The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-10
FIRST MEMORIAL DAY
EXERCISES IN RALEIGH
The Address Was Delivered by Seaton Gales, and
General Cox Was the Chief Marshal. Program
of the Exercises for the DAY.

Through the kindness of Mrs. Garland
Jones, of this city, President of the Ladies
Memorial Association, the News and OBJ
server publishes today the report of the
first memorial day celebration in Raleigh.
This celebration took place on Friday
forty years ago today and the account We
republsh is from the Raleigh Sentinel Of
the following Wednesday, May 14th 1867
Mrs. Jones keeps, as a treasure, the clip
ping from the Sentinel, which is as fol-
lows:
THE MEMORIAL ANNIVERSARY.
The occasion of decking the graves of
the Confederate dead, at the Memorial
Cemetery, near this city, on Friday after
noon, was, as We hastily observed in our
issue of the following morning one of the
most beautiful, attractive and imposing
we have ever witnessed. AS previously
stated, nearly all of the stores were clos
ed, in honor of the annual commemora-
tion About the appointed hour hun
dreds of persons wendell their way to the
Cemetery-many in vehicles, but most on
foot fair women, little children and even
many of our most prominent and venera-
BILE citizens,-so that, by 3 o'clock, at
which time the ceremonies commenced,
there was probably assembled concourse
of between five and six hundred deeply
moved and interested spectators.
Gen. w. r. Cox, who acted as Marshal,
having announced the order of exercises,
an exceedingly appropriate invocation of
Divine grace was made by the Rev. Ben
nett Smedes, formerly Chaplain of the
9Th N. C. Troops, after which the choir
of gentlemen, which had been improvised
for the occasion, sung in fine style, and
with grand and solemn effect, the beauti-
full hymn Thou art gone to the grave,
to the air of 'Coronach.
Seaton Gales, Esq, who had been pre-
viousIy invited TO pronounce brief ora
ton, addressed the ladies as follows-a
copy of the address having been furnish
ed, for this publication, at the request of
the Association:
Ladies; --Twelve months ago. this day,
animated by the same pious and patriotic
feeling that has brought you together this
evening, you separated from yonder Capt.
tol, in detached and mournful groups, to
seek out and to crown with floral honors,
wherever found, the dispersed and isolat-
ed spots where then reposed the remains
of our cherished and martyred heroes.
Returning from the holy mission-the
pilgrimage of love-with hearts saddened
at the thought, that those who, for you
and for all that you held dear, had stood
shoulder to shoulder on the frightful front
of battle and of blood, should sleep in
unmarked and widely scattered graves,
and conceived the touching design of col
Iecting all that was mortal OF them in
one consecrated spot, which it should be
your loving care to beautify and to adorn.
1t was a conception worthy the heart OF
woman--a purpose meet for the descend
ants Of her, who was last at the cross
and earliest at the grave of our crucihed
Redeemer. around you, this
bright and balmy afternoon, from this
lofty eminence upon the scenes of sad
but lovely charm by which we are sur
rounded, you may well feel grateful
pride, a holy satisfaction, in the consum
nation of your labors and your hopes:
Oh!
-'If chanted praise,
With all the world to listen
If pride that swells a peoples SOUL
If foemen's tears that glisten-
If pilgrims shining love-if grief,
Which nought may soothe or sever
If these can consecrate-this spot
Is sacred ground forever!"
The day which you have selected, ladies,
for your votive anniversary, is appropriate
and suggestive. 1t can never be commemo-
rated in the recurring years, without re-
calling the memory of the, sainted leader
the illustrious Stonewell of our faith
who, on just such a beautiful evening as
this four years ago this day, breathed out
that noble life, which was wreathed all
over with fame, and which had been one
fervent, earnest aspiration for God and
country!
In all ages, and in all lands, the COM
memoration of the virtues and the valor
of the brave, and a reverential regard for
patriot ashes, have not only marked the
refinement of civilization, but have been
a practice and a sentiment even with the
jewellers beneath barbaric skies. How
high the duty how priceless the privil- |