The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-08-20

L
and his native State. When the Texan
Revolution broke out we find him on the
staff of Gen Sam Houston, and for gal
lantry before the enemy promoted TO the
rank of Captain
Henry s. Rennolds wAs another son OF
Sthreehey Rennolds. He studiei medi-
cine frat az the University Of Virginia
and later at the University of Pennsyl'
vania, whence he graduated with highest
honors. He married, for his frat wife,
Miss Smith, OF one of the oldest families
of Philadelphia, and for his second wife,
Mary Keene, whose family dates back 20
the very fret families of Maryland. Al
though physician, that love OF military
life still fingered in his breast. and in 1888
he received the appointment OF assistant
surgeon In the navy. lie rose to the
highest rank then possible for surgeon,
that of Captain, aud wRs retired in 1888
on account OF i'll health, brought about
by study and hard work. His widow
still survives him.
Robert Beale RsDnolds was the young
est son of Sthreshley Rennolds. He, too,
like his older brother, took up medicine,
and graduated with the highest honors
from the University of Pennsylvania.
lie became one OF the leading physicians
of Essex county, prscticing for some
time at LloJds, and becoming the reg
ular physician of your oldest families
the Hunters, Gsrnetts, Beverleys, War
ngs, Bay lors and Others. He later on
became the leading physician OF FTeder-
ckebuTg, where he wooed and won the
beautiful Miss Gordon, OF one OF the best
and most famous families OF Virginia.
Unlike the rest of his brothers, he vases
sentially man OF peace.
Albert Rennolds was the son OF OtwRy
and the grandson o. Sthreshley R,nnolds.
He began life by following in the mill
tary footsteps of his foreiAthers, and was
in his senior year at the Virginia Mill
tary Institute when the Civil War
broke out. lmbued with that OLD spirit
Oi Independence, our sweetest legacy
from the Fathers of the Revolution. and
filed with the love Of his native state, he
gave his heart, his hand, and his all to
the Confederate cause. Ia the Seven
Dsys' fight, at the age of twenty one. he
wAs given the rank of Captain a. a re-
ward for galantry in action. Ia Lees
famous retreat from Richmond 10 Apo
mRttOx he was given the most important
command OF portion of tine rear
guard. After the war he returned to his
home and set himself 90 overcome and
90 teach his felloWmen to overc Jme the
great diff ,utieH that beset all the people
OF the South, but especially the noble
people Of Virginia You people vi Essex
knew him, you trusted him you had con-
lidence In him and he served you in many
capacities. He fought your chill Iren, he
surveyed your lands, he became Com
mAnder OF the Wright-Latane Camp,
United Confederate Veterans, and Chair
man of the Pension Board In all, his
ambition was to do his duty towards
you, to do it entirely and well
For those ancestors whose names we
present to you today, your honor, we
do not claim any startling deeds of hero
lem. for them we do not claim any work
that revolutiOnzed the world, but we
can point to them with pride because
they were types of the real Virginia gen !
tlemRn, because in war they were brave
soldiers, because in peace they were pa |
triotic citizens; in all they were eIem-
plary Christians. We point 20 them as
men who In their own way have contri- |
buted TO make their country stronger, '
and have, without OstentatiOn, without
heralding their deeds and virtues, done ,
tEeir part to make their fellOwman bet |
ter; we point to them as men who were |
willing, nay eager, at all times in war
and in peace. in adversely and In pros '
perity, to do thtir duty and to do it
well; we point to them as men filed with 4,
those lofty sentiments, noble aspirations,
upright principles and high ideals that
make the world better world, that
make its men better men.
We do not claim that we are necessa.
rIly better men simply and solely because
we are descendants OF those men and can
boast OF an ancestry as old as any in the :
United States. Thank God, each man 10
our country stands on his own individ.
ual merits. In the words OF Mrs Pryor,
"a Just democracy, ecornful OF hOnOrs
not self won, pays it's tribute 20 the
man, the woman, the deed, and yet the
insignia of a worthy name handed down
from generation TO generation, and held
I'D as an incentive to integrity and
worthy living, may we'll be cherished.
An honorable ancestry is q gift OF God
and should be 80 regarded by those who
claim it,
No, your honor, no man OF any worth
can fold his arms and rest on the merits
OF his ancestors; no man OF any worth
can be proud Of his ancestors unless they
were men OF Drawn, energy and brains,
unless men Of upright principles and in.
tegrity of life but the man who from
generation to generation Ia descended
from ioreiathers OF Drawn, energy and
brains has a handicap over his fellow
man who ls less favored. Oi him much
more Is expected by his country az well
Az his GOD. ITO HON much is given
much ia expected" and instead Of being
filled with unrighteous pride and foolish
vanity he must look to those ancestors
as guiding stars, and his struggle in life
must be not merely to equal them and
keep up the good name, but to surpess
them, aud make the nAme better and
greater.
May every RennOlds be imbued with
this spirit. May they ever emulate the
good example set them by their fore
fathers, may they ever be found striving
with energy and good will to do their
duty to their fellowman, to their country
and their God. May they ever be brave
in war, patriotic In peace, and may their
sole ambition for publicity be, living, al.
WAYS to enjoy the confidence and trust
OF their community, and, dead, to have
their names engraved on tablets In the
hearts Of their own people.
Hon, c. Conway. Baker Common
wealth's Attorney, of Westmoreland, was
then introduced and received the tablet
on behalf OF the county and camp In one
OF bis happiest efforts. This closed the frat
part OF the program.
CROSSES OF HONOR.
The distribution Of sixty'Aye crosses OF