Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-06-03
rvs u1RctW13 rRrr pgEss~~rHE OLD FAMILY JOURNAL
Confederate Memorial.

Saturday last was observed in Charles
Town as Confederate Memorial Day, and
the exercises were under the auspices OF the
Lee Memorial Association of which Rev.
DR.. A. G. Hopkins is president, as be is also
commander of John w. Rowan Camp OF
Confederate Veterans The day was espec-
tally suspicious and great crowds OF persons
from the country and adjacent towns were
present. The parade was at II o'clock, and
moved from the Court house to the NJ. E.
Church, South, graveyard, thence to the
Episcopal burial grounds and then to the
cemetery. The procession, Of which Mr..
David Howell was chief marshal, was COM
posed of Co. l, W. V. n. G., Capt Pyne;
the Citizens Fire Company, Capt J. w.
Russell the Independent Fire Company,
Capt. ]. c. Holmes, and John w. Rowan
Camp of Confederate Veterans, Col. K. 2.
Chew, commanding. The Charles Town
Cornet Band, and the Blue Ridge Band, from
Round HILL Loudoun county, furnished the
music. At the cemetery the following pro-
gramme was carried out, Rev. DR.. A. c.
Hopkins, president Lee Memorial Associa-
ton, presiding.
Music By Band and Choir,-"God of the
Nations Hear U.s."
Prayer.-By Rev. j. Harry Moore.
Music Sour Comrades Meath the Sod"
Collection.
Address-By Rey. DR.. P. d. Stephenson.
Music.-"Cover them Over with Beautiful
Flowers"
Benedictiou, Rev. J. P. Stump.
Firing of Three Volleys over Soldiers
Graves by Co. |, Ist. Regt. w. V.N. G.
Strewing of Flowers.
The address of Rev. DIR. Stephenson, of
Woodstock, Virginia. who entered the
Confederate service in Missouri, in 1861,
when he was boy of Is years, and served
four years, > in infantry and 2 in artillery,
was exceptionally fine, and worthy Of
preservation on the printed page. For fear
of detracting from its excellence we fOrbear
an attempt to give synopsis of it, Many
were there with the listening ear, but there
were others, not confined to the f1nges of
the crowd, who were thoughtless and did
not hear that which would have been in.
structive to them.
From the Spirit we take the following
clever notice of DR.. Stephenson's address /:
DR.. s. then addressed the audience in
| speech rarely equaled upon such occasions
| chaste in STYLE earnest in delivery, and full OF
| instruction. He spoke upon the obligations
| of the present generation TO their fathers who
| fought the war. The conflict. he said was
inevitable, and had il not been met by the pa
| triots of GIGS il must have broken in its fury
| mon the present generation. The patient ex-
| ample of the veterans through the trying
| period of reconstruction" had taught this
| generation lessons of heroic fortitude under
4 adyersities; and the manly courage with which
the veterans of many bloody battles had re-
turned TO their desolated homes and repaired
their fortunes in peaceful pursuits had taught
this generation a lesson of gratitude which
they should earnestly cherish. In passing he
| paid thankful tribute to the negroes for their
| behavior during the war until they passed I'M
| to the baneful influence OF political tricksters,
| aud warned his audience that the same spirit
which ignored the scriptural authority, and
| appealed TO the ''higher law" doctrine against
slavery still makes the same appeal in behalf
| of other reforms, as temperen &c and womans
| sphere. The speech is worthy OF all praise In
| its advocacy of truth, pure morality and gen
uine patrotism; was free from all bitterness,
and was strong defence Of the memory OF
| the men who fought and died in the Southern
| cause.