The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-15
OUR HEROES
Beautiful and Loyal Me
mortal Service at Oak
dale Sunday
A FINE SERMON
Was Delivered by DIR. Blackwell and
Was Heard by MISUNDERSTANDING
and other Organizations were
Present-I Was n Solemn But
Grand Observance.

Nothing maTred the observance OF
Memorial Day IN Wilmington Sunday.
The weather. mic it was feared would
D. Indictment. was most ideal and the
programme Of exercises was carried
out perfectly. The attendance was ex-
ce-dingIy large and the street cars
were taxed 10 their Utmost. just before
and after the celebration.
The scene. as always. was Oakdale
cemetery and there the different organ
izsttIons. which took a part in the
snort parade, assembled and at 4;3O
o'clock formed in procession and
marched from the lodge to the Confed-
craze lot. where, under the shadow of
the handsome bronze statue of the hero
who wore the gray. which has stood
a silent sentry of owe and memory
these many years, The beautiful and
impressive ceremony was presented in
all Of its sacredness ana grandeur.
The procession from the cemetery
lodge to the lot was headed by the Will
mington Light Infantry and Naval Re
serves and moved in slow and silent
time TO the mufied beat Of the drum.
while the cemetery bell toIled out in
solemn tones When the lot was reach
Cd these two military organizations
halted and opened ranks, through which
there passed the fast thinning corps Of
~, c1r,-L1.rlyr s~--,or+oI L1-+ +L- TO-
federate Veterans-the Daughters Of the
Confederacy, the Sons of Veterans and
the orator n mis- escort.
The service c--ened with a fervent and
heart-appeaI;rs prayer by Rev. Rich
ard W. Hole, rector of St. James
Episcopal c! Jrch, followed by the sing
ing Of the -eautiful hymn There Is a
Blessed Home" The chief marshal.
Mr.. J.. II Boatwright. under whose
direction he ceremony was observed,
intrOduC | the OratOr and in doing so
paid n i a strong tribute, concluding
by a ag that it gave him unbounded.
pleasU.e to introduce the distinguished
scholar and Christian gentlemar-Rev.
Calvin S. Blackwell, D. D.
Dr. Blackwell delivered one of the
most eloquent and logical addresses ever
heard. 1t was really e memorial SER
mon and vas a literary gem Of the
purest kind After ScripturaI reading
from the first chapter of job ne said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: The. worlds
history develops in concentric circles.
Much of the Bible is history in parable.
The book and life of Job is an epitome
OF something much like the history and
experienc, OF the south-its pastoral
and pair. .rchical peace, prosperity. in
doIeuce, -.agedy. ruin. devastation. re
sus-itatio- ana final triumphant pros
Perity-
Job, with generous heart. high sense
OF honor, immense possessions of lands.
f1Ocks and suggests the old
south. He and his ITed close TO the
heart Of nature. far from the rush and
roar Of the madding throng. Nature
contributed much to mould the spirit
and manner of the southern home. The
subtle witchery OF woods and water
owe into the fabric Of southern life,
a soft but strong texture. There is
something in the whi- o. wheels of Il
mechanical environment. that thrusts
harshness into the spirit and even
voice Of 4 people. which was unknown
~ ne OAu SOubH- liz LIlNA IIlAE VI
waves and moan of pines taught the !
southern babe OF cabin and mansion
70 lisp its first words in the liquid ac-
cents The friendly bay CT dogs; the !
low Of kline: the glee of servants; the
sport Of children; the song of birds:
the breath OF flowers: made the scene
patriarchiaI and pastoral as in the
first chapter of job. The elder south
vas at first energetic and strenuous. |
telling forests. fighting savages. bridg-
:rG ditching swamps But
with the Invention of the cotton gin
the purchase of the Florida and LOuis;- !
an territory. the conquest of Mexico
with The addition of the DOMAIN Of
Texas. the south became satisfied with
her priceless empire Of unEaraIed
proiuccivenesS. That hour the cid
south ceased to progress. h vas
content 10 live il ease and opulence.
This marked the end Of her first glor:-
Gus epoch and the beginning of her
ruin.
There came a time in Jobs life ana
affairs when il ceased TO be progress
siv@an epoch of satisfied aim and am
bItl'n- His fields were ample: his
Hocks covered a thousand hills; his
servants We're numerous: his children
happy ana provided with opuIence: his
heart vas content. being in favor with
God and good men. Job was uncon-
cerned as 10 the problems OF the world
He was seIf-satisfied and seIf-centred.
He asked only 10 be let alone 10 enjoy
himself. He had enough within him.
self. It was but natural that a hush
Of arrested progress should come into
his life. But stagnation has its dan
gers. Satan always seeks his victims1
among the idle and satisfied. 1t was
at this period that Satan looked upon
Job and envied him and sought to
EInite him.
IN the old south from 40 to ,6n a