The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-05-13
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES
WERE HELD HERE SATURDAY,
Under the Auspices of the Daughters of the Corfed
eracy Annual Tribute is Paid the Memory of
Honored Dead. Address by Mr. McSwain.

in Laurens last Saturday, May 8. The
principal exercises of the day were
held in the city opera house under the
auspices Of J. B. Kershaw Chapter,
| United Daughters of the Confederacy,
and concluded at the city cemetery,
followed by bountiful dinner which
was served for the benefit of all vete-
rams present. The programme of exer-
cises included the annual address, popu-
lar war songs, appropriate music and
the decoration of soldiers graves.
Veterans and their sons and daugh-
ters were here from all parts of the
county to pay tribute to the memory of
the honored dead and when the exer-
cises were opened the opera house was
well filled, the audience containing q
large number of children, some of
| whom participated in the ceremonies.
| Hon. G. G. Featherstone presided and
| presented the Rev. Chas. F. Rankin,
pastor of the First Presbyterian church,
who opened the exercises with beau
| tiful invocation. This was followed
with song, Bonnie Blue Flag" by a
select choir from the graded school;
recitation by Miss Gertrude Wright;
musical solo by Miss Louise Copeland;
''Tenting on the Old Camp Ground To-
night" by male quartet.
In appropriate remarks Mr.. Feather
stone then introduced Hon. John j.
McSwain, of Greenville, who delivered
a most eloquent grafton, paying splen-
did tribute to the valor of the Confed-
crate soldiers, living and dead, and to
the devotion Of the Daughters and Sons
in commemorating the achievement of
those who have joined the silent ma
jority and of those yet spared to us.
1t was beautiful address, portion of
which appears below. Mr.. McSw&in i3
native of Cross Hill, this county, and
most worthy and prominent son of
distinguished Confederate soldier.
After the address Mrs. Jas. H. Boyd
sang very sweetly "Our Boys in Gray"
which was followed by committee of
young ladies' pinning crosses of honor
on number Of veterans. Benediction
by the Rev. j. d. Crout, pastor of the
First Methodist church.
Forming in line the assemblage,
| headed by the veterans and followed by
citizens and school children, marched
to the city cemetery, where, after the
roll call of the honored dead whose
ashes repose within the "silent city"
by Capt. John M. Hudgens, the children
were delegated to decorate the graves
and that OF Union soldier who sleeps
under the same sod.
Returning to the city bountiful din
ner was served all the veterans over
the Palmetto Drug store, one hundred
and seventy-fve of the "boys" as they
liked to be called on these occasions,
partaking Of the dinner which had been
provided by their hostesses, the u. D.
G.. s Of Laurens.
Later in the afternoon the honored
guests of the day were entertained at
the opera house for an hour or more by
a special performance given by Mana
ger Roman as a courtesy to the vcte-
rams. This courtesy as well as all other
attentions shown them during the day
were greatly enjoyed and appreciated
Out of respect to the occasion the
county dispensary closed from a. m.
to p. m.
Mr.. McSwain said in part: at is well
TO remember: To-day is the child of
yesterday. Nothing in the past is dead
to the man who would know how the
present came to be what it is. We
have gathered to rehearse great chap
term American history. We have come
not here to sing proud peans to tri-
umphant cause. This gathering is not
prompted by any hope of reward, and
the strength of the memorial organiza-
tions here represented consists not in
the cohesion Of plumber. Rather are
we knit into solidarity by the sinews of
sorrow and bound by the cables of ca
lamity.
But sometimes, on occasions of this
kind, we hear the carping voice of dis
sent, asking the reason for keeping
alive the memories Of that terrific time
of blood and carnage. They tell us that
'"Ihe fields forget the battles fought,
The trenches wave with golden grain;
Shall we forget the lessons taught,
And tear afresh the wounds again."
They tell us that all over our reunited
country the old flag of Washington is