The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-11-10
HONOR WORTHILY BESTOWED.
Pleasing Incident of Late Session, u.
d. G. In Rocky yMount-Presentati
of Gold Badge to nrs. w. M. Pars-
ley. of Wilmington, Organizer of
The North Carolina Division.
Washington IN. c. News.

W N0h'bH DOh w t.J -Ne"k
At the meeting of the United
Daughters of the COnfederacy, held
in Rocky Mount recently an honor
was most worthiIy bestowed, one
that should be cause for just pride
to every loyal Daughter in the North
Carolina Division. when they pre-
sented to Mrs William Parsley, of
Wilmington, the organizer of the
! Daughters of the Confederacy in
North Carolina, a beautiful gold
badge in recognition of her loving
service.
The badge has a bar with the
initials 'E Fl. Pr in pearls, from
which is suspended a laurel wreath in
the center of which, on gold back
ground, is the Confederate flag com
posed of pearls and rubies, the blue
field of sapphires the stars of dia-
mOnds. On the reverse side is en-
graved:
"To our beloved mother and
organizer, from the N. c. D., Z. d. c.,
Oct. 13, 1910"
The State president, Mrs. Fannie
Ransom Williams, read the following
speech at the presentation Of the
badge:
"Daughters of the North Carolina
Divison:
"Will you for a few moments, go
with me back in memory to those
days that tried mems souls, that
made heroes of these men and yet
greater heroes of the women. Twas
a day in 1862; the scOurge of dis
ease and pestilence lay over the city,
where dWelt a proud young couple,
to whom all was Joy and sunshine,
for they had that day plighted their
troth to each other; she a maiden,
yet in her teens. he a brave and noble
young man. But the clouds of war
gathered faster and faster. His State
needed his services, so with breaking
heart, though smiling lips, this fair
young bride bnde her husband go
forth to battle for the right.
ga few brief visits home to bright
en- the lives of the lonely wife and her
tiny babes. The dark day at Apo
mattox was approaching and the
little remnant of that long grey line
would soon return. to their firesides,
and their families. But the Master
yet needed a few more of the South's
grand heroes, and one day in the
fight around Petersburg, this young
hero, now bearing the title Ofcolonel
laid down his life upon his country's
altar.
Ozark days of sorrow and fight
with poverty ensued for that young
widow and her babes, but with it al
she yet found time and heart to aiC
those weary, heartsore men who haC
fought beneath the Stars and Bars.
"TO aid them in sickness and dis
tress, and to cover with earth's fair
fairest blossoms the silent resting
places ofmen who wore the grey, wa'
to her ever one oflife's greatest pleas
ures.
! "About 1888 there came the news
of the organization of the first chap
ter of the Confederacy. The caus
, for which this chapter was to do an(
2 dare appealed to the eager heart o
! this noble woman, and she persuaded
the Memorial Association OF her ma
! tive town to become the third chap
ter of this geat organization.
"By 1886 several chapters had beer
formed in the State, and this sam
7 leader called them together in tn
+ city Of Wilmington, and there form
y ed the North Carolina Division OF tn
e Daughters OF the Confederacy.
From that day to this, our frien'
:, and organizer has ever stood read.
0 to aid in every good work for tn
;, Confederate cause.
"Time and again she has been tn
head of the banner chapter in th
State.
"Tous one and all, she is tender
loving mother. Her ear is ever read
/ to listen to her Daughters call 10
= assistance. To many OF us she is we