Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-14
WASHINGTON AND LEE.
vIEws or TINS UNIVERSITY

Of rn.ruetlss -csiahs Prospects Tor chs
Fuiuss.
In the Valley OF Virginia, about lbs
miles west Of Richmond and more than
LOCO feet above tide-water, lies the
| mountain town Of Lexington, the seat OF
Washington aid Lee University.
Lexington is situated in the county OF
Rockbridge, fourteen miles from the
Natural Bridge, and contains about
1900 inhabitants. II enjoys most
salubrious climate, and is surrounded
by scenery Of unsurpassed beauty and
sublimity. II is celebrated for the high
moral and intellectual tone of its socie-
ty. and for the inspiring associations
that cluster around it. Here repose the
mortal remains OF the South's immortal
heroes-Stonewal Jackson and Robert
Il. Lee---the former Of whom was once
professor at the Virginia Military In
stitute, and the latter for five years the
president Of Washington College, called
now in his honor Washington and Lee
University.
HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY.
The charter of what is now known as
Washington and Lee University was
first granted in 1882 to Liberty Hall
Academy, o school established by the
early Scotch-frish settlers Of the Valley
of Virginia in l749, and, until the Revo-
lutionary war, called the Augusta
Academy.
The circumstances attending the
adoption of the name Liberty Hall "
are interesting. In l776 there came
to the head Of the Augusta Academy,
as rector, Rev. William Graham, Of
worthy memory, who had been the
clsssmate and special friend Of Light
Horse Harry Lee at Princeton College;
and on May 6, l776, at the first meet
ing of the trustees after the battle of
Lexington, and nearly two months be-
fore the Declaration Of independence,
it was ordered that the records should |
be entitled Liberty Hall, as the acad-
envy is hereafter to be called, instead of |
The Augusta Academy" And before
he Revolutionary war was over, this
patriotic title was confirmed by the
,harter from the State of Virginia, bear
ng date October 81, 1882, thes first
harter bestowed by Virginia on any in
titution Of learning.
And well did Liberty-Hall Academy
Deserve the honor of being Virginia's
irst-born-the child of the Revolu-
loD--among the many institutions
Thich are now her pride. For :" from
% part of the United States" it is
tated, g did more young men enter the
ublic service than from this very re-
ion. Not only the youth who would
ave commenced course of education
Tere taken, but even those already in
he institution, fired with an ardent pa
riotism, laid down their books and
eized the sword and the rifle. And it
lay be truly said that the patriotic fire
urned in no bosom with warmer
anne than in that of the rector of the
Rev. William Graham.
When it was resolved to raise volun-
,er company Of riilemen to go into ac-
We service William Graham stepped out
nd had his name enrolled, and was unan-
nously elected captain" And those
no have read the history of the col
&c company of 1861, called 1.-THE
iberty-Hall Volunteers" know that
icy were not unworthy successors to
lie boys of &c. 1.-The students, ami
ated by the spirit that moved the
oung men Of the South, organized
Iemselves into a military company
nder one of their professors, Joined
lie immortal Jackson at Winchester,
I'd for four years shared the fortunes
the Stonewall Brigade, winning
ON their illustrious commander the
,signation Of more than brave young
en-" /.
Although the act of 1882 retained
e designation of academy, yet Liberty
all, by its charter, possessed all the
'wers of college. 1t was expressly
lthorized to grant literary degrees;
i'd in 1885 the first commencement
as held, and the degree of Bachelor
Arts was conferred on the following
aduates, honored names in their day
ID generation General Samuel Black
i'm, Rev. Samuel Carrick, Rev. Moses
oge, ID. d., Rev. Samuel Houston,
on. William McClung, Rev. Andrew
cClure, Rev. John McCue, James t
'iestly, LII. d., Rev. Adam Rankin, I
on. Archibald Roane, Rev. Terah /
'mplin, and Rev. William Wilson. t
In 1896 General Washington be- ]
,wed upon Liberty-Hall Academy r
mes-River Company stock, now
lued at $4,000, voted to him by the 8
Of Virginia in acknow- a
lgment of his services in the Reyo- IL
ion, but accepted by him on the ex- s.
ess condition that he should be per- b
tied to endow Herewith some insti- s.
ion of learning. In honor Of its
nificent benefactor, the name Liber- Il
Hall Academy was in 1898 changed ll
Washington Academy, and this, in II
l3, to Washington College. X
N 1865 General Robert L. Lee, who II
was known had declined all pro. L
'als that seemed to involve COM ts
mise Of personal independence, was II
dered the presidency of Washington H
lege, in the belief that he might &C. H
t a position which would give him IL
lorable employment, and would at tE
same time be channel through I.
ich he might do something for the X
sllectual and moral training of the III
ing men of the country. The posi- "
was accepted by General Lee I'M Ne
the influence of these considera- Il
Is, and in so doing he gave a new ID
'ulse to the old College Of Washing "
, attracting large number of stu Ks
It's, reassuring its friends, and en- is.
ing in its behalf many generous E
efactors in all parts Of the country. H
The course Of instruction, academic IS
professional, was greatly enlarged . e
Ter the energetic and wise admins is:
ION OF General Lee, who brought to AZ
school not only the weight Of his KS
'ated Christian character, which ~
Q him unsurpassed influence over M
who came within its sphere, but also M
,arouoh s,l M