Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-10-13
:

New York Herald Correspondence
Inauguration OF General lee as President
OF Washington College
l.. Lsz1NaEos Va 1Oetober2, lS65.-Gen.
/ Robert e. Lee was to-day Installed Presi-
| dent Of Washington College. There was
atallatio were TIE simplest possible ex.
act and barren compliance with the required
formula Of taking The oath By the new Pros
ident, and nothing more. This was in &C.
cordance with the special request Of General
Lee. It was psorosed to have the inatalls.-
ton take place il the college chapel, to send
invitations FAR and wide, to have q band of
music tclplaJ enlivening airs, to have .,o,;ng
girls, robed IN white and bearing chaplets
Of foaers, to sing songs Of welcome to
mare conSera tulatory epeeehes, 70 nal-c it a
holiday. lhat tits proposed proeramn;c
was nos carried out was source OF sever dis
appointment to inang. But General Lee
| had expressed his wishes contrarv to the
| choice and determination Of the college trus-
| tees and the multitude, and bis wishes were
complied with 1865 f@ ''e
TIE INsEAIIATloN cyREMoN1ra iSa'
/ The installation took place at nine A. N.
i'll recitation room Of the college. In this
, room were seated the faculty and Tho stu
dents, the ministers Of the town churches. a
magistrate and the county clerk, the last
! two officials being necessary to the cerenaon-
| lcj | II
room by the Beard Of Trustees. At his en-
trance and introduction all in the room rose,
bowed and then became seated. PRAYER by
Rev. Or. White, pastor Of the Presbyterian
church, directly followed. To 1ne it was a
noticeable fact, and perhaps worthy, of re-
cord, that he prayed for the President Of the
United States. Altogether it was q most
fitting and impressive prayer.
I JUDGE BnocKEaBHouGH srEEcH
The prayer ended, Judge Brockenbrough,
chairman Of the Board of Trustees. stated
the Object Of their coming together, to install
General Lee as President of Washington
| College. He felt the serious dignity of the
occasion, but it was seriousness and Dig
nifty that should be mingled with heartfelt
JOY and gladncss. Passing a brief eulogy
upon General Lee, and congratu!ating the
board and college, aud its present and fu-
ture students, on having obtained one SO
loved and great and worthy to preside over
the college, he said he could say a great
deal more, had it not been voted against
speech making. During the delivery Of
these to" woreis-and they came despite Of
the prollibitorv voting near c,.llni1at-
ing TO the dignity of q set as well as elo-
quent speech.
GENERAL LEE's APPEARANCE.
General Lee remained standing, his arms
quietly folded and calmly and steadfastly
looking into the eyes Of the speaker. Jus
tice William White, at the instance of Judge
! Peterborough, now administered the oath
Of office TO General Lee For the benefit of
those curious 10 know the nature of this
new oath, to which General Lee has lust
subscribed, and as it is brief, I will give it
entire. 1t is as follows:
| TIE OATH.
do swear that | viii, to the best of nv
skill and judgement, faithfully aud truly
discharge the duties required of me by an
act entitled can act for the incorporating
the asreetor and trustees of Liberty Hall
Academy without favor, affection or parti-
atty. So help me God.
TIE KEYS GIVEN TO THE NEW. PRESIDENT.
70 this oath General Lee at once affixed
his signature, with the accompanying usual
jurat of the swearing magistrate appended. =
Those inquisitiye enough to seek further
! light than that revealed III the copied oath.
! can look at the act therein referred to, and
when fouhd make a note Of it, The doc
rment in the form stated was handed to The
County Clerk for safe and perpetual custo-
dl&asbip, and at the same time the KEYS of
|. the college we're given up by the Rector INTO
the keeping OF the new President A con-
grat1alatory shaking of hands followed, and
| wound up the DAYS brief but pleasing. I'M
pressiye and memorable ceremonial. Pres
dent Lee and those Of the trustees pres
ent, with the faculty, now passed into. the
room set apart FOR the formers use--a good
sized room, newly but very tastcfully fur
nisbed
GEsEIAI' LEE DRESS Asp APpEARAsCE.
General Lee was dressed iii plain but
elegant suit Of gray His appearance indi-
Gated the enjoyment Of good health better,
! should say, than when he surrendered bis
army at 1Appon,attox Courthouse, the first
and only occasion, before the present, Of my
having seen him.
The u. s. Direct Tax.