The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-01
Memorial Day,

Editor Of The Times:
Sir,-Dr. Laadon Mason. In his admir-
able sermon preached in the All-Saints'
Church last Sunday afternoon at the
request of the Hollywood Memorial AS
!soclation. dwelt largely on duty, the ad-
vantages to be derived from it's strict
performance, both to the doer and the
receiver. and it's absolute necessity to
preserve concord and harmony in the
economy OF this present life. If but q
single star In the remote heavens We're
to fall to perform Its allotted task, con-
fusion and chaos would come again
Such undertaking performance is neces-
sary not only in the great affairs OF life
which come to few men, but in the sim
pie, ordinary occurrences, which concern
the great majority of us.
To illustrate his subject, the Doctor
cited the examples of two young men, in
after years famous in the annals Of
their country, which he presented for our
admiration and tmitation-one of them
OF humble parentage. with few advan-
tages of birth or fortune, but with
strong will and determined perseverance,
and the fixed purpose to do his whole
duty in every relation Of life, and never
faltered in that purpose, whether as
sheriff in the mountains Of West Vir-
GINA. and an unknown cadet exposed to
Font, or on the battlefelds of Mexico.
or in later times flashing like a meteor
across the armament, he astonished the
world by his genius. and closed his bril-
liant career amid the lamentations of
his countrymen and will be forever r,-
membered as General (StonewalD Jack
son.
The other Of conspicuous position bless
ed with fortune and an honorable name
a nd CT 1oy1x- Nfyao
often accompany high station, so that his
Industrious father in one of his letters
writes. Robert is always good and at
home so obedient and attentive that when
he went TO vest Point his mother Iamented
the loss of a daughter as well as a son:
exact and faithful as a cadet III the per-
formance Of every duty, whether in the
mess hall, the parade ground or in his
academic studies-perhaps the most brill
liant soldier who acted we'll his part in
our army in Mexico. and by. his extra
ordinary achievements In later life. Cen
eral Lee is firmly esta blished and uni
Versally recognized as one Of the great
est, if not the very greatest, military
commanders OF ancient or of modern
times.
To further show how this patriotic
feeling pervaded all classes Of our peo-
pie, the Doctor mentioned an incident in
AAia soW1 LIE, Wucl rs b. 10Y at school
and wishing to join the army and fearing
the opposition. Of his mother he was
gratifed and delighted to receive her ready
consent with the admonition, go, nv
son, and do your duty
This feeling. the Doctor declared, was
universal among our people, they are
prepared and determined to make eyery
sacrifice, even of life itself, in defense of
their rights and chief and most impor-
tant was their hereditary and inalienabie
right of local elf-government-the right
of a minority to protect itself against an
arrogant and aggressive majority The
Doctor ridiculed and denounced the cl1arse
SO often and SO pertina ciously brought
against US by. the Northern people that
the war was undertaken and maintained
by the South to perpetuate African slav-
cry.
There never was greater fallacy,.'
said the Doctor, 'or a more baseIess ac-
cusation. OF the eight millions of in
habitants Of the Southern States, there
were only three hundred thousand owners
Of slaves and volun tary ma numission had
been going on quietly and peacefully for
many years until arrested by the violent
and illegal proceedings OF the Abolltion-
lists OF the North. The General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia was the first legislative
body to sound the alarm and to inaugu-
rate measures to prohibit the slave trade,
which was continued against their earnest
protest and remonstrance by the avari-
7cious New Englanders, aided aud abetted