The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-05-13

rest and abide upon this fair oouthland
in al especial manner, and upon all
peoples and all nations everywhere
Mr.J.E Hendrix, the silver tongued
orator CT Camp Stsadman, was then
introduced and read from manuscript
some we'll timed remarks on the 80
lemDity of the occasion, as we'll as
brief review of the experience OF the
Confederate soldier on the battlefield
surrounded by the din or battle, the
carnage of strife, the sbrieks of the
dying, the groans of the wounded
and the yells of the victorious.
Just here it may be we'll to men
t;on that the music throughout the
ceremonies was furnished by the
Lexington Brass Band, and during
the afternoon Confederate airs were
given. The band boys were hiehl'
complimented on their proficiency
and are thanked foc their generosity
in making no charges for their ap'
preciated services.
The orator of the day, Hon. A. F.
Lover vas then introduced and
came forward amid prolonged sp
plause. We shall not attempt to
follow "The Boy Orator of the
Broad" in his magnificent effort and
grandly eloquent sddress. Suffice
to say that he was at his best and
his burning elcquence and fights of
oratory swayed the audience in re-
epopsive unison with bis moods and
moved many an eye to tesrs. His
leading thought was that memorial
exercises, as observed by the women
of the South, were not intended to
open the scars which had been scared
over by the hand of time and cause
the old wounds to bleed afresh, but
to honor the memory of the sleepio g
heroes who had laid down their lives
in defense of Constitutional liberty
and who bad sealed their loyalty to
principle and duty with their life's
blood. He extolled the virtues, the
bravery, the gallantry and the chivalry
of the Confederate soldier, and de.
clsred in most emphatic terms thatthe
record made in that unequal war by
the men and boys who fought under
the shadow of the Stars and Bars
is unparalleled in either sacred or
profane history, and what is more
glorious still the fame of the South
ern Confederacy had never been tarn-
ished by the breath of scandal. He
paid glowing tribute to the self
sacrificing devotion and uuqueEchable
patriotism of the women of the
South who inspired their loved ones
TO deeds Of valor and acts of cbivelry.
On account of the illness of Col.
J. Brooks WiDgsrd, WIDOWS on the
programme to represent Camp M. D.
Harman, Sons of Veterans, he was
prevented from responding to his
name and Msior Fl. A. Meetze was
substituted. The Major confined his
impromptu remarks in recounting
the deeds of heroism of the women
of the South during the memorable
struggle for State Rights, and Of their
sacred duty to care for the graves of
those who had fallen in the perform
ance of duty.
Committee Of ladies were appoint
ed to visit the private graveyards
and decorate the graves of the soldiers
who sleep in them.
This concluded the ceremonies in
the court house and the procession
was then formed, headed by the Lex,
ington Brass Band, and the march
to St. Stephen cemetery, the beau
tiful City of the Dead, was then COM
menced in the following order: The
Veterans, the Sons OF Veterans, the
children, the general public and the
| ladies, lead by Madams Rosa Meetze
and Scottie Harman, surviving mem
bers of the old Monumental Associa,
tion, bringing up the rear.
IN orrivipo ar tho cemoterv the