The Van Buren press., 1896-05-23

WlIH tnem Ine rlg0rS OF camp life the
hardships of the march and bivouac,
and faced the enemy on the battlefield
where so many gave up their lives in
defence of principle. 1t was gather
ing of true and tried men-men who
had CALAMITY fought the battles of their
loved Southland and who, since 1865,
have fought with the same earnestness
of purpose the glorious battle of life.
About 10 o clock A. NJ. the procession
was formed at the court house square
in the following order:
l. Queen City Cornet Band, Prof.
Frank Mclean leader.
2. Camp Mcintosh, U. G.. v, fifty
strong, in charge of Capt. John Allen,
as escort for the orators of the day,
Hon. o. l.. Miles, of this city, and
Hon. Joe M. Hill, of Fort Smith
B. Open barouche, four in hand, in
which were seated Mrs. Fl. A. Never
and Miss Mary Clegg, president and
vice. president of the Daughters of the
Confederacy, respectively, and
Mesdames Judge Ben Decherd and
Gen. D. w. Moore.
4. Ladies and citizens in carriages.
3. Citizens on foot.
AS the procession moved up Main
street it presented an imposing appear
ance and, with the soul stirring and
patriotism inspiring music discoursed
en- route by our Incompatible Queen
City Band, attracted no small degree Of
attention from the thousands of
interested spectators that lined the
sidewalks and filled the windows and
balconies of the buildings on each side
of the street.
The cemetery was soon reached, and,
at the main entrance, stand had been
erected for the accommodation of those
participating in the preliminary
exercises. The veterans of Camp Nc
Intosh. U. G. ". filed to the right and
took position at rest at will - the
band and choir took position in front of
the stand, while the vast throng of
eager spectators surged in about the
platform to hear every word that was
said. AT the word from the master of
ceremonies, Gen. ID. W. Moore, Rev
A. H. Williams, pastor of the M. E.
Church, South, in this city, addressed
the throne of divine grace and invoked
the blessing of Heaven upon the solemn
exercises in which all were about to
engage. 1t was one of the most
eloquent and patriotic prayers ever
listened to by a Van Buren, audience,
and stamped the reverend gentleman as
one truly imbued with genuine love of
his country. After the prayer the band
enlivened the occasion by rendering
Dixie in lively style, which elected
hearty cheers from the old soldiers on
the ground. The consolidated choirs
principally ladies, God bless EN- they
are always first and foremost in good
works, rendered America in
splendid form. Then came one of THE
events of the day, the beautiful, touch
ing address of Mrs. Judge Turner, the
esteemed president of the Ladies
address was delivered in Mrs. Turner S
scholarly, happiest vein, and was SC
replete with the richest gems OF
mentality that the PRESS feels in duty
bound to give it entire, as follows:
Ii seems very appropriate on this Decoration
Day. when the graves of those who fell in the
cause dearer to them than life, Will be decked
| by the sweet flowers of spring. that these
| Memorial gates, just erected should =, bt
dedicated as guarding portals to this silent City
| of the Dead. Ever since the dim dawn of the
| past some degree of reverence for the last rest
| Ing place ofthe dead has been felt by the human
| family, and has found expression in the monu-
| ments they have raised. But these monuments
of the early times reflect, mostly the aggressive
and conquering spirit Of the day. They are not
| the simple tablets in loving memory to the
| departed These latter tributes have come in
the evolution of better things and higher think:
| ing Hence the advance of civilization and
intelligence is marked by the tender care which
is shown for the places where is laid all that is
mortal of those gone before. So, to our loved
/ a Inc
far reaching pillar; these are too lofty, toe
| aspiring, for the expression of our affection
| Think YOU, Martha Washington would have
| contemplated such magnificent pile as the
| Washington monument as expressive OF her
| lover Yet looking at that grand monument we
see that II typties an heroic life with all Its
meanings and results, and the comfy of nations
which contributed to its structure; but in fond
memory we wend our way to Mount Vernon,
| and there at the modest tomb where they laid
him, we feel the tender, reyerent love for ouI
| own Washington. Right and meet tits to rear
| grand and stately monuments to those whose
| lives and memories belong to the people, whom
they have blessed for having lived; but for dear
ones of our kith and kin, and all others who
| have crept into our lives the gentle hand which
| inscribes the loving words on the mortuary
tablet and which brings the earliest and latest
| flowers TO scatter DER the grave, these are
tokens of the affection we bear for our departed
| AS the guardian angel stood watch by the tomb
of the Savior let us hope that, over these sacred
grounds some wathful spirit may arrest the
careless foot the Decorating hand, and the dis
| cordant voice, so that flowers may bloom uu-
molested, the trees wave gently and the song
| of the bird sOothe the listener This watchful
| spirit is no myth, my friend; but is the
| embodiment ofour reverence for mortality last
resting place.
leave no hope behind, but may they look
\ radianty to the opening of those gates which
| swing outward into Eternity This cemetery
| was given to the town Of Van Buren, by Col
| John Bremen, Ammo DOmini, 1887. Thest
Memorial gates were erected by the women and
| children of Van Buren, Ammo Domini 1896
| Friends, upon me has been conferred the grea
| honor of naming this cemetery, SO, because OF
the beautiful setting of those neighboring hills
the little vale to the right eking out against the
| wooded height, the lesser hill standing as
prelude TO this scenic symphony crowned will
| the old homestead Of the donor of these buria
grounds, the river with its reaches OF colder
sands the outlaying mountains 10 the south
ward. looming up as sentiuels. close in the fore
| ground gently slopiug away from this stand
| 1oint The little city where dwell our friends ant
! nairhbors I'm their pleasant homes, The sweep O.
/ the woods to the eastward, betting in on
! Industrious prosperous ccmmuuity-hecause o.
| All these pleasant greetings TO the eye and th'
calm peaceful air over all, name these saere'
grounds FMRNIEW.'
As the name Of 'Fairview was pro
nounced by the honored gentlewoman
the gates were swung wide open and the
vast concourse of people, headed by tn,
band and members Of Camp Mcintosh
nassed within the enclosure anC
marched through the beautiful City o