The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-10
VETERANS CELEBRATE
SOLEMN OBSERVATION OF ANNI- VERsARY OF LEES SURRENDER.
Pathetic Scene in Rooms of CaTup Lo- max Where Fifty old Soldiers Gathered to Hear Mir. Am
 drew Speak.

Camp I.omax United Confederate Veterans yesterday observed the anni- versary of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House on April ', 1865, with solemn religious services.
 The services took place in the office os Judge J. B. Fuller. commander of the camp, on Court Street at 3:So o'clock in the afternoon, and were att tended by over fifty old Confederates.
 It was a remarkable occasion. this gathering of veterans of one of the hloodiest wars of modern times. It had been announced that Rev. J. O. Andrew of Gadsden, a Methodist min ister and a soldier of the Confederacy of great valor, and member of the local camp, would deliver a sermon. The old soldiers came to hear ser- mon but they expected no such sermon as they heard. MT. Andrew talked to them not as a preacher. but as com rade, and during his remarks he was unable to control his feelings, several times breaking into tears. Through out his discourse, there was not a dry eye in the room, the grizzled old war riors weeping as only men of great courage and great character can weep
 Commander Fuller presided over the meeting. Captain Clifford A. Lanier led in prayer. In eloquent metaphor he invoked the blessings of the Great Captain on the old soldiers in their last hours. He prayed that the vet erans and their descendants should forever remain true to the principles of the South and that they should al- ways have the same patriotism for the reunited country.
 The old soldiers sang T Am a Sol Gnfr n nd vor.
 Rev. George E. Brewer. a member of the camp, read from Hebrews, the verses in reference to the lsraelite leaders, who without the promises of God. foresaw His goodness and had faith.
 The members of the camp then sang Jesus Lover of My Soul"
 Commander Fuller said that he had hoped that the camp would have the pleasure of hearing sermon from Rev. J. O. Andrew, a member of the camp and MT. Andrew had come to Montgomery for that purpose. He had, however, been i'll throughout the cay but contrary to advice had left his sick room to join with his comrades.
 MT, Andrew arose feebly. His voice was weak from natural causes and emotion. He said that some of the happiest moments of his life had been spent in the rooms of Camp Lomax and he was always glad to be with his comrades. On account of his poor health he would be unable to speak at any length but he wanted to draw the comparison between the Israelttes, who. without the promises of God, had faith in His Goodness and the soldiers of the Confederacy, who. without promises of reward, believed tn their cause and fought a good light.
 This is the anniversary of the day., he said, when we laid down our old smooth bore guns and" but the speaker could go no further. His eyes roamed over the room and he saw the gray-headed veterans in front of him.
 Boys" he cried, when we laid down those old smooth bores, we had to do it, but when we did 1t. 1t ended the career of the noblest and greatest man in history"
 All pretenses of formality were thrown aside. In few heartfelt words Mir. Andrew told the veterans that their hoary heads spoke to him that they were, not long on earth, and he pleaded with them to endeavor to preserve the customs and the civiliEa- tion of the old South. He urged them to fight with the same courage Tor the cross with which they fought for the stars and bars.
 If you do that" he concluded. when death comes. it will be as a good nights rest after a long and bloody fight and you will be the eter- nal Victors. God bless you"
 At the close of the remarks of MT. Andrew, the old soldiers formed a circle and while they sang God Be With You Till We Meet Again. they grasped each others hands.