Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-11
WITHIN THE TOWN.

vicinity Sunday night. II was general
ly quite acceptable.
Rev. ]. Lowrie Wilson, for many
years pastor Of Bethesda, and well
known not only in Yorkville, but
throughout the county, preached In
the First Presbyterian church last
Sunday morning and evening to large
congregations. His sermons were
very much enjoyed by all who heard
them.
Rev. Oliver Johnson, D. D., OF
Winnsboro, who was recently elected
to the pastorate Of the Associate Re-
formed church by unanimous vote OF
the congregation, has declined the can
1t was the purpose OF the congregation
to give him. The declination came In
letter that was read to the Sabbath
school Sunday morning. In the letter
DIR. johnson made 1t clear that the mat
ter had given him much concern. He
found himself in the position Of being
urged by conflicting desires-one to
come to Yorkville, and the other to re-
main with the people OF Winnsboro,
and he had at last decided that he could
not make change. Though very much
disappointed, the Yorkville congrega-
ton has the utmost respect for DR..
Johnson's decision and will now take
up anew the problem Of securing pas
tor.
There was rather more interest
than usual in the observance OF Memo
rial Day In Yorkville yesterday morn
ing under the auspices of the Winnie
Davis Chapter U. D. C.. Quite a mum.
ber of people from the country united
with the town people, and including the
school children, the assemblage filled
the graded school auditorium to its
capacity. Mayor John r. Hart pre-
sided. After music by the Yorkville
Cornet band under the leadership OF
Sheriff Brown, the exercises were open
ed with an appropriate invocation by
Rev. E. E. Gillespie, pastor Of the First
Presbyterian church, following which
the school sung Dixie in most cred
liable manner The address Of the oc-
casion was delivered by the Rev. DR.. j.
Lowrie Wilson, a one-legged veteran,
formerly Of Bethesda, but now or AD-
beville. He choose for his subject the
life and character Of Jefferson Davis,
the president of the Confederacy, and
in the course Of an admirable address,
held that great man up as the really
most remarkable figure Of the ter
rible tragedy. He called attention to
the fact that there Is a tendency now
a-days to lose sight Of Davis In the
consideration Of Lee, Jackson, Lincoln,
Grant, etc., but he made 1t clear that IN
brains, patriotism, craftsmanship and
achievement, Davis was inferior to no
other great man Of the period. He es-
pecially pointed out the great things
Davis was able to accomplish with
means that were sadly limited, how he
met every emergency and arose to
every opportunity, and how at the end
he suffered so unjuStly In Fortress
Monroe, and for years received on his
own devoted head the villifcation and
abuse that numerous enemies sought
to hurl at the south. DR.. Wilson con-
ceded that Lincoln was a great man;
but he insisted that he was not the
superior of Davis from any standpoint.
He asserted most positively too, that
slavery was only q contributing cause
Of the war along with other things, and
expressed doubt as to whether the
northern people today have a reason
ably accurate conception Of the real
cause. 1.-The north fought for senti-
ment," declared the speaker, "and the
south fought for principle. We camped
outside the union and they camped out
side the constitution" His address was
listened to with close and sympathetic
attention throughout. The first mention
Of the name Of Jefferson Davis ELECTED
q spontaneous outburst of applause, and
the cheers and handclapping at the
close of the address were warm and
generous. After DR.. Wilson's address,
a quartette consisting of Misses Paul
inc Gwaltney and Margaret Hart, and
Messrs. John G.. Barnwell and Robert
Love rendered, Just Before the Battle,
Mother" to piano accompaniment by
Mrs. Barnwell. The next number on
the programme was the reading by
Miss Margaret Hart of a pretty little
poem by Rev. DR.. Wilson, THE South
ron's Farewell to Liberty" After this,
Crosses of Honor were presented to
Veterans James Davidson and William
Whitaker. Then was read the report
Of the Yorkville Cemetery association
and the roll Of the Confederate dead
buried in the two cemeteries, after
which the assemblage repaired to the
cemeteries and placed wreaths and
other floral tokens on each grave that
had been previously marked by Con-
federate flag. The exercises Of the day
passed off pleasantly and smoothly
throughout. and all the participants
went away glad that they had been
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