The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-06-16

tuition specifically provided tina the
discussion Of religious or political
subjects or any political action shall
not be permitted within the
ton Of the Cnirtd Confederate Vet
a and any camp. hivouac or as
Sociation that will have acted IN VIC
lation Of this article shall be declared
to have forfeited its membership IN
this organization"
Being oldlers themselves and fun
of memories Of the war the plan of
organization Of the association was
naturally military. There were To Ice
a commander-in-chief. departments.
divisions, camps. The selection II
Gen. John Il. Gordon, then governor
of Georgia, one Of the most splendid
figures CT ali the Confederate armies.
to be commander in chief Of the new
organization was particularly fortu-
nate, for ne AT once threw behind h
movement the whole force Of his mag
netic personality. In the address.
which was published far and wide
accepting the honor and responsibility,
ne discussed the + OF the or
ganization with an ~eloquence and
patriotism that appealed powerfully
TO the veterans who wore the gray
and at the same time disarmed op-
position. Among other notable ut
eraEceS he made were these:
You realize the great truth that
a people without the memories of he
role suffering and sacrifices are a peo-
pie without a history. To cherish
such memories and recall such a past,
whether crowned with success or CON
secrated with defeat. is to idealiZe
principle and strength of character,
intensity love of country and con
yer defeat and disaster into pillars of
support for future and no
bic WomanhoOd. Whether the South
ern people under their changed CON
ditions may ever hope to witness an
other civilization which shall equal
that which began with their Wash
ington and ended with their Lee
their glorious past is not only the
surest guarantee of future
and the hottest bond of unity, but
is also the strongest claim they car
present to the confidence and respecI
of the other sections of the Union
Success Was Assured From the Yer.
First.
The success Of the association wa,
assured from the outset. Camps mul
tlpiied and h annual reunions be
came events Of surprising intereS
throughout the South. It's foremos
cities became Eager rivals for the pres
) ence of the assembled heroes Of tn
sixties and each eXerted itself to ex
tend a welcome of such impreSsiv,
SAAA ttStSA as WodIo til1 III
dying love and Veneration for tn
SCARED survivors Of a heroic epoch
Te reunions became great social gath
eringS where the flower of the Made
beauty Of Dixie, attended by hundred
Of its foremost matronS, repaired t
pay tribute by their presence to tn
= battalions in faded gray.
AS Commander in Chief b. +
Young truly declares: Here an
= there criticisms have roDpe out {
the onso and matrOns of homo
and of the music, balls and other er
: t~ertainnlents which mark these grea
reunions. Confederate reunions al
:, never real business meetings but the
: are great social events from which tn
spirit of loyalty to the memories {
. the South permeateS every part {
the territory of h Confederate state
= from the tidewater of Virginia to tn
far western boundaries of the gres
e state of Texas. Not only those VIII
attended the reunions, but those VIII
heard accounts of these wOnderfl
= gatherings, were touched with magn
ficent memories of scenes of the SOutl
and thus there grew up this marvelo,
organization with its vast numbers
camps in all parts of h land, WI
stories which made Southern manhoS
and w~omanhOOd SO attractive an
S charming to the world
: WORLDS BIGGEST DANDY.