The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-01
3oLD BLANFoRD CHURCH, IN
WHICH THE PENSACOLA LADIES'
MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION Is
INTERESTED

ASSOCIATION Is
INTERESTED.
The Ladies' Memorial Association of
Petersburg, Virginia, needs no intro
auction to those whom this article
- designed to reach, but 1t will not be
y miss to make some explanation of
he work the Association has under
4aken, and that 1t has accomplished
u the past three years.
Il TO the east of Petersburg stands his
,pric old Blandford Church, a fitting
entinel over the graves Of more than
Peenty thousand Confederate soldiers.
Hpresenting every Southern State. In
n1M view of the great battlefield
reund Petersburg, it stood in the line
III fire during ten long months, close
behind the ConfederateS intrench-
IAents; it witnessed Grants bloody as
nult on June, 1854, and the fierce re-
pulse Of the Federal troops at the
exploslon Of the Crater. and was in
fnh view Of the brilliant charge or
G0rdon's gallant corps upon Fort
stsdman. almost the last expiring
struggle of the Confederacy.
Tine Ladies' Memorial Association
obtained possession of the church, or
which only the walls and roofs were
intact, and decided to restore the In
ferior and use it for a mortuary chap
el, and to carry out the idea of a me-
State to put in a window, in memory
Of their dead who lie in sight of the
lvy-clad walls of the old church; these
windows to follow one general design.
kns Indicated in former circular, that
Is, at the top, the coat Of arms Of the
Htate contributing the window, in the
nentre, the figure of one OF the apos-
eles, and a suitable inscription at the
Bottom. The cost of each window 10
s40O, and the various Memorial AS
sociations, Camps OF Confederate Vet
erans, Sons of the Confederacy and
Daughters Of the Confederacy, and
kindred commemorative associations
khroughout the south, will cooperate
with the Petersburg Memorial Asso-
citation and start a popular subscrip-
tion to raise $400. the sum necessary
80 defray the cost of putting In d
Memorial Window for each state.
Virginia and Missouri were the first
8tate to respond to the appeal sent
but by the Ladies' Memorial Associa-
ton, and their example was quickly
followed by the Washington Artillery
OF London. These three beautiful
window were put in place in May,
1904, and unveiled with impressive
ceremonies, in the presence of vast
throng, on June 9Th, our local Memo
rial Day.
The interior of the church has been
so far restored that it has been posi-
Bile to use it for funeral services on
several occasions. 1t Is hoped to have
the work OF restoration completed at
an early date, with pews and pulpit
in place, provision made for heating
in the winter. and the present plain
glass windows replaced by the memo
rial windows from the remaining
states; thus making Of old Blandford
Church an enduring and practical me-
mortal to our lost cause and its he
roes. A representative Of Tiffany &
Co, says when the work is completed
this memorial chapel will be the most
beautiful antique in America
1t is earnestly hoped that this ap-
peal will meet with a prompt response
as 1t is important that the work be
pushed to completion.
1t Is recommepded that the organi-
cations OF each state appoint q State
Treasurer, to whom these contribu-
tons should be sent; the treasurer.
in turn, RENTING to
MRS. LOUIS L. MARKS.
President OF the Ladies' Memorial
Association, Petersgury, Virginia.