Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-24
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH-sUNDAY. JANUARY "a 1917.


such spirits. to feel the inspiration OF
their self-sacrifce, to remember the coun-
sci Of our great leader before he lett US
TO 70 up into the mount and be forever
with God-how he said we ought 10 ac-
cept the result of the war In good faitn
and Christian submission, to stay In tnis
country to uphold its laws. to do all III
our power to make It prosperous ahu
happy and great.
Grand words, worthy such charactei
never so great as IN defeat, never such
conqueror as when he conquered sen
and laid down his unstained sword We
obey his will even yet; though deaa, nc
f. our leader still, for such spirit 70
invincible by death itself. we try ~
emulate his lofty example, we fe-echo
his words. Standing In this historic cry
at once the capitol. the sepulchre' ana tne
shrine Of the, Lost Cause; staiuilis
in this old Commonwealth, whose sur
face Is beloved with the graves OF oui
countless dead; standing on this SOIL lha'
was sanctifed by their blood ana rem
dered illustrious by their valor; stanuihs
amid these graves into when we nave
shed our tears thicker, faster than lne
rain drops, around which we nav
woven garlands pure as the "nIle
Immaculate wreaths the snow "edses
above their lowly heads-across THESE
graves we Seflu our VOICE VI
greeting through the land.
WE ARE ONE NOW.
Brothers. sisters, we are one. we SUD
mltted our cause TO the God Oh paltles !
we accept His will in good iaith ailS
Christian submission. Hand In manu.
heart to heart, keeping step with our
faces toward the sunrise. WIN ous
eyes upon the pillar OF cloud by udS c 90
of fire by night, with the ARK OF inc |oss
enant going before, let the trlDcs %
IsroeI move forward. TO achieve our des-
tiny as a natioh to fulnl us 49,
and to realize the sublime ideal-LioetS
enlightening the world! .,... .. =
Veterans of Lee and Pickett camps
thank YOU for the homer you confer upOl
me tonight. / hope you VIII hiH..3
accept the little tribute l prihe. Hs
earliest memories are OF tue lpcn
wore the gray. Their stately marcn scr
rcd nv childish admiration; Win ~
creaslng years and matured reflection J
have learned TO admire, even more hlghiy'
their courage. their skill, their WILING
ness TO sacrifice life for what they De,
lieve 10 be principle, and ABOVE an,
annlaud the unsulied faith with Whlch
they have kept their plighted word may
your campfire be very bright; may 1t ie-
call many happy memories
But let II also remind you OF the soieiiin
fact that soon the story Of your life WAL
he finished. In the roll of years how
rapidly your comrades are disappearing
al each annual campfire more races
missing going out into the shadowy night
IT'S A SAD THOUGHT.
The ranks are thinning. Soon the last
survivor of the great march will be gone
the last campfire die out, darkness iah'
and that scene of such tremendous ac-
tiyity and terrible reality TO US be only
as a silent memory Of the past. Are you
ready TO go? 1t is said that when stuart
was riding 10 his last battle, those VINO
followed heard low, sad song, so ulner-
ent from the happy songs he usuaily
sang and, listening, they caught the
words: "Soon with the angels I'll be
marching" Are you ready to take your
place and march with that angel hostY
As YOU lnger on the border land, let
this be indeed solemn occasion. AS you
gather around the campfire. with the
sunset In your face, listen-in the silence
can you not hear the ripple Of the Mystic
River?
one last but best lesson Of all the text
leaves with us-when the tale was told,
when the Hebrew camp-fires died out ana
the darkness fell. its gloom was brighten
ed by the light OF stars; soon above the
hills the morning star arose, heraidlhg
the dawn: the great camp stirred, anna
tho beauty OF the spring day, while now
ers bloomed and the peals Of the silVery
trumpets Of jubilee were echoing through
the land they crossed the river and were
al rest-the last weary step taken, tne
great pilgrimage ended, forever in the
Kingdom OF God.
So, when the time comes for you 10 ian
asleep-when your last campfire snail uie
out-then high and bright and beautiful
NAV the morning star shine in your sky
in the dawning Of the endless and the
cloudless day, while trumpets peal their
Jubilee and the echoes ring amid the
mountains of Zion, while angels welcome
NAV YOU cross over the river and rest
under the shade OF the trees.