Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-10-01

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70 the address Of welcome to the Uni-
ted Daughters of the Confederacy at
their annual session here. 1t was de-
livered by Miss Virginia Ferguson Me-
Dowell, of Bluefeld, w. Va:
Lawson Bolts Chapter, Veterans, Sons
| Of Veterans. and People Of Charles
Town:
We thank you for your cordial and
very gracious greeting. your kind
words Of encouragement. and of cheer,
50 generously eviDcing your under
standing and appreciation of. your par
ticipation in the beautiful ideals, the
steadfast purpose, the high endeavor
of our beloved order. We are glad and
proud indeed that it is our privilege to-
day to gather in beautiful Charles
Town, with it's wealth of historic 1850
Citations, its treasured memories of
brave, true men and noble women who
through generation after generation
since the founding of the Old Dominion
have with so lofty standard of patri-
otism, truth and righteousness, so
Dravely and steadfastly sought to make
manifest and real their beautiful ideal
by word, by deed, by living of life or
the laying 1t down as Fate or Duty
babe. 1t is our hope and belief that
our convention here may give US new
inspiration, new enthusiasm, new de-
Yotion to the work which we as United
Daughters of the Confederacy have
essay ed.
1t is no idle, meaningless task; no
futile, aimless uu iertaking for which
we have banded ourselves together. to
which we and our sisters throughout
the length aud breadth of the land have
given. and shall give such earnest, low
ing effort, but real. constructive work
which we eardestly hope and trust
shall result in good to this and coming
generations, which shall add some
thing to the progress of our people.
Far be it from US to be guilty of one
word or deed which might engender or
perpetuate sectionalism 1t is with no
feeling of bitterness in our hearts that
we meet fran time to time to render
our tribute of reverence to the heroes
and heroines of the South and the prin
ciples by which they lived and for
which they died. While we view
aghast the titanic, terrific struggle
which Is CONFUSING half the world to-
day. while millions of men are offering
their lives upon the affairs of their
countries, and millions of wonfen and
children are bearing their share of
wars inevitable horrors. we thank
God for the peace that blesses our be-
loved country oand for the community
Eof patriotism which binds us by SO
strong and dear tie. Knowing from
the one-time devastation of our beau
tiful Southland and the sacrifice of the
flower of her chivalry and the awful
ness of the consequences of war, we
breathe a, heartfelt prayer that the
Prince of Peace may bid the mighty
conflict cease and that His divine pow
er and a!l-encompassing love may. in
place of the awful strife, youchsafe to
the world abiding peace.
It is with no spirit of bitterness, but
in all love and loyalty that we pay our
i tribute to our honored dead.
Fair were their visions! Oh, they
/ were as grand
AS ever foated out of Fairyland;
Children we're they in single faith,
i But God-like children, whom no
death
Nor threat, no danger drove from hon :
or's pa.h,
In the land where they were dream
ing"
Today the whole world delights 10
pay them reverence. It is for us to
whom their memory is sacred herit-
age, to celebrate their noble spirit,
their dauntless courage, their devotion
to home and country; as proven not
only upon a hard fought battlefield,
but in the long. hard struggle of the
years that followed when from the
wreck of homes and fortunes they
bravely and steadfastly laborec, often
with shattered health, to build the
New South. Surely it is our privilege
to honor them and to perpetuate the
history of their valor and their worth
and to give to the world faithful rec.
ord of their lives and deeds This is 8
well-worth-whlle part Of our work
!. but it is but part. While we esteem
it privilege to rear monuments to the
memory of our dead and to write their
story for the world to read, we must
esteem 1t no less high privilege and
duty to care for, to minister to the
needs of each veteran who looks to us
J for solace and comfort in their old age,
i their poverty, their infrmity, their
desolation. Few are they in number
HVWt anu growing FEWER ana Ieeplel
year by year, and as life and strength
ebb. need of comfort for the body and
the soul grows ever greater Daugh-
tiers of the Confederacy! Shall we fail
in our dutysto the humblest, the most
obscure of them? | trust not. For SO
indeed should we prove recreant to the
trust bequeathed to US by those whl
gave us being, false 10 the ideals they
gave US, unworthy of our heritage Of
|, honor. Rather let US strive this year
and every year to care more tenderly
and faithfully for these wards of ours