The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-15
APPEAL FOR ORGANIZATION.
Sons of Confederate Veterans Seek
to Revive Interest i'm Order,

| United Sons of Confederate Veter-
ans. Headquarters South Carolina
Division.
| Lexington, :. G.
To the Sons OF Confederate Veterans:
| Comrades: At meeting Of a spe-
cial committee. appointed by the
South Carolina Division United Sons
of Confederate Veterans, which was
held in Columbia June Sd, the under
signed were appointed a sub-com-
mittee to prepare an address to
those In South Caroline who have
the right to join the organization
known as United Sons Of Confed-
crate Veterans"
| All male persons are eligible to
membership in this order who are
themselves Of good moral character
and who are the direct descendants
of men who were regularly enrolled
in the army or the navy Of the Con-
federate States OF America, and who
were killed or died in the service, or
were honOrably discharged there
from. or who served to the end of
the war.
It seems that 1t should not be nec-
essary to urge upon one, whose an
cestors had a part In the glorious
record for courage, endurance and
patriotic devotion to duty made by
the soldiers and sailors Of the Con-
federacy. the duty to join an organi-
zation designed to perpetuate the
story Of their heroic deeds, and to
preserve for the future historian the
information upon which shall be
predicated a truthful history Of the
motives which led them to war, and
Of their conduct In the prosecution
Of that war. The Society Of Cincin-
natl. the Sons Of the Revolution, the
Aztec Club. and similar organizations
are designed to perpetuate the men,
Ory Of those who served their coun-
try In the cause Of freedom, and the
maintenance OF the honor and in
tegrity Of the government. Mem
bership In these organizations has
come to be q badge Of honor, much
sought after by those entitled to 1t.
The day will come! Aye. it has al
ready come. when to be known as
a son Of a Confederate veteran is a
distinction which brings the proud
blood to the cheeks Of him who may
claim 1t. As the years go by and the
world knows more and more Of the
marvellous history Of the greatest
armies that ever fought under any
banner. this distinction becomes more
and more honorable. Is It not then
a simple duty OF those who inherit
the fame Of the Confederate soldier
to take all necessary steps to per.
petuate that fame, and to do honor
to his name?
1t has been determined to organize
a central camp to be known as
Camp South Carolina. United Sons
Of Confederate Veterans. so that
those who live in communities where
no local camps are established may
Join this general camp. Indeed, any
one may join it. 1t is desired that
there shall be a grand revival Of in
terest In this order and that at the
reunion which Is to be held in
Greenville August Sth there shall be
great gathering Of the Sons Of
Veterans. To this end we earnestly
urge the organization Of local camps
and the reorganization of those
which have been allowed to fall into
a condition Of DISCRIMINATION. II
1t be impossible to organize or re-
organize these camps, then let all
Sons Of Veterans join the central
camp, Camp South Carolina: but
above all, let there be a great out
pouring Of the Sons Of Veterans at
Greenville, whether they be members
Of any camp or not.
Comrades. shall we call in vain?
Shall we appeal in vain to your
pride Of ancestry? To the veneration
for your forefathers? To your ad-
miration for courage, fortitude and
devotion to duty? Are you unmind-
full OF the wonderful heritage If
honor and glory which is yours, and
are you unmindful Of the sublimity
Of the duty which devolves upon you
to perpetuate the fame Of those who
won this undying honor? We do not
believe 1t. We have faith that the
spirit which made your sires illus
trious as, patriotic soldiers, as he
roes, burns and lives in your breasts
and will manifest itself in the de-