The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-05-03
DEMONSTRATION
OF PRIDE GIVEN
DEPARTING men
MAURY COUNTY DOES FITTING
HONOR TO INCREMENT OF 35
sELEcTMEN FOR ARMY.
Elks FORM LONG PROCESSION
Officials of Draft Give Men Fine
Words of AdmcnItion and Praise
Before They Leave for Service
Great Crowd at Station.

Led by the splendid organization OF
the Elks lodge Columbia gave to the
35 departing selected soldiers who
left Saturday afternoon at $40
O'Clock just such farewell as these
brave men deserved. No other incre-
ment of selectmen has been given as
complete and impressive demonstra-
ton on their departure as were the
men who formed this first increment
of the second draft call. This was
due to the efforts OF the Elk lodge
under the leadership of Judge L. z.
Turpin, exalted ruler, and T. E. Dug.
ger, secretary.
All Of the selectmen, eleven OF
whom were members of the Elks
lodge, assembled in the lodge hall at
O'clock, where they weer given in
structions, checked their baggage and
made all preliminary arrangements
for their departure. After being di-
vided into squads they were given
their credentials and organized for
the trip to Camp Jackson, Columbia,
| S. c., where they have been modified
with other selectmen from Tennessee.
Speaking as the governments rep
resentative in the selection of men
for the draft, Hon. w. j. Webster
feelingly told the young men that this
county feels proud of them and the
part they are to play in the great
war 70 rthe preservation of the prin-
ciples Of democracy and Christianity.
He told them that dis county expects
them to do as the Frenchmen on KEN
mel hill did-to figlt to death before
surrendering, that it was a greater
honor to die on the field of battle for
a righteous cause than to be spared
from the service of their country His
words were applauded alike by the
men who were to leave and the
friends who Lad gathered to tell them
goodbye.
On behalf of the Local Board, Dr.
H. A. Cant addressed the men in a
most patriotic talk in which he adj
monished them to always preserve un-
stained tho honor of their land, to
bear themselves as men in every par
ticular, whether or the field of bat
tie or in the camps of America and
France. DR.. Cant said that in select
ing these men the board had exer-
cisetI the greatest fairness in their
power and that not a word of criti-
cism had been heard from the men,
who had accepted the call with smiles
on their faces and an evidence of
eagerness to get into the fight. He
praised the men as having been
found mentally, morally and physical
ly fit for service and said that their
station in life was more to be envied
than that of the poor fellows who had
been rejected either because of men,
tai, moral or physical unfitness. He
told them that their ancestors had
established a glorious heritage for
them on the battle fields of America
and that he knew they would sustain
that heritage in all it's glory. Especial
ly impressive was his Ammunition that
they always keep the fear of God be-
fore them and to remember that in
the fiercest conflict and the most try
ing moments the power OF God is with
the cause of right-which cause they
will be fighting for.
Following the talks by these Off
Gals the men under command of Ed
ridge Denham formed at the head of
the procession of Elks on West
Seventh street in front of the club
house, from which point they marched
to the square and down South Main
street to the station. Fully It's Elks
were in the procession, accompanied
by the Columbia Military Academy
band playing martial airs, and a ne
gro drum squad beating time in the
rear The Elks' service flag with 30
stars was borne with pride at the
head of the procession by the side of
the Star Spansled Banner. Many auto
mobiles and pedestrians joined the
procession behind the Elks, and at
the station a crowd estimated at from
1000 to 5000 persons had gathered
to give the men q rousing send off"
At the station the Elks gave cheers
for "the boys" and sang songs of
patriotism. Personal farewells were
said by the men and with the cheers
of the great throng ringing behind
them their train departed on the first
step of their triumphant march
against Berlin. There was little man.
Hesitation of sadness in this great
demonstration. The sadness was
there, of course, in the hearts of the
masses as well as of the relatives and
close friends, because il was a SER
ious occasion. But, for the moment,
that saduees UNA sunnressod nv fha