The age-herald., 1901-05-29
TheCOnVentiOn Began Yesterday With Housing Addresses and
 Ovatons to Old Heroes FLORAL PARADE ABANDONED
The Only Feature To Mar a Glorious Occasion Was the Rain and Mud That Kept the People
 Indoors.

Memphis. Tenn, May 2S.-Twenty-three hundred and five members of the United Confederate Veterans, survivors of the great armies that battled for the cause of the South during the war of secession and representing 1881 camps of the or ganization. met in Confederate Hall this morning for their eleventh annual re- union. Several delegations arrived too late in the day to participate in the open ing session of the convention, but it Is expected that when the gathering comes to order at 10 o'clock tomorrow there will be fully 25OO old soldiers In attendance.
 Although the convention, in point of oratory, enthusiasm and all other re- spects, was a most brilliant success, the weather put damper on the one feature of the reunion which the good people of Memphis had arranged with especial care and pride for the entertainment of their many guests This was the great floral parade. which. owing to the threatening clouds and muddy streets in the outskirts of the city was postponed until tomor- row. Last night there was a heavy fall of rain and two small showers occurred this morning just before noon. The la- dies having in charge the arrangements for the parade declined to proceed withs their programme notwithstanding the urgings of number of the committee men having in charge the general feature of the reunion entertainment. The ladies asserted that inasmuch as they had spent so much time and labor in their prepara- tions they could not have the decorated 5. vehicles moved from the outskirts of the city where many of them have been pre- pared along the muddy streets through which they would be compelled to pass before they could reach the downtown pavements. ,s l The tires of many of the vehicles are actually covered with flowers, which would present but a sorry appearance after journey of mile or two in the mud. It was therefore decided to postpone the parade until 2:3O tomorrow afternoon, and if the weather is not favorable at that time it may be again deferred until Thursday. The weather probabilities for "Wednesday are threatening, with possible showers. The exhibition of fireworks on the Mississippi River was also postponed
 
 until tomorrow night.
 Memorial Meeting.
 Before the meeting of the convention in Confederate Hall the Ladies Memo rial Association signalized the first day of the reunion by holding in Calvary church a memorial meeting for Jefferson Davis. The exercises comprised the rendering of several hymns and of Rosoni's anthem, s.Inf1ammatus" by the Calvary choir and a memorial address by Bishop Thomas F. Gaylor. The church was filled to the utmost by listeners to the beautiful ser vice
 The great convention hall was the cen ter of an enormous crowd for nearly two hours before the hour set for the com mencement of the exercises, which was 10 o'clock Crowds of delegates, attended in many instances by members of their families, besieged every entrance and the sergeant -at-arms and his numerous assistants had their hands full in con- trolling them. The task, which was not a light one by any means, was accomplished without trouble of any description. The interior of the hall was this morning a thing of beauty. The last finishing touches had been put upon 1t and the ex- oellent work of the decorators was shown in all its merit. On every side were ar ranged banners, portraits of prominent Confederate leaders wound with bright  from the roof and innumerable smaller ones were in evidence upon every hand.
 The exercises of today were almost en- tirely confined to the welcoming addresses delivered by the representatives of the people of Memphis and of the State of Tennessee and from members of different organizations affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans
 The only actual business performed was the completion of the permanent organiza- ton and the appointment of the commit tees on resolutions and credentials.
 The Convention. Although the hour for calling the con vention of the United Confederate Vet erans to order was 10 a. m., according to the programme. it was twenty minutes later when General George w Gordon of Memphis rapped his desk with a gavel made of wood taken from tree which shaded the favorite seat of Jefferson Davis at Beauvoir. Miss.
 You will please rise comrades" he said. while our chaplain-in-chief de- flyers the invocation"
 mond. Va, then advanced to the front of the rostrum, and while the veterans stood bareheaded. he prayed:
 At the conclusion of the prayer General Gordon introduced Governor McMillin of Tennessee. who welcomed the delegates in behalf of the State. Governor McMillin gave a most hearty welcome to the visitors of the city, and his address was received with every man Hesitation of approval. He complimented the men of the South on their glorious record in the war and deplored the fact that so many of the glorious band had passed away.
 Cheer after cheer greeted the Governor Rs he resumed his seat
 Nieifore welconed
 Mayor Williams of the city of Memphis was next introduced by General Gordon. He extended the visitors hearty wei come of the city of Memphis. He said:
 MT Chairman, and Confederate Vet erans--Just forty years ago you left your peaceful homes and went out to submit to the arbitrament of the sword great