The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-30

and whenever brought to the test, ac-
quilted itacif with honor and loyalty.
Hereditary rank may be an Illusion:
but hereditary virtue givee p1 en- VI
innate nohleness beyond az the Ola2On-
ny Of the Herald College"
We are all here. then. during these
Here we raise our Ebenczer. Hitherto
days not simply to foster sentiment or
20 indulge'ln recalling the memories OF
great epoch in the history Of a peope'
but rather I'm so doing to DO what we
can 10 promote the growth of character
by "prolonging the quickening power ot
the right ideas and perpctuauns the
just and inspiring Impressions that be
long 10 the recent past"
Herewe raise our FbeneZer. Hitherto
hath the Lord helped us. Ny friends
il will not be my effort to-day 10 try 20
impose my religious faith upon any in
this great assembiy-yct ! must be free
90 confess that ! am ChTist's and serve
him. and / would 90 God that all who
hearne to-day we're such as / am. eX-
cept these bonds Of frailty and innrmiiy
that mar and hinder the service 1 would
render. ! say IT is not my effort to-day
10 impose my religious faith upon any
Of You. but for all that I may say "a
that from my heart / am sorry for the
man who looks abroad over the course
of this worlds history and does not see
God i'm it at all am sorry for the man
who. thinking Of the more recent past,
does not see God IN that also. and VINO
cannot. as to-day he helps TO erect a
memorial Of that past, call il Ebenezer
and say, Hitherto hath the Lord help
ed us"
Yes. my friends. our little lives with
all their disappontments and successes
have been taken up and merged into
larger plane; If many cherished hopes
have been dashed. yet many anxious
fears have been Boiled. and to-day,
thank God everywhere through our fair
Southland our people stand I'm the lot
where God has placed them, doing, /
believe. their fun part I'm the service
that shall advance a common country.
And as we stand i'm this our lot and do
our work. we must not be discouraged
by adverse criticism There are some
natures that cannot brook opposition
and that specially resent the fame that
is fairly won i'm the very face Of fortune
1t matters not in spite Of it all. there is
a freemasonry among true and brave
men everywhere which overleaps the
narrow bounds Of party and Of section
in the land. and welcomes 10 fellowship
In the Commonwealth the men who in
the times and scenes that tried mems
souls have shown the heroism OF high
purpose and a pure intent.
When we think OF what Gods provl-
dcnce hath wrought I'm these years that
have recently past how the passions Of
men have been allayed. how our social
system has i'm the face Of tremendous
difficulties been recognized and fairly
started on a new career. how our in
dustries have been revived and the
great Commonwealth OF the South have
resumed their place of dignity and
power IN the land: how our people have
adapted themselves 10 new conditions
and new surroundings and are more
than holding their own i'm the nations
life: how there has been the steady
growth of an intelligent patriotic senti-
ment among the people throughout the
length and breadth Of the land as they
have everywhere come 10 recognize
more clearly their common interests
and destiny. when we think Of all these
things. We may we'll thank God and
take courage. Yes. we set up our Eben-
ezer. Hitherto has the Lord helped US.
have said that our true memorial
was not that OF any individual. how
ever nlustrious. or Of any cause. how
ever dear. but rather of the spirit and
virtue which VIII make any people
great And yet. l cannot forget that
the great men which any people pro-
duce may be taken as their very crown
and glory-they represent their civiiiza-
ton and 10 Il large extent determine
the place they shall justly hold among
the nations Of the earth.
OUR GREAT MEN.