Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-07-01
GORDON CHOSEN.
Ex-Confederates Re- Elect the Gen.
eral Despite His Protest.
4 YOUNG BOY As A REyIyALIST.
Great Excitement Around Newport, Neb.,
Over the Preaching Of q PrecOcious
YOuth-Yale Freshmen Victorious
In the Boat Race.

NAohNlltiiE, lcHu'y uuHC Sf'~Ocu'
John b. Gordon, despite his own re-
solve not to run again, was yesterday
unanimously reelected commander-in-
chief Of the United Confederate Veter-
ans. He delivered his address at the
business meeting and prefaced 1t with
an announcement Of his intention to
resign as general commanding, but
there were cries of mo" from all parts
Of the hall. After referring to the
rapid growth Of the organization dur
ing the eight years since he was elect
ed, from ten camps to more than 1000,
he said:
1t Is an army still, Mr. President but IN
army for the bloody work Of war no longer, It's
banners no longer bear the flaming insignia Of
battle It's weapons no longer flash defiance to
the foe or deal death to the opposing ranks
Its weapons are now to open without malice,
the tongue without aspersion and history with
out Misrepresentation, It's aims are peaceful,
phllanthr0plc and broadly patriotic. Fail
ing after the most desperate defensive struggle
III huhiuh hHlhio w DothHii'h phpii 'hoi
ished confederacy, these high-snuled sons OF
the south Offer this record Of devotion as thp
nobest pledge Of their f5alty to freedom and
OF their readiness TO defend the republic OF
their fathers In conclusion, my comrades let
me hope that the wise conservatism, the spirit
Of magnanimiiy, which Is always the brightest
gem In the crown Of courage, will mark your
career In the future as they have in the past.
When he had concluded his address
Gen. Joseph Wheeler nominated Gen.
Gordon for reelection and it was
carried unanimously. The committee
on credentials reported 1000 names Of
those present and 1000 camps repre-
sented. At the business meeting in
the afternoon II was voted to meet in
Atlanta next year.
A YOUNG hoy AS A REvIvALlsT.
NEWPORT, Neb, June PA most
unusual condition of excitement exists
in this section Of the state, due to the
preaching Of child, u frail youth of
Is years, who really looks to be no
older than nine. Crowds IRE focking
weekly to Newport from adjoining
counties to participate in the re-
vival that has been developed by the
child. Rev. John Il. De Merritt is
the youngest ordained minister in the
world. lie lives here with his par
ents, who are In very reduced cir
cumstances. Though he has been at
tracing attention for some time as u
most precocious child, the most extra
ordinary ability Of the youth as pull
pit orator was not suspected until re-
Gently, when he commenced to partici-
pate extensively In revival work. At
Broken Bow, Newport, and other points
through Rock county this little nd
vocatc Of Gods ministry on carth has
spoken to crowds, sometimes averag-
ing 5000 people.
YALE FRESHMEN VICTORIOUS.
PoUGnKEEPsIE, N. Y, June "a. Three
crews Of freshmen on the Hudson yes
terday evening smashed to smithereens
all previous records for freshmen on
two-mile course and put up one Of the
hottest intercollegiate races ever wit
messed in this country. A crew Of sturdy
men OF Yale rowed the course in min
utes and 1917 seconds a triAe lighter
crew Of Harvard freshmen fought
them every inch of the way and
finished trife over two lengths be-
hind them, and the Cornell freshmen,
whose college record is that none of
Its freshmen crews has ever been
beaten before, finished length behind
Harvard in 9:s9k. The best previous
record for two miles was 0:ll, made by
the Columbia freshmen in 1894 at New
London, in 1891.