The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-15
v1LM1NGToN MEosENGEH. TUESDAY,, NAY Is. 1900.

amounts sometimes pitifully small in
reality. but grand in the giving.
to the building OF that monument.
In 1s11 Mrs. Anna b. VanSickIe
died, the first one OF the officers OF the
association lost by death. She had
been among the organizers and faith
ful workers, and from the beginning
to the time of her death was chairman
OF the board of managers. On Memo
rial day Colonel Robert Strange was
orator, n benediction was p~ronounc-
ed by Ri e Thomas Atkinson and
the m~arshaFs aides were Maj. James
Reilly, Major James H. HILL, Captain
w A. Cumming. Captain James w
Lippitt, Captain c. D. Myers, Captain
o W. Wooster and Lieutenant
Robert E.. Calder. The venerable Bish-
OPP and the eloquent orator died many
years ago and c. t1s a.des, not one is
now living On earth. In 1872 the ad-
dress was delivered by Major c. w.
McClammy Colonel j. j. Hedrick was
chief marshal and the Chaplain, Rev.
Mr.. Dickson, of the First Presbyterian
church. 1t was on this occasion that
the beautiful emoria statue vas I'M
yelled. Business in the city was gen.
orally suspended during the afternoon.
and a vast ~concourse OF people-not
less than 1000 assembled on the
| rounds. Cannon doomed as tie cloth
fell and the Cape Fear cadets, under
General Colston saluted with a volley
the unwilling. This is the first record
of any military observance in the GER
emonies of the day.
Mrs. Oakley having held the office
of president for six years, declined a
reelection Having seen her labors
wv with success she wished to
retire. Her resignation caused great
and general regret. She was succeed
ed by Mrs. Z. A. Anderson, who after
Il fnIIr We &c fn n~l - O-C NJ
Charles d. Myers was elected and re-
elected in 1877. In 1873 declining the
office for a longer term, Miss Hettie
James who for several years had held
the position of secretary, was made
president and for twelve years was
most faithful n devoted in fulfilling
the duties of the Office. In 1891, enfee-
bled health and home cares forced her
to resign, much to the regret of those
who for more han twenty years had
worked with her, and known of the
loving yea which spared not time or
strength, SO long as the work was for
the ~confederateS and the Memorial
association.
Mrs. John j. Hedrick was chosen
to succeed her, and no more earnest,
devoted and efficient president could
have been selected. She seemed to re-
gard the work in this sacred cause, a
pleasure rather tina a duty, and for
four years gave this best service to
the cause.
In 1894 she was succeeded by Mrs.
John T. Rankin, since her early girl
hood a member and worker in the as
ISOLATION. In this year we find the
first mention of the Daughters of the
Co~nfederacy, into which the associa-
ton afterwards merged. This organ
ization began in Nashville, Tenn, and
was quickly taken up in Georgia. 1t
was proposed as a national order for
the south to embrace all confederate
aid and memorial associations. Early
in 1895 a chapter was organized in
Wilmington, and after many debates
n discussions, the Memorial associa-
ton decided, in March 1897 to merge
themselves into the new organization
where they could still carry on their
sacred work, buoyed up and assisted
perhaps by the fresh enthusiasm OF
the younger association.
"At the time Mrs. Anderson was
elected president the memorial asso-
citation still owed $175.0O on the monu-
ment. NO record is found of the set
Element of this debt, but it must have
been paid during her administration
as she mentions the deed for the lot
being given, n also reports the plac,
ing "at a cost of less than SO each OF
Sc stone walks ait the graves of Con
federate soldiers in private lots. This
: was done at her suggestion.
I'm 1876 Coonel John l.. Cantwel
was chief marshal and the address
: was by the Hon. George Davis. Fol
some reason, the orator selected could
: not fulfil the engagement and Mr.
Davis was persuaded at the last mo.
ment to take his place, and many still
2 remember his nobl sentiments anC
: eloquent words. The day was also mad'
;, specially and sadly memorable from
4 the fact that Captain Thomas G. De
; Rosset was stricken with paralysi
i On the grounds and died exactly on
= week thereafter. He was captain o
the Whiting Rifles and had marched
with his company in the procession
e and just drawn them up in line at tn
[ foot of the monument and given tn
command rest, when he fell.
e In October 1876 Mrs. A. J. DeRos
: set died. It was at her suggestion tn
Memorial association organized, AM
she was always earnestly n zeal
ously a sustaining hand in all its work
{ Since 1873 the Cemetery company ha
had h Confederate lot in it's perpet
ual care. They agreed to take it IL
S charge on payment of a much Smalle
sum than is usually demanded, ant
the Superintendent Mr.. Timothy Don
G Ian has always, not only taken prid
in keeping it i'm perfect order but ha
y with the utmost kindness and zeal as
sisted the ladies Of the association b.
0' 100000 49, AS AOOA 49,
: Memorial association was the recipien
of 1920 collected by the veterans, t.
e aid them in their work. In 1884, am
g also in 1890 Memorial day followin,
= on Saturday, he observance wa
postponed to Monday notwithstanding
the 10th of May was, sine 1881 a lega
holiday. In 1885 and 1896 1t was post
e poned because it fell on Sunday. TIL
t only time in all the thirty years tina
Y p-ostponement was necessary on ac
e count of Indictment weather was in 1885
: SAT the annual meeting, May 31st
1884 1T vas reported that up to tina
e time 124 ton had been placed at tn
e graves of Confederate soldiers sleeping
in Oakdale. The president ~earnestl.
[ urged the continuance OF this worl
even though the number increased t
t such an extent that 1T became impos
sible to place floral decorations upol
all for in years to come, though tn
mound should be leveled with the sur
rounding earth, the simple stone will
e tell its own story.