The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-21

Pickett smart Camp OF Nottoway county
Is visiting her uncle. Tony Miiief' NO iV'
east Main street. ~,
be a large crowd at the reunion on FRIDAY
! at the Soldiers Home. Word was re,
ceived Yesterday that A. Il. Hill Camp, OF
Petersburg, would be here 100 strong.
COMMANDER COX'S REPORT.
Mr.. Edwin T.. Cox. the Grand Com
mander OF the Grand Camp. Sons Of Con-
foderate Veterans. will to-day present his
annual report wherein he says. among
! other things.
AT the last meeting OF the Grand
Camp. held in Winchester last year. tie
following camps were represented. x. r..
Lee Camp Of Richmond. j. +. u. ..idart
/ Camp OF BerryYlle. Turner-Ashy Camp
Of Harrisonburg. and VI. j. Corse camp
I Of Alexandria, represented by 4. :. -.
Smith. Ed. G. Martz and Aubrey Bowie,
| respectively. Since that time two can ps
| have been Organized-the one at AleXan-
dria and one at Staunton.
| our organization Is n peculiar one in
1 this that IL is separate and distinct from
/ the United Sons OF Confederate Vete-
rams. The reason for the formation and
existence OF these two distinct orsaniza-
! lions has to be sought I'm causes dating
| further back than our organization and
stretching 90 the time when the two
veteran general associations were formed.
VERY LITTLE FRICTION.
while there has been very little re-
ton between the veteran organizations
and there prevails the best of Sool feel
| Ing between the two sons organizations,
and @ may not seem TO be out o. Place
at this time 90 speak OF consolidating
them. However. | do not think vour
commander should make any comment
Ga this direction. but ] should advise that
&C. "a q
thoroughly discussed.
''rhc condition Of our organization, Its
growth and financial strength must ~
an times be ono Of momontous import
auce 10 us. The officers Of your orga'h-
cation have keenly felt a lack Of in
tcrcst In the past on the part OF ne
members. Even some OF our membs'f
! have not been aware that the two a.
ganizatons existed.
DO NOT DESPAIR.
Let us not despair on this account
| but with hearts true 10 the purposes
which we have set out to accomplish.
with hands willing 10 work 20 SUGGEST
| ful end the dictates Of our hearts lha-
| We have made mistakes is To be eN-
! pccted formed as our association was
1 among the turmoils and attractions Of the
reunion i'm Richmond ty men little ac-
! quainted with each other and known ~
| nothing except name.
"Tbat Misunderstanding should have
arisen among ms is natural. That such
| misunderstanding should exist Is un-
natural and / believe that explanations
can be made II our grievances are stated.
Let us then strive 10 so bury those heart
| burninrs and differences as not only that
they no longer remain but even the re-
collection Of them Is forgotten.
VIRGINIA FIRST.
Virginia had the first Camp Of Veto
! rams, from her borders came the first call
for convention Of Sons, and in this city
met for the first time a general gathering
Of Sons Of Confederate Veterans. Emu
lating these past examples. let US be the
nrst M point OF number Of camps, 50
that. as In age We are the oldest, I'm works
We may be the greatest.
Through the fiery furnace Of our
trouble. even as the ore is cast into the
burning fires 20 separate the pure gold
from the drOss, let us strive 10 bring
forth an organization stronger for its
adversely larger for its trials, grander
for its nl-fortunes and more beloved for
IT'S calamities That a vital spark lies
within our purposes. has been proven by
our life through the last eighteen months.
now best 10 fan that vital spark into
blaze we have 20 consider 20 day.
sOAiE RECOMMENDATIONS
81 would therefore most earnestly re-
commend that you take up and discuss
the matter Of the formation Of new
camps, the rehabilitation Of old ones
which have lapsed, the promotion of in
terest i'm our camps generally. The vete-
ran camps might assist US materially In
this matter and we might appeal to them
both through their convention now meet
ing I'm this city and after their return
home. Several o. our Sons Camps have
been formed through the agency Of the
veteran camps. and these camps seem TO
have lasted
THE manner and mode Of accomplish
ing these objects. however, is subject
which can but receive benefit from mu-
tual interchange OF views from the
members OF this convention.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY.
In connection with this growth we
might also consider the question Of hav-
ing a uniformity OF admission blanks.
The strength Of our association while ex-
citing a great anxiety. need not, ought
not and cannot exhaust our entire ener-
gies We are preparing 10 take our
fathers places and unless we seize the
opportunities now presented 10 us we
may be too late 10 remedy many Of the
faults which they are seeking TO cure
we might consider the use Of proper
histories in our schools. / saw an extract
from the New York Sun, which said that
II the Sons of Confederate Veterans want
ed proper school history. they ought 10
write proper school history. If we
create a demand for one. we will get H.
The ingenuity and resourcefulness Of our
people. / believe is equal to this omer-
gency.
Il would also call your attention 20 the
fact that we might seek TO lay before our
members and the world not only history
as written. but also a more living story
from the lips OF men who have either
lived through the scenes described or have
made them a special study.
FOR THE PRESENT.
Nor need we live altogether in the
past: the present has its problems IL
is our duty to see that no Confederate
Veteran is In the poor house. nor his
family begging bread. II We cannot
dispense the large public gratuities given
bv the North. IL is at least within the
scope Of our powers 10 do some thing
more than has been done
IAN opportunity will be offered us on
Friday next TO visit the Soldiers Home
so that we can see what has already been
accomplished by the local Camp Of Sons.
the building OF a cottage and the support
OF veteran. In the winter Of their
lives shall We see those. who surrendered
the spring tide of their hope that we