The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-27
"President-Josiah Powell.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Roach and
Levi Sheftall.''
On this occasion it is stated that
the British officers co-operated and fur
nlshed the means of entertainment.
Socially this anniversary appears to
nave been far more agreeable than
could have been expected. Other
American officers who were prisoners
took part and toasts were offered
indicating that for this day,
at least, all other feelings than
those of sympathy for worthy objects
had been laid aside:
I'm faith and hope the world will dis
agree,
But all mankind's concerned in char
ity."
History presents no similar picture
Captors and captives alike honoring the
grand cause of philanthropy, bury
ing all animosities, forgetting all diff
ferences, actuated solely by the higher
instincts of humanity that make all
men kin.
Soldiers though they were, accustom-
ed to the carnage of battle, the devas-
tation of siege and assault. the taking
of life without scruple, they felt that
1.-THE drying up single tear has more
OF honest fame than shedding seas of
gore"
Those who but few months before
had sought to destroy each other, who
in the future might again meet in
deadly combat and feel no impulse
save that of ruthless Staying, were as
one in the bonds that benevolence
created THE Union Society" was
toasted, and then a British officer in
gracious magnanimity to those within
their power, offered the name of Gen.
George Washington, which was follow
ed by a toast from an American officer
to The King of Great Britain" That
scene is worthy of the painters highest
art of the poets noblest verse. Many
spectacle that appeals less forcefully
or less worthily to the imagination has
been made memorable to all future
generations by the halo that has been
cast around it through the magic gen
lus of the bard. That gathering at Sum
bury is comparatively unknown, the
memory of the four who there preserv-
ed the life of the Union Society is em-
balmed only in it's records, fame has
not trumpeted forth their names to the
uttermost parts of the earth. Yet who
will say that they are not more deserv-
ing of wide repute than many who are
remembered for acts from which no
rich fruits have come to bless man.
kind? 1t was a grand sentiment that
stirred these four prisoners of war; it
was equally as noble a reciprocal feel
ing that led those into whose hands
the deStinies of war had cast them, to
not only permit them to continue their
society by such means but to show
brotherly interest and approval and
lend aid in so generous and so manly
a fashion.
Such an incident speaks volumes
for the innate nobility of those
Whn rfininafad in Tho tn
pulses of the soul lifted them above the
brutalizing influences of civil
war, swept aside the crust
of enmity that had grown up
during the fratricidaI~ strife. and re-
vealed the true worth of those who fig
ured in it. Some day that anniversary
gathering at Sunbury should be per-
petuated by a master hand in endur-
ing colors. Hung at Bethesda, such
painting could we'll be termed an
apotheosis of charity.
The part played by these four pa
triots in the perpetuation of the So
ciety was formally recognized in 1888,
when, at the anniversary dinner the
following sentiment was offered by
Samuel B. Parkman and adopted as
one of the regular todsts of the So
ciety:
''The memory of Mordecai Sheftall.
Josiah Powell, John Martin and John
Stirk, who preserved the existence of
this society, with all it's rights and
privileges, by holding regular meetings
and keeping the anniversaries of the
society for three years. while detained
prisoners of war at Sunbury."
When this toast commemorative of
their services fell into disuse is not
known. 1t has been many years since
the old custom was followed. It's re-
newal at the next anniversary would
be fitting tribute to deeds the MEM
DRY of which should be freshened on
every natal day.
Fifty-one years ago, on the centen-
NAL anniversary of the society april
%, 1850 Mrs. Perla Sheftall Solomons,
a descendant of Benjamin Sheftall, and
daughter of DR.. Moses Sheftall, presi-
dent in 1915, presented to it beautiful
box made from the oak tree under
whose shade this memorable meeting
was held. 1t was accepted as pre-
cious memorial of the patriotism and
benevolence of the small but noble
band whose devotion to this society
was only strengthened and brought in
to more active exercise by their glor-
ious struggle for their liberties and
honor, and by the calamities of cap
tivity." Mordecai Sheftall continued
member of the society for upwards of
forty, years, until his death on July T.
1897.
The change in Whitefields plans for
Bethesda may have, in part, grown out
of the existence of the Union Society,
just as those changes designed in the
future of the orphanage may
have served to stimulate the
interest of the members of the
society in the parentless and led
to the adoption of more vigorous meas
ures to provide for them. The condi-
ton of Bethesda after independence
had been obtained the realization that
as an orphanage but little could be eX-
pected from it for many years, would
naturally have suggested to the direct
ing spirits of the Union Society the
necessity of putting their work on a
solid basis, of laying foundations on
which they could build for all time. 1t
is reasonable to suppose that there
were many orphans in the community
and the country surrounding it. Sa-
vannah had felt the devastating. hand
of war. Many of it's households had
given UP their fathers and sons in the
cause of liberty. In others, manned
veterans, bereft of the power to labor.
found their children dependent on pub
lie aid for an education, If not for
maintenance. ITO comfort the widow
and care for the fatherless," was duty
not apt to be shirked by those who
had survived the struggle and We're to
share in the new era of prosperity the
city was about to enter upon. Those
who had been first in the battle for
freedom were also first in the prepare
lions to meet subsequent circumstances
that called for prompt action. The
bravest are the most open handed in
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