Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1906-05-19
Decoration Day at SouIe Chapel.

set apart by tie people of Soule Chape
for the purpose Of decorating the grave
in Soule Chapel Cemetery. Religious
services are held, a basket dinner /,
provided and the day is occasion OF
a reunion Of those who have relatives
and friends buried in this historic spot
So far as we know the people of that
neishborhood are pioneers in this
movement, and their example might
well be followed in every community
where there is a common burying
ground The drcariest and saddest
spot on earth is a neglected grave yard
This year the tenth Of this month
was appointed memorial day. and the
writer was present according t. his us
ual custom. Religious services were
conducted by Rev. Mr., Zwingle, of
Brooksvile. Mr. Zwingle's sermon
was altogether worthy Of the day, and
| am sure all who heard it must have
been fired with the desire to reach out
and strive after the high ideal so force
fully held up before them.
The committee appointed to attend
to the chief business of the day had
discharged their duties in a manner
which left nothing to be desired The
grounds had been beautifully cleaned
all the shrubbery tastefully trimmed,
and every grave was decorated. Itwas
a goodly sight, and we like to think up
on these evidences of loving remem
brance Of the dead All of our citi-
zens should feel grateful to the people
of Soule Chapel for their care of this
cemetery, All of us must needs feel
an interest in this spot where so many
men and women prominent in the his
tory of our county have been laid to
rest. Any attempt to call names would
be invidious and time and space forbid
my offering a complete list.
But must not neglect to mention
the dinner, If not the leading feature
Of the day,it proved quite an important
one The undersigned has been eating
dinners at Sonle Chapel for more years
than he cares to count, and he has new
er partaken of one which was not of the
very best. So when he tells you that
both as to quality and quantity this
dinner was altogether what one might
expect Of Soule Chapel, you will under
stand, that he pays high compliment
to the dinner | believe several such
crowds as we're present could have been
fed without eXhausting the bountful re-
past provided by these generous peo.
pie. A day among such hospitable
people is certainly day to be enjoyed,
and l am sure every visitor present will
agree with me in saying that this day
was one long to be remembered with
pleasure,
After a short intermission the asso-
citation was called together and the
committee made its report showing that
all expenses had been met and nice
cash balance remained on hand The
que ton of having a well bored has
been agitatedand the committee was in
sfructed to look further into the matter,
and report upon its feasibility at the
next annual meeting. This matter is a
very important one, and every one con-
nected with the association, Should be
willing TO contribute literally to it.
MANY who have loved ones buried there
live at a distance and do not have the
trouble connected with repairs, cleaning
up and all the things necessary to keep
this place in the manner it is, would
doubtless be glad of the Opportunity Of
showing to the people of the neighbour
hood their appreciation of their work Of
love. by contributing to this worthy
object, if the opportunity were given
them
am 10th to quit myssubject, as l am
always 10th to bid adieu to my friends
there on these occasions. To me this is
a sacred and hallowed spot Many Of
the dearest friends of my life repose
within its silent precincts, and the peo,.
pie are my people, for among them my
life from youth to manhood was spent
They have ever honored me above my
deserts, and can only hope that have
to some extent met their expectations
From the earliest settlement of the
neighborhood, this church was part Of
the Brooksville circuit, but now belongs
to the Crawford circuit, This change
was thought necessary by the authori-
ties of the NJ. +. Church South, in the
readjustment Of the churches, so as to
elevate Brooksville toa station, This
writer as we'll as the people there de-
plores the severing of ties that reach so
far in the past, not because the minis
tiers sent there are not among the very
best men in the conference. but be-
cause of the hallowed ties that bound us
together, and we feel that some other
arrangement might have been made.
This article would be incomplete if
failed to mention the efforts of my long
time friend Rev. Mr. Babb, to make
every one have good time. The meet
ing again of this man. of God and his
good wife was one of the most pleasant
episodes of the occasion. Such gem
crosby and hospltaltycannot be sur
passed, and the writer expects as long
as he is in the flesh and able to attend.
never to miss one of these reunions
WALTER PRICE,