The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1900-05-03
MEMORIAL EXERCISES
LAST SATURDAY,
General Evans Delivers an
Eloquent Grafton.
AN IMMENSE GATHERING
A Fitting COmmemOratiOn of the Hero
ism Of the Sleeping Braves.
Flowers and Music.

The Memorial Exercises which were
held here last Thursday were the most
beautiful and impressive in many
years. 1t was under the care and man.
agement of the Ladies' Memorial Assoc
citation, TO whom much is due for their
untiring work in behalf of the Confed-
crate soldier who fell in battle.
Nature, in all its grandeur and beau-
ty, seemed to gladly smile on the old
veterans, their sons and daughters, as
they sprinkled sweet violets and gar
lands of roses upon the hallowed rest
ing place of the Confederate dead.
The procession was formed in front
of the Elmwood hotel at 10 o'clock,
under direction of Col. w. r. Power,
Marshal Of the Day.
The children, with their teachers, of
the public school, about 400 in number,
bearingminature Confederate flags and
wreathes of evergreens headed the pro-
cession. They were followed by the
"Narina Davis Chapter, Children of the
Confederacy," the children wearing
badges in gold, long line of them un-
der direction of Mrs. Geo. f. Gober,
manager. Then came the Old Vets,
some of them with feeble footsteps,
reminding one that these heroes of the
great war are fast approaching that
camping ground, eternal in the heav-
ems, where are spread the tents of both
the blue and the grey, where drum nor
fife nor battle cry will e'er be heard
again.
They formed an escort for the speak
er of the day, the hero of many a hard
fought field, General Clement A. Ev-
ans. The General rode in carriage
with Col. J.NV. Robertson, Col. G. ID.
Phillips and Capt w. j. Hudson.
Next came the Odd Fellows, followed
by the citizens. Together they march
ed to the cemetery to pay tribute to
the sleeping dead.
The speakers stand was beautifully
and appropriately decorated with flags,
bunting, flowers and evergreens, and to
the sweet strians'of organ and orchestra,
the choir and immense audience gath
cred around, sang that sad but sweet
est of songs, ''Tenting on the Old Camp
Ground "
The exercises were opened with
prayer by DR.. j. II. Patton, followed
by the soul-inspiring song, Nearer My
God to Thee"
Captain Hudson made brief address
explaining the reason of the exercises
and how it originated, saying that il
was first begun by Mrs. Mary Ann
Williams, Of Columbus, Ga, widow Of
HenryWilliams who was once resi-.
dent of Marietta. Col. G. d. Phillips
then in a speech full of feeling anC
love for his old comrades, introduced
the speaker, General Evans.
There were fully 1000 people present
who listened attentively to the mar
who had battled so bravely for the
south. He made an eloquent address
and was frequently applauded as he Sc
forth the causes of secession, and show
ed that those who fought, bled, anC
died in defense of the south we're bat
Ting for their rights, and their caus,
was a just one He touched the heart
of his old comrades around him on thu
speakers stand, who, like himself, ha6
gone forth when the bugle was sound
ed in 81, and shared the hardships anC
sufferings Of the southern soldier
while fighting against an enemy inyad
ing our sunny southland.
His speech was we'll received by all
There is no man who is more beloved
by his comrades and who is held il
higher esteem by the people of his ma
tive state, than General Evans.
After the speech, the list of old sol
diers was called, and those present
came on the stand and were presented
with crosses of honor by Gen. Evans II
behalf Of the Daughters of the Confed'
eracy, After this the graves OF the he
roes Of the ''lost cause" were decorated
with flowers and wreaths Of evergreen
Long may this custom live Ions
may the righteousness of the South'i
cause live in the minds and hearts O.
the southern people. May they con
tinue to meet from spring to spring
from decade to decade, and with LOVING
, hearts and tender hands scatter God
sweetest flowers DER the grave 0
. the southern soldier who laid down hi
life in fighting for cause that was sa