The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-25
THE MONUMENT TO LEE,
HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT
FOR IT'S ERECTION.

n mas nccp Built Through the Efforts OF
the Ladies' and Confederate veterans
Interesting sketch of the Association
Now that the long effort Is successful
.rd the Ice monument is an accoinp-
/. Ished fact. in the midst OF our reJolc-
go and our congratulations over the
ras,,it II seems but Just and fitting to
tell again the story OF this nooie or,
canization, TO recount lis laoors anu
nav our tribute TO its ability ana "s
perseverance,. .,oDs
nothing has stirred the heart OF tne
South like the death OF General Lee AZ
came not as a shock; II had Deeh eN-
pected for many months; the who're
people knew that he had gone 10
Charleston for his health. and IT was
generally known too that there was
Iitue hone of benefit TO the Jour
new. 1t came in duo season.
the last few years Of honored and hon
orsble retirement had afforded TO the
o'erfraueh, heart of the Southern peo-
nile an opportunity for relief In the eN,
nressiops OF love and reverence ana
consolation that crowded upon the nero
nm his mountain home from day TO day.
Lexington had become a shrine, ana an
sections OF the country turned TO IL
nth generation. Moreover. the lie
ms complete: the work lay open TO the
world. the example had been shown
the nrecepts uttered: the blessing be-
..owed. The mourning, therefore, was
without bitterness, but 1t was no less
tender and deep: it was for the loss oil o
father rather than OF leader
THE LADIES ASSOCIATION.
General Lees death occurred at
A. NJ. on the f2th Of October io'u'
few DAYS after, and while the leeinS
II created was at Its height, a small
company Of ladies met in a private par
Tor in Richmond and inaugurated the
ladies' Lee Monument Association.
Their plan was TO erect monument IN
this city to the memory OF the great
chieftain. and to collect funds for that
purpose from the entire South. me
ladies' selected to form the association
xvsre. Mrs. William II. mcfarland,
Mrs. George w. Randolph. Mrs. Jane
LYONS Mrs. William Brown and Miss
r. r. Nicholas, with Miss Sarah y. Ran
dolph as secretary.
Their task was at first comparative
ly easy one; the question was nol
whether to give, but only how But
very soon the obstacles against when
the association must contend became
npparent-the poverty OF the south'
II IL needless TO recount the suffering
and the destitution of that painful epl-
sode i'm our history. Neither money
nor the legitimate means of making 1t
conld be found in all our land. Every
dollar collected at that time represented
some sacrifice or deprivation ON the
mart of the donor, which testified
the sincerity of his love, and the
$4,000 which represents the La
dies Association in this enter
prise, represents also an unselhsh EFFORT
on the part of the people at large that
cannot be too highly appreciated.
When we remember that notwithstand
ing the enormous wealth of the North
ern States. the tomb of General Grant,
which is 10 be erected by the same
method of contribution, remains uniin-
ished to-day, it will not seem that
twenty years is long time for the ac-
complishment Of a similar enterprise
by our impoverished and disheartened
community.
THE CONFEDERATE SURVIVORS.
Almost simultaneously with the Ia
dies enterprise, another Lee Monument
Association was organized IN the city OF
Richmond, by the soldiers and sailors OF
the Confederacy, with General Jubal
A. Early as its president For some
time the two bodies acted independ-
emily. and were not consolidated until
1884.
The occasion on which this second as
ISOLATION was formed, was a most inn
pressive one; il may we'll be called 1.-THE
obsequiss of the Confederacy.
On the 25th day Of October, 1870. the
following address appeared in the pub
lie prints;
ITO the surviving officers and soldiers
of the Army Of Northern Virginia;
"Comrades-The sad tidings of the
death Of our great commander came al
"A time. when, by the interruption of all
the ordinary modes Of travelling, very
many of us were debarred the privilege
of participating in the funeral cere
monies of attending the burial Of HIM
we loved so well, or by concerted action
of giving expression to our feelings on
the occasion. While the unburied re-
mains of the illustriOus hero were yet
under the aifectionate care Of friends
who were bowed down with a sorrow
unutterable, the hoarse cry of "trea-
son" was croaked from certain quar-
tiers for the vile and abOrtive purpose
of casting a stigma upon his pure and
exalted character. HIS fame belongs to
the world and to history. and is beyond
the reach of malignity; but a sacred
duty devolves upon those whom, III de
Tense of cause he believed to.he Just,
and to which he remained true to the
latest moment of his life, he led so
often to battle. ana for whom lac ever
cherished ,he most affoctionate regard,
we owe ii TO our fallen COM
rades, to ourselves, and to posterity,
nv some suitable and lasting memorial,
To manifest to the world, for all time TO
come. that we were not unworthy 10 De
led by our own immortal chief, and
that we are not now ashamed of the
principles for which Lee fought ard
jackson died. Already some steps have
been taken by some Confederate officers
aud soldiers, assembled at Lexington,
the place of General Lees death and
burial, to inaugurate a memorial asso-
cation: and being, as | believe the
senior in rank of all the officers of the
Army of Northern Virginia now living
in the State. respectfully suggest and
invite conference at Richmond. on
Thursday, the Sd day of November next,
of all the survivors of that army, who
Their officers or privates, III whatever
State they may live, who can conven'
iently attend, for the purpose of secur-
ing concert of action in regard TO the
proceeding contemplated. would also
iavite to that conference the surviving
officers and soldiers of all the other
Confederate armies as well as the Off
GERS, sailors and marines Of the Con
federate navy. The call would have
been made sooner, but for my absence,
UP TO this time, in coutry where there
are no railroads or telegraphs, and
where was detained by imperative du-