The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-14
VETS MEET
 FAIR WOMEN Crosses of Honor Are
 Bestowed. A BRILLIANT RECEPTION Music and Flowers for the Gray Heroes. In the Auditorium Last Night a Typical Southern Scene Was Presented When Veterans and Ladies Met.


 These organizations of representative Montgomery women received the old sol- diers with the true hospitality and gra- ciousness of Southern women. Three score or more Veterans were awarded crosses of honor in the presence of one Of the greatest audiences that has assembled In Montgomery in many years.
 As early as 7:30 o'clock the veterans, accompanied by ladies. began to throns the City Hall. All doors were flung wide. The city's property was for the time be- ing the property of the loyal women or the Capital City and they had turned 1t over to these heroes of the Confederacy. In the main corridor. which was deco rated with stately palms and flowers, Courtney's orchestra played throughout l the evening. The selections of the orches- tra were happy and appropriate. At S:30 o'clock the formal exercises or | conferring the crosses of honor by the Montgomery Chapters of the Daughters of the Confederacy began. No finer audi ence ever assembled in Montgomery. | Citizens from every walk of life were there. Society young men in their som | bre evening dress were accompanied by | beautiful young women radiant in splen- | did gowns; staid and stately matrons with vivid recollections of the struggle of '65 were there. Affiuence and poverty sat side by side interested in a common cause.
 The exercises were held in the com- modlous Auditorium adjacent to the City Hall and leading thereto by wide hall. The Auditorium has a seating capaclty of $500 persons and when Major General George P. Harrison called the assembly to order every seat was filled.
 Seated with General Harrison on the stage were the members of his stan in Confederate uniform. The officers of the organizations of women were also on the stage, which was tastefully and richly decorated. A mammoth Confederate flag was draped over the rear of the stage and about 1t were entwined resimental flags and great streamers of vari-colored bunting. One long streamer bore the let tering, We Welcome Our Heroes and truly 1t was a welcome seldom accorded to men of any country.
 At S:30 o'clock General Harrison called for order and presented Mrs. J. NJ. Wyly who had been chosen by the organiza- tions of women to act as Chairman of the meeting. Mrs. Wyly was greeted with applause. =
 In a clear and distinct voice which filled the hall Mrs. Wyly announced the pur- pose of the gathering. She read from the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Daughters of the Confederacy relating to the conferring of crosses of honor and | said that these crosses could not be con- ferred except on the birthdays of distin- | guished Confederate officers unless a | special dispensation was secured from | the President of the State Division. Then Mrs. Wyly read letter from Mrs. A. L. Dowdeii of Opeiika, President of the Alabama Division, addressed to the four Montgomery Chapters, saying that 1t gave her great pleasure to grant the dispensation for the occasion of the re- union of the Veterans in Montgomery. The reading of this letter was received with applause.
 Veterans" Mrs. Wyly continued, "wear these crosses and wear them worthily. Lee and Jackson would have worn them proudly. Wear them with the splendid consciousness that they are the insignia. not of royal lineage nor of king-bestowed knighthood but the insignia of the most tpfFpnid and chiValrip SOldierV the world has ever known-a soldiery without fear and without reproach. (Applause) Guard them, veterans, and guard them well. For woman gave them to you. She who in the night and gloom of the South's de- spair was as tenderly true and as brave ly loyal as she has even been in the hour of diversity. since the three Marys stood at cross on Calvary" (Applause)
 '"Then. veterans" Mrs. Wyly continued: Take these croases. a mute token
 Of sorrow left unspoken
 By the lips of love unbroken
 Through the change of time and tide In comrades tear you'll lave them
 From dishonor live to save them
 For the sake of those who gave them,
 For the sake of those who died.
 ''I now ask the presidents of the chap ters to read the names"
 When Mrs. Wyly retired she was vo- ciferously appauded.
 Sophie Bibb Chapter was the first of the Charters to confer its crosses. Mrs. Franklin Harper Fillmore. President of the Chapter, was assisted by Mrs. NJ. D. Bibb President of the Ladies Memo rial Association, and Mrs. John w. A. Sanford, Treasurer, of the Alabama Di- vision, who was the only State officer present.
 As Mrs. EImore called the names the following Veterans went forward and the crosses of honor were pinned upon their coats:
 J. G. Cleveland, w. G. Frazier and J. S. Reese of Camp 396; David F. Brown. Charles H. Cooper and A. M. Dinsmore of Camp SSS; A. J; BrooKs w, w. Frame, C; W. Beers, y w: M, H Burton I2,,,; D, P, G. w. Gayle. J. N Gilmer, w: H. liar rison, P F. Mitchell, J. c. Nickelson, Charles Drum, c E; Owen II; L; Rose. T. B. stubbs, W; F. Slough, Hails Tay- lor w. C. Wright. J. NJ. Crenshaw, R. T. Allen, R II. Crossweli, Michael Ora T; Bellamy and S. Finnegan of Camp to C. D. Whitman. Adiutant of Camp i3l. for w. D. Atcherson, J. B. Bender, Ws oIenr"e Bre%er Ge0TEe H HaicIeT cGEer' James Moss, Aaron Richards and C. D. Wood ruff.
 Secession Chapter came next and pre- of the Chapter. Mrs. John G. Finley, was assisted by Miss Laura Hill. The fol- lowing Veterans received crosses from
 Dr. C. C. Baker A. P. Cameron, Alpha Champion L. NJ. Moody. w. B. O'Neii, J. NJ Taylor, w. G. Worren W. A. Taylor, II: r; Yarbrough, w. s. Camp bell, J. NJ. Carmichael, Peyton Dennis, John r. Fuller A. s. Farley, William A Handy. F. A. Knight, Moses Moore, w. A. Middleton, l.. Y. McMorris, P NJ. Moore A. A. Mcqueen. A. c. Oates, J. C. Rutherford, J. A. Skaggs, J. M Stanfield, H. R. Vickers Thomas VII Hams NJ. A. Watts.
 Dixie Chapter followed with crosses for the veterans. The President of this chan ter Mrs. Frank P Glass was assisted bv Mrs. W. B. Jones, Mrs. R. E. Damn and Miss Mattie Woods and the following veterans received crosses:
 Representing Camp Martin No. C92-W J. Aldernold George w. Arnold Thomas M. Andrews, J. M. Andrews, George w, Britain. N J. Cross, Thomas J Ford. l.. ". Grant John l.. Heath, John S Henderson, John D. Hammond David Jennings, David Johnston. A NJ. Land CTS W K. Moore John Milner, George ". Matthews. T. IT. Matthews Hamilton Manns, J. F. Norris, George W. Phillips. J: A Stevenson, John Wllbanks. V. l.. Weir. Thomas White.
 Representing Camp Lomax, No 151-W [. Ashey, William A. Brown Thomas H. Cochran, ". II. Garrett, James T. Gid dens' M. B. Graham, T. w. Graves. D.