The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-19
DR.. w. I. McCIelLiOn
Writes of the Confederate
ReUf1iOn At Washington

the next Oklahoma meeting. This
is sad. But natural since there is
but one pathway of entrance and
egress across Gods earth-the one
leading from cradle to a grave-we
are all walking there in hating steps
deaf ears. dimmed eyes, and shaking
nerves. all cluster and cling as nat
, ural products to our tree of human
life. These natural infirmities are
apart and parcel of every life sooner
or later if life fingers into the lap
of old age.
But the unnatural dwarfting, blight
ing infrmity, man-made, and man.
perpetuated of selfishness was so
preemminent and prominent at camp.
specifically, as well as more or less
where. 1t was painful for me to be-
hold
But there was another man-made
infirmity, less general and thank God
confined to minority. Still it was
there revealed and revolving. Drunk
enness. 1t is too sad for tears. While
putting our best foot foremost before
an entertaining critical Washington
American brotherhood, some alas.
took steps never to be again taken
and placed stain and stigma on the
Old Confederate reputation which it
will take many days if ever at all,
to efface and dissocrate the weak de-
grading infrmity from the patriotic
soldier.
But readers, desist 1t is still my
plan and purpose before another
years annual assembling at Okla.
homa to do all l can through our
organ "The Veteran" by pointing out
, as | do now, these man-made infirm-
tiles, selfishness and drunkenness,
hoping in some way or some degree
to aid others more able and more
responsible than | am in removing or
at least mitigating these dwarfing,
, weakening avoidable intirmities so as
and aid and perpetuate transmitted
heirloom to the sons to be observed
somewhat as memorial custom in
place subordinate but like the Lords
Supper in Shrist's church.
Just here | will not say there were
mo sons" of Veterans in the parade
For the, parade itself to measure
was failure as to any positive in
struction, printed or oral sufficient
to guide many of us to any specific
point and order of march. Had
there been rallying flag, band, etc,
designating each states assigned or
der and place in the parade there
would not have been Confusion con-
founded This headless. feature in
camp parade and even in conven-
ton proceedings produced meas
ured confusion confounded", and if
the sons of Veterans marched l did
not see them as distinct division
This was exceedingly unfortunate.
think
Now for this reunion use the
article this designatly. You and
others who read my two former arti-
cles on Richmond and Birmingham
former reunins, will no doubt recall
and perhaps question the propriety or
utility of prominent perhaps pre-
s"mptuous, even egotistic feature of
them, as being criticism, verging on
faulttinding. So | repeat | use the
article this" designately. from selec-
tive choice. Why? Not because
this Washington reunion was unique
as reformed perfection, above or un-
like former ones, when studied COM
paritively beside those former ones
as to many painful faults. and as
more confusion at camp and an ut
ter want of system together with a
painful selfishness, preemminent and
prominent at camp specifically and
more or less generally among Old
Vets and their social touching while
there. 1t seems poor. frail human
nature developes vices some rooted
in and out of virtue. How? A pain.
full segotistic assumptions attitude 81
am it all and no more. being an Old
Vet. This assured because these