The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-13
SOUTHERN MIGHT EXERCISES.
A PACKED ASSEMBLY.
DR.. Jones' Thrilling Lecture.

| "A EANhE0 Eo0EsM0Ax
DR.. Jones' Thrilling Lecture.
Scotland Neck Vine Hill Male Acad-
envy is the only school on the continent
that publishes in its catalogue South
ern Night Exercises and holds them.
The object of the exercise is to teach
the Southern youth something more of
the Southern Confederacy than the
books tell.
Tuesday night, 4th, the assembly hall
was packed-llterally packed-with fine
audience and perhaps hundred on the
outside could not find standing room
within.
Back of the rostrum in an arch of gilt
letters was Southern Night, May 4th."
On the left was 1851" and to the right
1855" The confederate flags in
miniature streamed from the windows
and from either end of the rostrum and
the "stars and bars" were seen on every
side. Portraits OF Lee and Jackson and
others graced the walls, and everything
showed that the occasion was typically
Southern.
On the rostrum were seated 25 old Con-
federate veterans who had come to hear
one of their comrades in arms tell of
the days from 81 to rs. Music on the
outside by the Scotland Neck cornet
band lent a charm and smack of ex-
element as the people were being
crowded and packed into the hall.
When the audience we're fairly we'll
seated Rev. r. T. Vann opened the ex-
ercises with short prayer, the Vine
Hill Orchestra on the inside played
Dixie" Rev. R. T. Vann sang "stone-
wall Jackson's Way" and Mr.. Claude
Kitchin arose to introduce the speaker
of the evening. In we'll chosen SEN
fences and language as chaste he re-
ferred to the boys who wore the Con-
federate gray in 1861, and pointing to
the squad of old soldiers on the rostrum
he said "they now wear natures gray"
He referred to the speaker OF the even
ing as one who had written more, spok-
en- more and told more of the Coined
crate soldier than any other living man,
and then gracefully presented Rey.
Jno. William Jones, D. D., OF Virginia.
DIR. Jones arose amid great applause,
and with a matchless enthusiasm for
the glorious record of the Southern
soldier, held the audience under a
spell of eloquence, pathos and wit for
moe than an hour and half.
DIR. Jones is the most distinguished
guest that has appeared before Scot
land Neck audience in its whole histo-
ry, perhaps. He is native OF Virginia,
that grand old commonwealth which
has produced SO many statesmen, schol-
ars and eminent divines. He was edu-
Gated at the University of Virginia,
completed a course at the Southern
Theological Seminary, was ordained in
1860 to the Baptist ministry. When
the war began he went into the army
as private soldier, and served in the
ranks until November 1868, when he
was made Chaplain to Hills corps, and
served until the surrender at Appomat-
tox. He followed the fortunes of the
army of Northern Virginia through
the whole struggle, and knew the char
acterlstics OF the Confederate soldier
perhaps as no other man in the army.
DIR. Jones resided at Lexington for a
number of years after the war. He was
by the gallant Lee in his last hours OF
earthly life, and sent the telegram OF
Lees death which was published In the
papers through this country and in the
papers beyond the seas. DIR. Jones has
published a number OF books, which
are familiar to the public, notably "A
School History of the United States. y
He has been constant student OF ev-
ery phase of Confederate history and
writes and speaks with authority that
defies contradiction.
In his Introductory remarks Tuesday
night Mr.. Kitchin referred to the dis
tinguished Vlrginian as IAN unrecon-
structed rebel" DIR. Jones' opening
sentences took issue with Mr.. Kltchin's
abatement. He said: II am admira,
bly reconstructed, and I never was 8
rebel" He said the Confederate sol
diers were not rebels, but patriots, fight
ing for what they believed to be right
| and added, "What I still believe wal
right"
i The exercises coming just before oul
lpress hour we can not give even ar
analysis Of the great speech. DR.. Jones