The Washington times., 1902-12-26
CHURCH DIVIDED OVER
WINNIE DAVIS TABLET
Idea Suggested by Southern
Women.
ADVERSE COMMENT MADE
Pastor Would Have Bronze Placed in
Philadelphia Church-Meeting
to Settle Question.

PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 26.-Adverse
comment on the proposition TO place
memorial tablet 70 Winnie Davis, Jef-
ferson Davis daughter--"the Daughter
OF the Confederacy' the Grace Bap-
tist Temple. Broad and Bcrks Streets,
has developed such opposition that
church meeting. az which the matter
will be discussed. will be held on Mon
day night. It viii then be decided 10y
the 5000 members OF the congregation
whether the tablet shall be erected.
Memorial tablets have been a part
Of the decorations of the temple. the
last one erected being TO the memory
OF President Mckinley The Winnie
Davis tablet was the suggestion Of some
Southern women. who had agreed TO
raise $500 for a bronze piece. some
Northern women. unprejudiced in their
political faith. lent aid to the move
ment Dr. Russell II. Conwell. the pas
tor ofsthe temple, approved Of it. and
the project was announced from the pull
Dit five weeks ago. There was then no
objection 20 it
It was said that the tablet would have
paid tribute to the nobility and lofty
character OF Miss Davis, but the thought
that reference would De made TO her
interest I'm the Confederacy, o. which
her father was President. provoked
criticism. The Philadelphia Chapter OF
the Daughters Of the Confederacy ap-
proved OF The plan. but from the South,
from Maine and from Dakota Dr. Con-
well received letters Of protest as we'll
as Of approval
G. A. R. Men Divided.
Grand Army men were divided in their
opinion Northern prejudice against the
South was quickened in the church and
outside.
Dr. ConwelI said last night:
THE controversy over this question
magnifes 1t beyond it's deserts. Person
ally 7 have no objection whatever 10 the
insertion OF a modest. chaste tablet 10
Miss Davis The issues Of 1861 ought 10
be settled beyond controversy now. We
have come through the prejudice. hatred.
and misunderstanding to a united couu-
try. and 20 a fraternal agreement that
we will give both Union aud Confederate
soldier The fair credit o. fighting brayciy
for what he believed was right and ev-
cry man who does that is entitled 20 the
respect OF all brave men. and no Amer
lean need be ashamed az him Both tho
South and the North had many noble
men In their armies wao now are claim
ed by all 70 be noble Americans.
MISC Davis, when I met her, seemed
% be a most refined and womanly wO-
man; and she is said 10 have been con-
tinu0usly engaged I'm generous deeds. All
my prejudice as a Northern soldier faded
away in her presence. I cannot forbear
20 add that the manly acceptance Of de
feat by the Southern men and their sin
ccre return 10 loyalty and labor. amid
poverty and defeat. was one OF the most
noble and most singular events in the
history Of any people. Their social po-
sition among the blacks forcibly over
turned. their homes ruined and their
cause defeated they took the shame and
loss in a brave spirit equaled on few
battiehelds. But their industry and en-
terprise. made necessary by their power
ty. have developed q race in the South Of
self-reiiant intelligent and patriotic
people which must make them soon a
leading force IN our nation.
No Cause for Shame.
The frequent visitor TO the Southern
States must recognize the fact that an
honest. hospltable. skilled and thinking
race ls now covering the ruined South
with unexampIed progress and enter
prise The name OF typical Southern
woman. or Of a Southern man. is moth
ing 10 be ashamed Of on the walls Of any
church.
"The ungraceful fling In the declara-
tion that the costly tablet now en- the
church 90 President Nc Kinley suggests
az once that that noble man would have
objected 10 the name Of Jefferson Davis
daughter being near him is an assump-
tlon that IS too foolish 20 heed. Presi-
deut Mckinley had no such prejudice.
Some of our patriotic soldiers oppose
the insertion of the memorial for diff
fercnt reasons. but the majority we have
heard from favor the idea as being one
OF the last acts in cemorting the brother
ly union for which they fought.
For myself. I am heartily IN favor
~ So"