The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-05-02

The Fourth ADnuSl 1seunion EoA AAS44'
Opened-Governor Jones Address OF
we,come-aysr 500 Camps Represented
at the Roll Call.
B1RM1M1NeHAM, Ala, april 25.-The
fourth annual reunion Of Confederate
Veterans was formally openea tnlS
morning by Gen. Fred s. Ferguson OF
this the first Alabama brigade IN WIN
ME Davis wigwsm at 9 o'clock. There
were fully 10000 in the building ana
many who could not gain access TO the
immense hall. Governor. 7. u. Jones
of Alabama made brief but eloquent
welcoming address in behalf o. the state
and was followed by Hon. David j.
Fox, mayor, on behalf of Birmingham .
Gen. John B. Gordon, commander ID
chief. on behalf OF the United Conted.-
crate Veterans responded in an able and
eloquent manner.
Tomorrow, decoration day, will be OBJ
served in a gorgeously appropriate man
ner. The cornerstone OF Confederabe
monument to be erected by Camp Clay,
ton Sons of veterans will be laid ana
Gen. Stephen D: Lee Of Mississippi WILL
make the address. The graves will
then be decorated in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Assistant Chaplain, Gen. j: wilson
Jones. in the absence of the Chaplain
General in calling blessings upon the
fourth annual reunion of United Con-
federate Veterans and upon whom are
left. said In fervent manner: "HeaV.
enly Father we ask that Thy blessings
be upon us today as We are gathered TO-
gether in this reunion. We thank Thee
that Thy blessings were over us ID bat
tie. and we thank Thee that Thy bles-
sings are over us here today. we thanK
Thee that while many have fallen out
of our ranks, so many Of US remain 10
bless Thy name today. We thank Thee
that in the days that tried mems souls,
we had men of courage to 6ght for our
cause. We thank Thee that there still
remains the principles of justice and
truth that we fought for. We thank
Thee that those principles have been
preserved and that the sons Of veterans
today maintain the principles of their
fathers. Hear us and answer US, and
be with us In our reunion and grant that
the God of Abraham and Isaac and OF
Jacob and the God of Jackson and
Johnson and of Lee be with US in the
DAYS that are to come. We ask this all
in Jesus name. Amen.
After prayer General Ferguson intro
duced to the vast audience his excel
lency, Gen. Thomas G. Jones, who Tor
Alabama extended the visiting Confed-
crate Veterans a cordial welcome 20
the confines of Alabama aid assured
them that during their stay they would
be met with hospitality characteristic
of true Soldiers. He said:
Gentlemen, citizens and countrymen:
The proud honor has fallen to my lot
in behalf Of Alabama to welcome you
to her sol, but what is the power OF
words compared to the deep feeling that
swells up In our hearts as We contem.
olate the grandeur and significance OF
this meeting2 There never was time
when the soil of Alabama did not throb
when the feet of a soldier pressed 1t.
God bless the soldier in his old age.
Some asked If it would not have been
better If these veterans who survived
had fallen in the paths Of bravery while
fighting for justice and right and avoid
ed the temptations and erials of q later
time: but If the career Of the Confeder.
ate soldiers was grand In war 1t has not
surpassed his career in times OF peace.
But the soldier in peace has been equal
to the soldier in war. We have not
met here today in spirit of apology or
in spirit Of condemnation. Every
man who went into battle with clean
hand and came out with clean hand
went in as brave man and came out
as brave man is our countryman. 1t
seems but a dream those thirty years
when the shadow of Appommatox fell
like pail upon this land. We look in
to the eyes today of men who followed
every great commander who fell In
Shiloh. We look into the eyes of men
who heard the immortal words: "See
Jackson standing like stone wall,
and as countrymen we meet here TO-DAY
in memory of lost cause. Your exer-
cises are to be crowded and will not
detain you longer. know l endorse
the true sentiment of every man in
Birmingham and in Alabama when l
say welcome, thrice welcome, God bless
the Confederate Veterans
Mayor Fox was then introduced by
General Ferguson to extend to the Wis
itipg people hearty, cordial and warm
welcome to Birmingham, city now,
but unknown wnen the old soldiers who
are now assembled here were fighting
for what they thought to oe right.
Inresponse to these welcomes which
had beer rendered visiting Confederates
and their wives and children, Gen John
3. Gordon thanked in behalf Of the
United Confederate Veterans thespeak'
ers and asserted that, coming as they
did they were true and simple welcomes
of cherished persons who fought for
cherished cause. His response was elo'
ouent, terse and received commenda-
ton: He said:
MY Confederate Brothers and Sisters
It is my pleasure to respond to the
hearty welcome just given US by this
grand old State. I wish to assure the
Governor of Alabama that the follow
ers of thosf Apmortal men to whom he
has referrea sse ready to meet with him
In his cordial memory of those immor
tai dead. Yes, here are the men who
followed Lee and Jackson and John
son and all the leaders who have made
49, .o,o, 80 A pnoriooD history what