Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-04-29
In MEMORY OF THE
CONFEDERATE CAUSE
LOCAL CHAPTER U. D. c. PAY
TRIBUTE TO CONFEDERATE
DEAD.
y, MRS. HuMBERr WATSON

ny MRS. HUMBERT WATSON
One cannot fail to see that Me-
mortal Days of these past few years
have not drawn the immense throngs
that gathered on every hillside and
in every dale throughout the length
and breadth of our fair Southland
during the last half of the nineteenth
century and even nthe very first
year of the twentieth century The
men and women of today ca nlook
back to the days of their childhood
when with the coming of spring,
came Memorial Day, a day of su-
preme Importance in their lives. And
thousands of mothers of this day re-
member when as little girls attired
in the prettiest white, pink or blue
summer dress they possessed and
their mothers, real true women of
the sixties, with tear glistening in
their eyes. hung garlands around the
necks of each child as line of school
children passed along, winding its
way to the graves of immortal he
roes. But those days are no more.
They are
cover and gone with the roses;
Over and gone with the SUM-"
The long line of Confederate Vet
Grams who used to file into the city
churches, the town churches, and the
county churches are also memories
of other days.
Now the few precious veterans
who bravely feel their way into our
memorial gatherings can be easily
counted, even by a first or second
grade school child. Yes, they are
passing over, and they will soon all
be resting with Lee, jackson, Stuart,
johnson and the gallant innumerable
hosts who are resting over the river
under the shade of the trees.
Yet, as the law of compensation
never Stacks, our Memorial Days are
gaining in vision through the lapse
of years as the dates of Bull Run,
Gettysburg and Appomattox fade
! deeper into history.
Monday afternoon at the First
Baptist church Memorial exercises
were conducted under the auspices of
the Ben Hill Chapter of the u. d.
c., Mrs. Wade r. Lasseter, president
presiding, and Mr.. Emory B. Will
cox acting as Master of Ceremonies
) A goodly number of the members OF
the U. D. C. were present and nine
! of the fourteen remaining veterans
in Ben Hill county, occupied the
| front pews.
The opening number was process.
sional chorus by the Fitzgerald High
School Glee Club, who entered sing
ing the martial strains of "Thy Sor
of God goes forth to War"
Rev. ]. F. Singleton then offered
up a most impressive prayer.
The music for the occasion was
exceptionally good. Mrs. E. L.
Waites played the accompaniment
and quartet of mixed voices sang
in truly beautiful manner Garry
Me Back to Ole Virginny," and the
Glee Club sang a favorite southern
melody.
Mrs. G. r. Womble, a past presi-
dent, introduced the distinguished
speaker of the afternoon, Mrs. j. S.
Belts, of Ashburn, who had prepared
a remarkable paper on Confederate
history, and it is certainly to be
hoped that at some date in the near
future this valuable account of Con-
federate achievements with it's never
to-be forgotten deeds of valor and
heroism will be published in its en-
tirety.
Mrs. S. G. Pryor, ST., also a past
president, paid loving tribute to-
two of the old veterans who had died
since last Memorial Day, Messrs.
Henricks and Dunn.
Mrs. Lasseter gave the closing
"The Passing of the Brave"
q beautiful poem written by Ida S.
Matthews and dedicated to General
John B. Gordon of Confederate fame.
The stirring strains of "Dixie"
brought this splendid program to
close after which Rev. Bruce Nay
the benediction.
Automobiles were in abundance
and the owners most kind and gra-
cious in seeing that everyone who
wished to do so have an opportunity
to ride to Evergreen cemetery where
roses and other sweet flowers once
again bedecked the graves of the
soldiers, the soldiers
who were a part of that gallant army
who wore the Gray and most of
whom have said farewell to this
world but "hail" to the long lost
comrades of other years who wait