The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-07-05
STOCKDALE CAMP U. c. v.
ANNUAL REUNION EELD IN MAG
NoLIA JUNE 80, 1909.
Eloquent Address Of Lit Gov.
Jones, Of WoodviIle.

dale Camp IA Y. y. VI, was
held here Friday, and seventy
members answered roll call.
A business session was held in
the court house, presided over by
Capt. J. j. White, commander,
and when it adjourned, the vet
Grams marched to the island,
where three thousand people had
assembled.
After prayer by Rev. G. H.
Otken, chaplain, 1t. Gov. J. H.
Jones, was introduced, and de-
livered the annual address, as
follows:
Comrades OF Stockdale Camp No.
324, U. @. ": 1t always moves
me deeply to participate in a re-
union of Confederate veterans,
and to meet with the fast disap-
pearing remnants OF those who
shared with me the trials of the
civil war. | do not hail these
occasions as opportunities for dis
play, and to crafty some per-
sonal vanity Of my own. but for
the blessed privilege Of meeting
once more my dear old comrades
in arms, for we are all comrades
no matter upon what fields we
fought. But it affords me pecul-
lar pleasure to address this
Camp. The man whose name
you bear was my old companion
in arms, and we fought together,
and fell together upon the same
battle field. He was a brave SOL
dier, and a most manly man;
true always to his friends and to
every trust committed to his care.
In naming this camp Of United
Confederate Veterans to perpetu-
ate the memory of Thos. r.
Stockdale you have honored him,
and in so doing you have honored
yourselves. The pleasure Of this
is enhanced to me because after
more than a generation | meet
once more members of my old
regiment, with whom | fought
and suffered for the Lost Cause.
There is a tie that binds me to
them strong as triple steel, and
whenever or wherever | meet one
l feel that | have met rother.
We have held these annual re-
unions now for nearly quarter
of a century, and our hearts grow
very sad when we note, from
year to year, how many fail tc
answer to the roll call and how
thin our ranks have grown.
In few more short years we
will have passed over the river
to reioin our old comrades who
are waiting for us on the othel
shore; and God grant that each
and every one of US may be wor.
thy to find blessed rest under tht
shade Of the trees.
If there is a recollection OF the
past to which my limos, sou
makes full response it is to thu
sacred memory of the Lost Cause
and when upon occasions liki
this these memories come crowd.
ing back upon my mind | car
hardly find words to express tht
feelings of heart almost too full
for utterance.
How it glads me to know tina
the heroic sacrifice of the Con
federate soldier is still honoret
throughout this beautiful south
land for which they fought ant
for which they died; and Coz
forbid that the sons and tn
daughters of these immortal he
roes shall ever cease to glory il
their fame. IL it ever does thel
the South will cease to be tn
land of chivalry, the home 0
true women,and of brave men.
But my comrades, this vii
never be. To honor the dead ha
been the custom among all ma
tions. whether pagan or christian
and in all ages. 1t is a God
given impulse, and is implante,
in every human heart, like th
instinct of worship, or the hop
of immortality. 1t is a divine in
spiration which impels men t
revere, and to emulate that whicl
is brave and noble and true.
will not down at the bidding @
cold calculation, it viii not b
hushed at the demand of grasp
ing greed. The sacrifice of Their
mopylae still lives in history ;Ith
dead of Waterloo are still honor
ed; and the costly monument