Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-26

the Camp Hail with hundreds of enthu-
siastic witnesses, while as many more are
left clamoring for admission outside. Such
was the case last night when an I'M
mense throng gathered to be present al
the deeply impressive exercises Whlch
marked the reception into the gallery Oh
a fine three-quarter length portrait OF
Father Ryan, executed in oils by MT.
John p. walker and presented by the
Catholic societies of Richmond
AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.
The portrait. yelled with a white sheet
and with the tattered banner OF the fur-
cell Battery dropping above IT. Has H
placed upon an easel to the lelt oI Ille
commanders rostrum. NOBLE anu i,%o pa
thetic speeches of high strain OF pure
eloauence and lofty passion We're d de-
livered by Hon. W. +. Reddy Tor the
Catholic societies and by ReV. dthet
Kelley, of Savannah, Ga, on behaI OF
tbe camp. A decidedly dramatic mel
dent was the unveiling of the portrait
bv little Miss Katie Redford, VINO, taxing
her cue from Mr.. Reddy towards the
end of his speech, stepped forward ana
tore away the veil, disclosing the De
nia1 and striking features OF the priest
and poet. y,
Commander Laughton, having called
the meeting to order at the stated time.
the proceedings were opened Dy hisht
Rev. Bishop Van de yyver, VINO IeoiIeu I,,os
ton from Grand-Commander Williams
| touching the report of the Citizens HIS
| tory Committee had been read, tne COM
mander delegated Colonel John MuIpny'
chairman Of the Committee oil Arrarset LIZ,
ments. to direct the programme. That
gentleman briefly explained the purpose
| of the assembly. The happy idea that
| the Catholic societies should present 70
No. . l..r gWr4.fN al
the camp, portrait OF tatner Ryan iat naS
| originated, he said. with Mr.. ID. smith
| Redford. In introducing hon. W. r.
| Reddy. he paid that gentleman very
| high compliment.
MR.. REDDYS FINE SPEECH.
| Mr.. Reddy, having expressed his graft
| tude for the high honor which he con-
| ceived had been done to him In being
/ delegated as the spokesman of the Catho-
| lie societies. said:
1--WE are not here distirctively as mem
bers of that Church; we are here as
| citizens of all the Southland. The por'
| trait of Father Ryan is presented tc
| your camp, not because he was a Catho
| lie priest in the service of the Confede
| racy but because whatever genius, What
| ever thought. whatever mind God gave
| him, he. in his time, gave TO the cause
| of the South. SO. while nominaily this
| presentation may be sectarian In reality
! IL is entirely patriotic. 1t represents IN,
| loyalty of the Catholic to the southland
| manhood's prime heard the roil-call O
| the South ard linked their fate with Lee
| II represents the generations which hav'
| come since to whom the Confederacy Il
a dream of defeated glory hlling then
| with high impulse and noble aspiration.
| For the first time since the movement
| 10 gather lilSenssSes had been begun, M
said one who was not soldier IN th'
cause had been called TO eulogize th'
memory of the dead Without persona
| ~. a
and happy, besause tonight no soldie
is added to your gallery. He whose por
trait | have the honor TO present was Z
missionary of peace" To teach the
righteousness of the Confederate cause
10 teach it's sanctity and its sacredneS
was the mission of the poet-priest. Tn
historian may clothe with forceful rhet
oric events that cannot be Justined II
morals The lawyer, with specious ar
gument, may placate his cause 10 IN
ear; but the poet cannot sing, save II
the cause OF right.
THE soUTHS RIGHTEOUS CAUSE.
"rhe cause of the South was right.
| Mr. Reddy continued, "and its righteous
ness stirred to song the poet-priest, wh
| entered It's armies that he might ministe
TO its dying heroes. Not In stately epic
| over whose regular and sonorous rhythm
| scholars love, TO linger. but In simple bal
| iad and sweet lyric did he sing II
orandeur. Tonight more tina
sthree decades after Appomattox. hi
songs echo from heart to heart and vii
echo and re-echo as long as Virginia an
,ha south cherish their sweetest an
noblest memories. Yea. until the Son
| Man shall come again In the ciouns'
isrhe South has done well oy It's oea
heroes {" said Mr. Reddy. She has dotte
hero her towns with monuments to their valo al
and devotion. But the poet-priest ha
dome more. The material monuments yo
hewe bullded tell 10 those VINO owe
nase nS,,cd them and to these who come an
nl ,no,S nnon them how well you love tn
cause you fought -son The sonas