The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-31
MEMORIAL DAY
 FUR COMPANY G Annual Exercises Held At Oak
 Hill Cemetery CHAS. E. RICE THE ORAT0h Pays Touching Tribute to Sergeant Phillip Nicely Finch--Exercises Always Held Last Sunday
 In August.
CHAS. E. RICE THE ORATOR

Company G of the Third regiment, Ala bama National Guard, held it's annual memorial services at Oak Hill cemetery yesterday afternoon to pay tribute to it's deceased members. In accordance with the long custom of the Jefferson Volun- teers these memorial exercises are held annually on the last Sunday in August. The orator was Charles D. Rice and he said in part:
 "Captain Gregory, Comrades, Ladies and
 Gentlemen:
 "In accordance with the time-honored and beautiful custom the Jefferson Vol unteers have assembled to honor the memory of a comrade who was true to every trust, and who, when the sum- mons came, was found at his post of duty
 "From the days of childhood we have been taught to honor the memory of those who served their country. We de- light to recount the daring deeds of our fathers and to dwell upon their virtues. This is we'll, for in recounting the deeds of the good and great we catch their spirit, and crystalize in our own lives the ennobling principles that inspired them It matters not whether they served their country in the stately halls of Congress or clad iu the uniform we love gave their lives to protect the na- tion's honor, or to defend the principles for which she stands. It matters not whether they commanded an army, a reg iment or a squad; 1t Is sufficient If they performed their duty. And so, ladies and gentlemen, we are here not so much to recount heroic deeds of battle as to honor the patriotism of the Volunteers of '98. .
 ''When the President of these United States called for volunteers a million men offered their services. The men of this republic forgot there was a north or south, and remembered only that they were American citizens. Among the first to respond were the Jefferson Volunteers. They mustered hundred strong. h. structed and inspired by that most eff cient drill master, that patriotic soldier, that gentleman whom we love, Capt. Hughes B. Kennedy, the Jefferson Vol unteers soon became a most proficient company. Iris true they did not leave the United States, but they were not less patriotic than those brave soldiers who followed Alabama's gallant Wheeler at Santiago. They were the sons of the men who wore the blue and the gray; they were commanded by that noble Vir- ginian, that fearless Confederate cavalry man, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, who learned the art of war in the University of Battle, under the greatest captain of his age.
 Tribute to Sergeant Finch.
 Many of our noble band have already crosses the river. We are here to honor their memory, and especially him who fell at his post, the brave, the generous, the manly Philip Nicely Finch.
 Sergeant Finch was a man of con- victions, a man of character. His cour- age was of that type which dares to do the right He looked upon veracity and honesty as the root of all that Is sublime in character. His simple trust in these cardinal virtues simplfed all questions
 
 the great principles of right. This was the basis of his courage in the discharge of his every duty. With him truth was better than falsehood honesty bet ter than policy, courage better than cow ardice.' Today we bear testimony to his manly virtues, to his life whose crowning glory was unfaltering courage ,,,,t,. .,1xI
 ed the rich jewel modesty and sought the approval of his own conscience his opinions were coined in the mint of an honest purpose, he acted upon the prin- ciples of truth and honor, he was known by the aristocracy of his upright man. hood. Mis- manhood was imperial, for his patriotic soul clothed 1t with a grand eur that rags could not have reduced to beggary. Ills life was simple, as it was good. In social intercourse he was affa- ble, considerate and just. His affection ate solicitude for the happiness and com fort of his mother was beautiful in its tenderness
 Ten years have passed since we laid him in this silent city of the dead. He died in the service of his country before manhood's morning reached it's noon. while on his brow fell the golden dawn ing of a grander day. My memory car ries me back to that bright May morn Ing, when this city rose up as one man to say goodbye and breathe a prayer for her sons who that day left loved ones to go where duty called them. They went not for ithe spells of war. but to avenge their countrymen; they went not to seek vain glory but to rescue a help less people who cried to them for belp As their cry rose to heaven, Sergeant Finch looked upon a faded jacket he gazed on a dented sword and a rusted musket, and those holy relies of his father fired his young heart with patriotism Who does not remember him as he looked when into his hands the women of Rir- mingham placed the Stars and Stripes to protect and defend. which was his highest ambition. Handsome silken ban ner, every stitch of which represented a woman's blessing and whose every thread was sanctioned by her praye and tears.
 Last Words.
 "But not nany months passed before him whom we loved and trusted most was ordered to stack his gun and answer roll call on the battlements above. For days we watched him tenderly. and when at last he was released from his post we wrapped him in the Stars and Stripes, the loving hands Of his comrades bore him here to rest and Alabama's daugh- ters sanctified this his resting place with their tears. He went to his last long