Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-11-04
CAMP GETS PORTRAIT
Of REV. Or. FINLEY

Gallant Soldier And Faith
full Clergyman at an impress
sive Meeting of The Stone
wall Jackson Camp of Con-
federate Veterans
SThe family of the late Rev. DR.. George
Wilson Finley, Tuesday presented to
Stonewall Jackson Camp OF Confede-
rate. Veterans life-like portrait of
DR.. Finley. a past commander of the
camp. Tue presentation exercises took
place in the camp hall and were attend
ed by probably the greatest number OF
persons ever assembled in the hall.
The regular business OF the camp was
suspended for the presentation and
unveiling exercises. Commander Mi
nor presided A feature Of the meet
ing was the singing of the "Bonnie
Blue Flag by the entire audience.
After the singing of two very swest
solos by Miss Helen Bond, who was
accompanied by Mrs. W. s Elder, Cap
tain Thomas D. Ransom presented the
portrait to the camp. paying an elO-
q uent and fitting tribute to mis- old
,omrade, who, as he truly said,
lived in the light of day
Ellis life was an open book" Capt.
Ransom said" and on every page was
found love and loyalty to church and
state and family and friend. "He gave
q brief outline of DR.. Finlev's career,
told OF his valorons service for the Con.
federacy. of his suffering as prisoner
of war, he being one Of the 600 Con-
federate officers, prisoners of war, who
were, urder, pretext of retaliation,
exposed to the. fire Of the Confederate
batteries in Charleston harbor in 1864,
with a standing offer of release te
those vino would give mp the Southern
cause. Capt. Ransom then out
lined his friends splendid work in
the ministry. "He was power in
the pulpit and in the councils OF his
church. It is not for man to measure
the good accomplished by the Ifs
work of an earnest consecIated minis.
ter. Truly he was living epistle,
known and read of all men, and in
many mind and heart the influence
Of his life survives him.
"And now, leaving as he did,a largs
and devoted family circle, his children
arise up and call him blessed.
"And knowing how his heart went
out to this camp, and feeling sure that
its members will cherish his memory,
his household is confiding this por-
trait, living likeness OF the man, to
your keeping.
In closing Captain Ransom paid this
beautiful tribute '..Men living and
lying as George Finley lived and
lied, are in Gods economy, not lost
20 humanity They perish not. They
leave us immortal characters on which
change and decay can never come.
Nor shall they be forgot
While Fame, her record keeps. 80
In ACCEPTING the portrait on behalf
Of the camp Capt. James Bumgardnel
also eulogized his friend and comrade
Every word that fell from his lips, y
he said land every step of his daily
life as so in accord with his sacred
1uties as q minister of the church,
that bis simple entrance into our camp
loom was benediction, and his pres.
snce an inspiration to follow his pre-.
cepts and initiate his example. 4"
He spoke feelinRly OF the beauty Of
DR.. Finley's character and of his gal
liant service in the war, closing thus:
"Opinions may differ as to whether
or not the cause for which Dr.. Finley
fought, as soldier under Lee, was
lost but in the contest he waged as a
soldier of the Gloss, wherein he
fought the good fight there can be nc
divided opinion, we know that he ID
victorious and triumphant.
At the conclusion OF these exercises
business was. resumed and tine min.
ntes OF the previous meeting read and
approved. Comrade OK. Zirkle, who
was delegate to the Confederate re.
union. held recently in Norfolk, said
that at that meeting Mr.. St1bbs. who
was a>delegate to the last legislature
from Gloucester, said that law az
passed allowing the county supervis-
ors to levy tax Of cents on every
800, which sum should be used a. q
pension for the Confederate soldiers
and that, as far as he knew, his county
was the only one which had taken ad.
vantage of this law. Mr.. Zirkle sng
gsetad that the supervisors of Augusta
county be asked to look into the mat
ter.
Captain H. Clay Niche who was
with DR.. Finley at the Battle OF Get
tysburg made few brief remarks EN-.
phasizing the valor of his comrade.
NJ onticeuo, N. Y. Oct. 30. Shortly
after being pronounced man and wife
yesterday. by Rev. J. j. Billingsley,