foreigner the admission,
eff such are the matrons of America
she may well boast of illustrious sons,"
and that Lafayette, who had fought
with her son for American independ
ence, declared after he had received
her blessing: II have seen the only
Roman matron living at thisday."
Remembering these things let us
leave this place with our love of
country strengthened with a higher
estimate of the value of American
citizenship, and with prayer to God
that our people may hold fast to the
sentiment that grows out of love
and reverence for American mother
hood.
Ser ator John w. Daniel, after pay
ing graceful tribute to Mrs. Waite
and the ladies of the Martha Wash
ington Association, whose pious hands
had reared "the first monument on
earth erected by women to woman,"
made lengthy but beautiful address.
Among other things he said: s'This
excellence and patriotic duty. They
are inseparable. Love for the mother
is the first as it is the most constant
and sacred emotion of our being. At
fection spreads to the family, clan,
tribe, or people to which we belong
and then twine around inanimate OBJ
jectS attracted to them by the magne-
tism of association. 1t fastens to
birthplace. to living place, to home,
to motherland, to fatherland, country.
This is the genesis and evolution of
only figure of speech, Ne cannot
love the insensate earth, which can
give back no responsive speech or
glance or sympathy. Love must go
from and to the living. Our country
men ale our country. Home is the
pure, original fountain, from which
all patriotism must flow, and the
stream can never rise above its source.
As the woman is, the man is. AS the
man and woman are the home is, and
as the home SO the country. Show me
| the refined, enlightened, virtuouS and
| Industrious homes and / will show
you good government and a great
nation. The nation is the aggregate
| the homes are the units; man is the
builder, woman is the inspiration.
| Discuss constitutions, administra
tiols, and policies as we may, the out
spring from. Make the home al
right and the rest will follow. This
is WOman'S mission"
At the conclusion of Senator Dan
iel's address President Cleveland came
to the front of the stand and held {
public reception in which more than
| 10, 900 persons participated.
After this Vioe.President Steven
son was introduced as Master Ma
son to respond to the second toast
which was to "George Washington, ;
Master Workman"
New Odd Fellow Officers.
The State Grand Lodge of Odt
Fellows, in session at Goldsboro
elected the following officers for tn