The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-25
The Newr of Selma.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma. Anril al

Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma. April A
 After a meeting of the Selma Chapter O. the United Daughters of the Confed- eracy this morning. the examination of ed by several members of the Chapter, and the new society has the duty of mak. ing arrangements for the Memorial exs ercises.
 The new association decided that the ceremonies should occur at o'clock on Sunday afternoon. as previously planned. The original program was changed. and 1t was decided that the exercises should consist only of prayer and song services and the decoration of the graves of the
 The ire department will not be in att tendance, and the seiv.ce will probably te marked by extreme simplicity. The agy sSs ssutes W sy Ss rsd w
 Mrs. Frank Brown was elected Presi- dent of the Memorial Association. and Mrs. Fannie Cahle. Secretary. There are about ten members Of the Association: Daughters of the Confed sracy also Every care will be taken to have the ceremo- nies as beautiful and impressive as pos- sible.
 The Ministers' Conference of Selma Immediately made protest against holding the services on Sunday, as it had pre- viously done. Its members met in the study of Rev. A. A. Little. pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, aud adopted
 we, the members of the Miniatere' Conference, express our profound regret that the Memorial Association has de- termined to hold its exercises on the spiritual affairs of this people. we had respectfully requested the selection of some other day; and now that the re- quest has been ignored. we feel it our duty to enter our solemn protest against the purposes of the sabbth. on the fol- lowing grounds:
 "First-The Word of God declares that this day Is to be spent in public and pri. vate exercises of Divine worship. except SO much as is to be taken in works of necessity and mercy.
 "TLis service Is not an act of wor' ship. but a matter Of patriotism. It is not necessary. as some other day would do as well. It is not an act of mercy, for mercy pertains to the living and not to the dead
 "second-we believe, further this eeie- bration on the Sabbath day does httle not willing to sacrifice our business or our pleasure on other days, for this pur- pose,
 'On these and other grounds that might be mentioned. we have been impelled by serve, to take this action and urge oui congregations to stand by the sanctity
 "J. L. Gross, President. w. P. Hurt, ''J. B. Nelson, "W. T. Swain, "A, A. Little, 'T. R. Best, Secretary" C. W. Hooper has declined to act al | marshall at Memorial exercises held or | Sunday, and his refusal to act in this | capacity has been generally discussed and | is regarded as an important factor ir the chaotic condition of the years ob | servance of Memorial Day" MT. Hooper was interviewed this morn ing by a representative of The Adver tiser upon the reasons which prompted him to resign the honor awarded him | He said:
 T am asked what harm can find in { quiet, orderly procession of patriotic men women and children marching througi Sne'I and pns sS owsrs % h.Peon Ges nGs n so emn and proper reverence for the da, and for the cause the dead represent.
 T have no adverse criticism to mak' of such a service as this; but this is no the kind of parade was requested t, marshal on the Sabbath day. was fur | nished with such a program as is usuall, carried out on Memorial Day. including the n arching of military companies ani I htC hCPNi thtOhtt tiC OL Buub the blast of trumpets and brass bands and so forth. When the date of the pa rade was changed from Saturday to Sun day, there vas no change of program service you editors speak of came ou after I declined to act as marshal, ac cording to the program furnished. | w hat as.onishes me is that any on, one who had for thirty years been al elder and the son of an elder in the Pres byterian. Church could act otherwise thai have done.
 The Memorial Association issued tn, following program of exercises for Sun day afternoon:
 America"
 Opening prayer.
 'Nearer. My God, To Thee" Memorial Address. R. H. Mangum. Decking of soldiers graves with flowers Prayer. Hon. E. g. Starr; God Be With You Till We Nee Again" all others that the American peopl' should respect and honor. The prope observance of 1t more than of any on' thing else will tend to keep our count<! | free and independent.
 Did we fight on Sunday? Yes, sir I hope I did my duty on Sunday. as hope I did on every other day during l the four years of war; but times of wal and times of peace are different" In speaking of his service for the Con- federacy, MT. Hooper said:
 T was under Lee and Jackson for over two years. and during the remainder o the war I was with General Forrest. Il my loyalty to the Confederate Cause 1; douoted I will show you a letter received by my company from General Forres and signed by his hand
 The letter mentioned by MT. Hsoper is one complimenting in the highest term: him and the company he commanded for their bravery and efficiency in th' service.
 The military companies of Selma have been invited to take part in the exer- cises, which will be at o'clock. The procession to the cemetery will start from the corner of Dallas and Mabry Street.
 Camp Jones of Confederate Veterans met tonight and formally accepted an in- vitation from the Memorial Association to attend the memorial exercises in a body. The invitation was conveyed to the members of the camp bv a committee consisting of Mrs. NJ. R. Jarvis. Mrs. F. NJ. Byrne and Mrs. l. R. Eskew. F. s, Starr was elected marshal with Major D. M. Scott and J. T. Knowlen as aids
 A resolution was passed that Com