Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-11
THE SOUTH IS FIRST
SHE Is EVER READY TO MEET A
COMMON BNENY.
REY. MR. BARR'S ELOQUENT TRIBUTE.
He Delivers the Memorini-Day Ora
ton ut lakewood and Discusses
Fine Pageant and Large Crowd.

With pomp and pageantry, ceremony
and solemnity the annual tribute to the
memories of thousands of Confederate
soldiers who lie buried beneath the shade
I'm picturesque lakewood Cemetery was
paid yesterday afternoon.
AS a spectacle, it exceeded by far the
records Of the Oakwood Memorial Asso-
citation for many years. In that mighty
congregation were not less than 10000 peo-
pie. In Natures temple, beneath th'
canopy of Heaven. the thousands as
sembled to sing songs of praise to tht
Maker Of men, to offer duplication, anc
to recognize once more the valor AND
fidelity of those gallant representatives o.
the Souths cause.
The whole tone of the multitude-theii
mode of assembling and dispersal, then
bays of laurel and not of cypress-all were
in keeping with the occasion. 1t was
"A day of hallowed memories and patriotic
prompting and what created one or IN
spred the other met with generous recos-
milton. 1t was ideal marching weather
The sun shone gloriously out of a clear
sky. flecked now and again with iieecy
clouds. which raced across it bearing wind
but no suggestion of rain.
There was hardly grave i'm the
cemetery that was not bright with
flowers. Banners bearing tributes TO the
dead were placed here and there among
the mounds and the monument. erected
by the association 10 the Confederate
dead. fairly glowed with color, being
draped with bunting and garlanded with
flowers.
AN IMPOSING PROCESSION.
The procession started, as usual, from
St. Johns church. BY i15 o'clock the
streets intersecting Broad street were
choked with troops and civilians. who
were TO take part in the parade. Chief
Marshal Hughes established his position
at Broad street and Twenty-hfth. from
which point he directed the manoeuvres.
Promptly at 4:30 the marshaPs stan as
sembled around him, the word OF com
mand was given, and the column, headed
by platoon of police. moved forward.
The Citizens band struck up an inspiring
march Then came the marshal and his
staff. all finely mounted; Companies b
+. and +. OF the First Regiment were
all represented. then came a platoon Of
Howitzers. i'm their new full-dress uni
forms attracting the great attention they
easily deserved The veterans of Lee
and Pickett camps, and the Sons OF Vet
Grams were in line, and then came AT
immense line of carriages bearing tn,
ladies of the Senior and Junior Oakwooc
Memorial associations. representatives OF
the Senior and Junior Hollywood Memo
rial associations. the Hebrew Memorial
Association. Daughters of the Confede-
racy. Ladies' Confederate Memorial Lit
erary Society, and various city officials
including his Honor. Mayor Richard NJ
Taylor. The procession moved up Broad
street to Twenty-seventh. TO Libby Hill.
where it marched round the Soldiers ano
Sailors monument, which had been deco
rated with red and white bunting, Con-
Tolerate flags. and numerous flora! en-
blems. with wreaths of laurel at each
corner. From this point the route lay
along Twenty-ninth street TO Broad to
Thirty-fourth to OakWoOd avenue. The
entrance to the cemetery had been deco
rated with a design in which the words
"Our Heroes" stood out most promi-
nently. At the gates the procession
halted and the line was divided TO allow
the lakewood Memorial Association and
its guests TO pass first into the grounds.
ne SldUU WHERE llt ceremonies NN'h
place was situated east OF the monument,
and this structure was also drape1 and
decorated with flowers. on its platform
were seated representatives of the me
mortal associations. civic and religious
dignitaries. and those who were 10 take
part in the proceedings.
PRAYER BY REV. MIR. HYDE.
Hon. ID. c. Richardson, master of cere-
monies. in calling the assembly TO order,
said: "As we have met here this after
noon on this hallowed ground 10 COM
memorate the virtues OF those soldiers
who sleep their last sleep here, ii Is
proper that these exercises should be
with prayer"
Rev. DR.. c. r. Hyde was then intro
duced and performed this Office. He re-
turned thanks to Almighty God for the
civil and religious liberty. which are the
distinguishing marks Of our national life.
He returned thanks for the blessings OF
domestic peace. and for a reunited coun-
try. In conclusion, ne prayed: 'As we
garland the graves OF those whose valor
will live as "a national heritage, we would
those OF every part Of the
republic who are now called upon 20
20 forth on land and sea in the interest
OF suffering humanity, and 10 maintain
the national honor If il please Thee
give us an honorable peace. and may the
issue be 10 Thy glory. and tend To the
tranquility Of the nations OF
the earth and the salvation of all"
THE ORATOR PRESENTED.
Mr. Richardson, introducing Rev. DR..
W. \. Barr, the orator of the occasion
SAID:
A nation without memories is
nation without a history. A people
that does not cherish the memories OF
those who have eXemplified all that Is
true and noble in our humanity, deserves
to 90 down into oblivion, and does not
deserve a history. We are met TO do
honor TO the dead who sleep peacefully
in this cemetery, and in doing so we
honor ourselves The strife had barely
ended when the ladies of Richmond or
ganized the lakewood Memorial Assocla-
ton TO care for the graves of the Con-
federate dead. In the years that have
passed they have well accomplished that
pious duty. and I'm this spring they have
come together again 10 commemorate
those who fought under the southern
cross and who died for the cause OF
right-the cause of constitutional liberty.
ADDRESS OF REV. MR.. BARR.
Rev. Mr. Bars grafton was eloquent
and patriotic. He began:
FellOw-Townsmen once more we are
gathered together in this silent resting
place of the dead upon the annual Occa-
sion that we call MemOral-Day. y me
mortal is that which calls To mind some
past event in the experience Of individuals
N communities. IL Is an instinct deep
Dedded in our humanity TO preserve by
some outward mark the memory Of great
md critical events of our past experience
and history with the very name '.memo-
ial," however, We instnctively associate
emotions of gratitude and joy; a certain
thrill OF elatiOn and honest pride. But
IS we gather to-day to honor the memory
IF a generation ago, are we not reminded
n The samn time that the canse In which