Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-11-06
From the Religious Herald.
A Talk with Prof. Alex. L. Nelson aboat
Z. e. Lee and ''St0newall'
Jackson.

GEN. LEES ANXIETY TO HAVE THE BAP-
fists WELL REPRESENTED IN HIS coll
LEGE FACULTY.
Prof. Nelson has filled the Char of
Mathematics at Washington College for
little more than thirty years. He had pre-
viously held the same position at the Uni
versty of Virginia. After being associate
professor with Mr.. Courtney, on the death
of Prof Courtney, Mr.. Nelson was placed
in charge of that Chair.
Like many of the great meu the Univer.
sity has giveu The country, Mr.. Nelson had
to work his way through the course of
study. He had no means of his own. no
patron, no endowed scholarship. He taught
and studied and studied and taught until
he cana through with the highest houors
the University could bestow.
We knew Prof. Nelson when he was
making that heroic struggle for University
education, and hence we were The more
pleased to meet him few days ago and talk
over those early days, and the ''boys' we
then knew at the University. He asked
about G. Il. Toy, E. s. Joynes, W. d.
Thomas, E. T. Fristoe, Geo. B. Taylor, and
many more who have made good the promise
they gave iu those years of their student
life, and then we passed on to talk about
GEN. LEE AND WASHINGTON COLLEGE.
10 reply to an inquiry as to how General
Lee was induced to become President ofa
College, and who first proposed him for the
place, Prof. Nelson replied
"You know that Washington College was
almost destroyed during the war while the
Federals held it, aud by the results which
followed the issue of the war. The first
meeting of the Board of Trustees after the
war was one of. marvellous interest. We
came together to reorganize. aud all was as
dark as midnight. The College had lost
almost everything; its friends were impov-
erished, and our way seemed to be COM
pletely bodged in. The story of it has ues-
er bseu fully given, SO far as know-how
the idea of securing Gan Lee got hold 1T
US. AS we were sitting there wondering
what could be done, and each waiting fer
some other to speak, Bolivar Christian, nf
Staunton, aroao and in an embarrassed.
hesitating way said, as nearly as can nov
recall his words: "A friend of mine has re-.
ceived letter from Miss Mary Lac sayln
that whila her father had received varions
offers of support, he would like to have
o osition where he could earn support ,r
his family Then Col. Christian proceeded
in rather hesitating way to speak of tbs
possibility that Gen. Lee might be induced
TO come to Washington Collage; but hs
spoke in a distrustful way, as if it were .
thing scarcely to be thought of. Some ons
asked, DO you nominate him?' "N0,' RE-
piled Christian, that's too bold a steo Ia
me to take: merely suggest whether IL
might not be wise to do it, Others then
spoke, and the idea took hold of the Board
Nominate him p cried out several. He WAS
nto Of
sleeted; but really we felt almost ashamed
IF ourselves for doing such thing, and
to spesl, of what we had done
when we came out. But we appointed Judge
John W. Brockenbrough to visit Generai
lee and make known to him our action.
The General was then making his homo in
cumberland county on the estate of Mr4.
Elizabeth Cooke, sister of Col. J. T. L.
'reston, of Lexington, Va. This was ia
$50, and the trustees were so poor that tuey
lad to borrow the money to pay the Judga'a
Expenses down to Cumberland, aud tbe
Judge borrowed the suit of clothes in which
le made the trip"
Then Prof. Nelson spoke Of how auxious
hey were to hear OF the result of ths
Judges visit to Gen. Lee; and what i.,y
hero was when, at last, they heard that tha
feneral would take it into consideration,
nd what greater joy there was when ons
ay, all unexpected, Robert E. Lee came
iding down the street on Traveller--he hs6
ONE all the way across the country horse
'ack from Cumberland to Lexington. Hs
ode up to the hotel and was about to dis
Mount, when Prof. White happened to see
i'm and took him over to his home, where
be General lived until he went into the
residents house, which was built for
i'm.
"Did he straightway accept, or did he
AXE time to look into matters and inquire
bout your plans?"
Prof. A. l.. Nelson: "He took time and
made many inquiries. One of the things be
Wished to know was as to whether the CO..
sge was to be under the patronage of any
articular denomination, and said that in
hat event he could not accept. We assur-
d him that 1t was not q denominational
,ollege."
"But it is denominations. College,
majority of its trustees are Presbyterians.
Prof. Nelson: 'sIt is true that majority
# the trustees are Presbyteriaus-bu it is
lot sectarian school. Why. we have been
ensured for not making it that"
Herald: "But, tell me about Gen. Lee
lid you know him intimately, and how d Il
le impress you in his everyday life?"
Prof. Nelson: 81 was very intimately al
ociated with him for five years. Saw m
very day, and the better l knew him ths
more 1 admired him. l never knew a more
euial or more generous man, or one more
uxious to do all in his power to help every
uman being whom he could help. When,
low and then, the Faculty would d eide to
ismiss young man for unbecoming con-
uct, Gen. Lee would always be the last to
oDsent to expelliDg. He was ever ready to
SIX "Can't we save him1' And ooce he
aid, 81 have talked with that young man,
I'D he promises TO do better. Let's bear
With him once more"
'Djd Gen. Lee give much personal attsn-
ion to the tea1hers?"
Prot. Nelson: ''Yes, he had an eye to
verythng pertaining TO the College,
When he was re0rganizing the Faculty, he
allied upon me to ask if knew of good
Baptist who would be a good man to take
be Chair of Modern Languages. told him
4 Prof. Ed. s. Joyues whom knew as a
Baptist at the University of Va. At the re-
uess of the General, l wrote to Joynes to
SIX whether or not be was still Baptist.
From his reply | was somewhat uncertain
IS to his denominational status, and the
natter dropped there. In Prof. George E. .
)abney Washington College had noble
he Baptists ought to ba represented in the
Faculty of his College,
"Did you know Stonewall Jackson?"
Prof. Nelson: "We were deacons in the
iame church. l knew him we'll and loved
him well. l never saw q man who was
more anxious 20 do his whole duty. 1t you
,ould make him feel that it was his duty to
10 anything, he would do it or die in the at
empt. 1t took him several years to learn
low to pray in social meetings; but he kept
It it until he prayed with fervor aud power.
de had marvellous will power; and would
rive that as one of the most striking pscu.
iarites of the man.
We thank Prof. Nelson. We have aim
I'd to report him correctly, aud yet, in many
,lacss, We may have failed to give his ex-
Ict words. We now Offer him space in our
'nlumns to tell what Washington aud Lee
University is to-day, and what it ought to
10 in the future. The Herald wishes to
,oln xuharauer IL oan haip opd II ro,Id