The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-07-05
PIE they thought was right"

General Gordon introduced Rev.
George Harris, of Mississippi. who
spoke for thirty-two minu es, during
which he said mauy fine things. 1t
Is impossible tor us to give full re-
port Of all he said. He began thus:
"Conrades, ladies and grntlemen:
Fully sensible Of the honor | respond
to but with much respect for the re-
qui ,u. nu, | undertake to voice to-
day not only my sentiments, but sen,
tllnenls which are yours and mine
together. For together We reverence
God, therefore We can not fail to
reverence also man of His making
who have done honor to their man
hood l. suppose no one of us lin
aglnes that The purpose of this great
gathering is t. honor the Confederate
dead. They themselves did that in
the fullest measure. To it we can
add nothing but praise. No bitter
ness of foe can diminish their honor by
detraction, neither can our friendly
adulatlon Incl ease it by adding
thereto. 1t would be the supreme
presumption on our part to suppose
that any of us, or all of us together
could make Il more brilliant or radient
crown ,han they wear. No eulogy
Of ours can he,ghtcu their sublime
devotion. Their record is in the
i.an,ls OF God Himself. The glory
Of their struggle and of their victory,
even in defeat and death is the com
1n1n property Of US all. The story
of 1t is our text book in studies of
patriotism and with inexpresslblc
reverence we today take it up. Did
time only perlni' US to mediate upon
IL single page of it, We should gather
inspiration, and inspiration would
coull eI aspiring cffu,t TO emulate their
noble example. Our suffering, to
begin with, is tribute Of affrctionate
admiration and vcneration for men
who having lived heroic lives found it
not impossible, nor even difficult to
pass out into the great beyond
teariug the impress of patriotic
hcrnism. Look at their pictures in
the book-some of them are old men
whose long years of active duty
might have made for them some
claim to exemption from the hardship
of this service, yet their grasp upon
The sword or muskct is only tss
strong than that other grasp whereby
their wills hold on to tie lofty pur-
pose they pursue. Next to these are
the middle age in full possession Of
all the furce and power Of magnificent
manhood. AS these come into view
the instinct is to uncover and be
silent. Next are the young men,
conscious of danger, yet not appre-
cialing its magnitude or consequences.
They are brave and 1.-THE and cheer
tul and hopeful. They are the soldiers
who-shall | say are dead? No, |
don't like that word. Rather they
are those who are to live forever in
our hearts and memories. They may
nave had their personal tdults. Who
has not! They are what men call
sinners. What man is not? Blu,
what if even that be true. In the
case of any man who dies for ner
there can be few faults, there can be
few sins which are not paidoned by
the love of God. They are hidden
washed away by the baptism of blood
Greater love hath no man than this
that man lay down his life for his
friend This is divine love, and
love is the fulfilling of the law
OF the great multitude whom today
we embrace in reverent memory some
died upon the battlefield, while Others
in hospitals and prisons wait,c
through days and weeks the slow
paced coming of haggared death
Many a thousand who still livet
when the colors were struck, who
left the camp fires and hurried away
to the ashes of their homes, have sine,
laid themselves down to rest. y