The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-20


bors of ministers Of the Gospel among
the soldiers: the hearty welcome they
gave to those who responded to these
calls: their personal attendance on the
meetings for prayer and the preaching OK
the Word, and the manner In which they
awaited themselves OF every opportunity
for the conservation of their influence to
the spiritual welfare OF those under their
command
L believe that the Army Of Northern
Virginia was the most religious army
that ever marched to battle. Among the
Young men who rallied under the Confed-
crate flag at the first call for volunteers.
especially those who came from the col
leges there was an extraordinary proper
ton of church members, and their inf'i-
ence was potent for good among their
companions In arms who as yet had made
no profession of their faith.
DIR. J. William Jones. In noble chapter
entitled Religion In the Army" tells us
that a regiment stationed near Ports
mouth. in June, 1861. was reported to con-
tain ~ men Of the same denomination.
and that another regiment had in its
ranks five ministers OF the Gospel.
The Rockbridge Artillery Company con-
tained seven masters of arts OF the Uni
ycrslty OF Virginia, forty-two college grad
yates, and nineteen theological students.
More than half of the rank and file OF
the Liberty Hall Volunteers belonged TO
some church; one-fourth of them were
candidates for the ministry, and all OF
their officers were Christian men.
DIR. ]. NJ p. Atkinson. Of Hampton
Sidney College. organized a company of
seventy-two, composed OF his own stu
dents and those OF Union Theological
Seminary, and nearly all Of this company
were professed Christians.
repeat my conviction. that the Army
of Northern Virginia was the most re-
ligious army that ever took the field ana
marched to battle.
You perceive. my comrades. In this ad-
dress / have attempted no formal eulosy
of General Lee.
What could I say OF him that has not
already been said in the eloquent tributes
to his memory by Daniel. Anderson, Cor
| don. yenable Marshall and other orators
| of renown?
But IL IL be asked why he has gained
such a permanent place in the reveren-
tial love OF our people, and why IL is
that with advancing time his fame
brightens into new forms OF beauty. the
answer of our hearts at once becomes
| vocal on our lips.
| II Is because when we contemplate Lee
| II is not the splendid renown OF the sol
| der nor the virtues OF the citizen, nor the
| devotion Of the Christian alone that I'M
| presses US, but the harmonious blending
| of all in a character of such strength
symmetry and attractiveness as TO form
an ideal that at once gratines the intel
lect and satisfies the heart.
Such an influence had in 1t the element
Of immortality. II is a legacy TO all gen
erations II ennobles those who are ami
mated by II. Tell me whom you ad
mire," says a great writer "and l Will
tell you what you are"
Even the picture of such a man In
spires the beholder with emotions tina
elevate and purify. When uncountec
thousands thronged our streets on tina
bright day when his statue was unveiled
there was no act OF indecorum possible
II was the homage Of the people 70 virtue
and in paying 1T all were upiited an'
made to feel how awful goodness is, AM
in her shape how lovely" Such a cele
bration was a moral education TO Tn
whole people.
There are some histories which canno
be found in books, because they canno
be written. They can only reveal them
selves IN the lives of pure and magnanl
nous men. The real history or virginia
part in the great conflict can neither D
appreciated nor understood save by thos
who shared in II and who had persona
knowledge OF the men whose virtues CAV
Il n character all its own.
There are many complex problems III
yolyed in IL which the outside pubI'
may never comprehend, but II vs. the glor
Of such men as Robert +. Lee, TO stan
forth as the embodiment the iicarna
ton of the invisible spirit which animate
and haIlowed the conflict.
/, The more his noble life is studied III
mere Will his character comnard tn
reverence OF mankind. and the time ma
, come when. in this and other lands, tina
stainless life will become the true lntel
prefer and the full vindication OF u
cause to which he consecrated all th'