12th Annual Confederate Heritage Conference
May 2002
Another
Annual Conference come and gone...hope you made it. But if not,
here is a brief run down of what you missed.
THURSDAY
NIGHT
It was with
great sorrow that Mr. Charlie Reese was unable to speak this
year at the conference, due to a recent medical condition that
required him to cease travelling for a time. With his absence,
the Thursday night patron's banquet slot was given to Dr. Thomas
DiLorenzo, who gave an interesting lecture entitled "Lincoln's
Constitutional Revolution."
Dr.
Thomas DiLorenzo is professor of economics in the Sellinger
School of Business and Management at Loyola College in Maryland.
He is the author of eleven books and numerous articles in magazines,
academic journals, and numerous other publications including
the Wall
Street Journal, National Review, Barron's, and Reader's
Digest.
His most recent book is the widely acclaimed The
Real Lincoln.
Dr. DiLorenzo lives in Clarkesville, Maryland.
FRIDAY
Another
great yearly picnic was held, and as in previous years there was
great food, great music and story telling. This is such an excellent
way to begin a conference weekend like this, as it allows for everyone
to spend time in fellowship together, which is usually hard to find
time to accomplish with the packed conference schedule. With people
coming from all over the country to this conference, this is such
an amazing and fun time to get to meet new people and renew previous
acquaintances each year.
The
conference officially started Friday evening, with the opening
lecture spot again being handled by Dr. DiLorenzo. This time
he spoke on
"The Real Lincoln," giving much information from his book by the
same title.
Dr.
DiLorenzo's lecture was followed by Pastor Mickey Schneider, who
gave the last lecture for this evening, and that being a most amazing
biographical lecture on the late, and by most forgotten, Rev. Benjamin
Morgan Palmer.
Pastor
Schneider serves the Trinity Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso,
Florida, which is a member of the newly formed Providence Presbytery.
Pastor Schneider has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian
Church since 1967 and has pastored churches in South Carolina, Louisiana,
Mississippi and Florida. He has been pastor of Trinity Presbyterian
since 1986.
SATURDAY
Saturday
morning we were given the second part of Pastor Schneider's lecture
series on B.M. Palmer.
Pastor
Schneider was followed by Donnie Kennedy, who took the slot
for the absent Charlie Resse. In his usual fiery manner, he
let the crowd (and modern PC-ism) have it with his lecture "America's
Slavery Mythology," which is named after his (and his brother's)
newest book by the same name, due out in late 2002. He gives
quote after quote, and source after source, smashing through
the charade that today's media has put on America slavery history.
An excellent lecture causing most to eagerly await the release
of the book.
Walter
"Donnie" Kennedy is a lifelong resident of the South, growing up
in Mississippi and living and working in Louisiana. He is the
co-author (along with his twin brother, Ronnie) of the best-selling
book The
South was Right! The Kennedy brothers have published two
other volumes; Why
Not Freedom and Was
Jefferson Davis Right,
as well as an annotated edition of William Rawle's A View of
the Constititon. Their most recent book, as mentioned, will
be on slavery, and will be published in 2002. Donnie has appeared
on nation television on Politically Incorrect and numerous
radio talk shows nationwide.
After
a break for Dinner, Dr. DiLorenzon started off the afternoon
session with his final lecture, entitled "Reconstructing America:
Consolidation of State Power."
This
was followed by the final lecture of the conference, by Rev.
J. Steven Wilkins, entitled "The Great Adversary: Patrick Henry
and Constitutional Liberty." A mixure of biographical information
on Henry, and Constitutional concerns, this was a most excellent
lecture, and was obviously well received and enjoyed (being the
most ordered single lecture tape of the conference by those attending).
Steve
Wilkins is the pastor of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church and
the author of Call
to Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee.
He has co-authored, with Douglas Wilson, Southern Slavery as
It Was (out of print) , and a biography
of Stonewall Jackson, entitled All
Things for Good: The Steadfast Fidelity of Stonewall Jackson.
Pastor Wilkins is a member of the Southern Heritage Society Executive
Committee, and resides in Monroe with his wife Wendy
and six children.
Saturday
night brought every back in large numbers, to attend the height
of the whole weekend (for most), the Confederate Hertiage Ball,
with music again by the ever entertaining 12th Louisiana String
Band. A whale of a good foot stompin' and dancin' time was had by
the ever growing crowd of attendees.
SUNDAY
What
better way to end a beautiful weeked of fun and fellowship,
than with praising the one and only God who makes it all possible?
It was great to see such a large crowd of conference attendees
stay the extra day to worship with Aurburn Avenue Presbyterian
Church. An exceelent weekend, ending with a edifying time of
worship, as Pastor Wilkins spoke on "The Holy Trinity and Community."
Well,
that about sums it up! If you were unfortunate and missed it,
you may still grab the lecture tapes and sermon tape in the
box set, available from Apologia
Book Shoppe.
