The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-27
CONFEDERATES PAY
 TRIBUTE ID DEAD Exercises at First Methodist Church and at Cemetery FINE SPEECHES DELIVERED Col. w. H. Denson and Commander MeNutt speak-orislnal Poems
 Are Read at church--Mhi-
 tary In Parade.
FINE SPEECHES DELIVERED

Camp Clayton. Sons of Confederate Vet erans, and the Daughters of the Confed- eracy, celebrated Memorial day yester- day by exercises at the First Methodist church and also at Oak Hill cemetery, where the graves of the Confederate dead were decorated with evergreens and flowers
 The church was filled when Chaplain Wells, who was chairman of the commit tee on arrangements, stated in 1ew words that they were gathered together to pay tribute to the Confederate dead and he asked the Rev. c. B. Riddick' D. D., to open the convention with pray er This was followed by old southern songs sung by the members of Pelham chapter, U. D. C., and by the members of the Seventh grade of Powell school which formed the school children's chorus.
 Commander McNutt.
 Hugh McNutt. commander of Camp Clayton, Sons of Confederate Veterans, made the address of the afternoon at the church. He was eloquent and tears stood in the eyes of many as they heard his
 
 and died for the south in the memorable struggle of '6165.
 MT. McNutt eulogized the southern sol dier, paying tribute to the generals, the officers and finally to the private of whom he spoke as being the ideal soldier of the world. A man fighting for right and justice and not for bloodshed and theft
 In conclusion he spoke of the last of the veterans. He pictured the last sur vivor on his death bed. and painted a picture which caused tears to flow down the eyes of the people gathered. He spoke of the memories which the sons and daughters would have all their lives of those who fought and died in the'great war, and said that they had a heritage of mighty deeds and great men such as the young men of no country in the world had ever had.
 Poems Read.
 Mrs. Purnell read an original poem eulogistic of the southern soldier and his brave deeds. She spoke of the suffer- ing they experienced and the many trials through which the armies went, fight ing against odds, tattered and hungry, for the cause they held most dear. Pel- ham chapter sang, Maryland, My Maryland" and this was followed by the school children's chorus in My Country 'Tis of Thee"
 o. T. Dozier read long original poem on the southern soldier, mentioning the names of many of the generals and brave officers who fell in the various battles, and also dwelling at length on the private soldier of the Confederacy.
 The Parade.
 After the exercises at the church a line of march was formed and proceeded to Oak Hill cemetery. Brig. Gen. John W. Bush was marshal, and Capt. J. T. Yeat- man was in command of the battalion of National Guards. The battalion was composed of the Jefferson Volunteers un- der Captain Yeatman, the Birmingham Rifles under command of Lieutenant Francis, Company A under Captain Evans, and Troop D under Captain Me- Crossn. About 100 veterans were in the line of march and went to the cemetery. There were possibly 1500 people in the cemetery, although it was a bad after noon and the weather was threatening Vehicles were furnished for the ladies and special cars were in waiting to carry the crowd to the cemetery.
 Colonel Denson.
 Colonel Densons speech at the ceme- tery was purely an extemporaneous ef- fort, but the enthusiasm which its pathos produced on the large audience showed the glfted orator understands how to meet the demands of an occasion and the most successful way of thrilling an audience.
 He said the Confederate soldier was unique character. He stood isolated and alone in all the tide of time. There is no of the race-he stands wrapped in the solitude of his own originality"
 He is the only man that ever went to battle to determine an economic ques- ton. He rsked his property. He imperiled his life. He suffered hardships and depri- vations. of which the army of Valley Forge never conceived and lost all save his honor. He has verified the truth of the statement that patriotism and heroism in their last analysis is but sacrifice.
 Then again." said Colonel Denson, "this same Confederate soldier, different from all others, in the tide of time, be- reft of all his property, with a benevo- lence and charity surpassed only by his heroic valor. pays millions each year to the sufferers from his unerring bullets. The conduct of the Confederate veteran in this outstrips for noble humanity and love of thy neighbor.' the acts of the Good Samaritan of scripture"
 ''The Confederate soldier" said the orator, "has nothing for which to apolo- gize, and if we were to attempt to make such apology, pensioners on us from Maine to California would rise up en masse and implore us to withdraw the apology"