Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-22
ULSTERMEN'S WORK.
SECOND DAY OF THE SCOTCH
IRISH CONVENTION.
Address of DR.. Henry Alexander
Mbitc-TIc Presidents of wash
iugton CoIiegc-acncrni Lees In
Gucucc--t business Session.


rnc second-aay's session OF the Scotch
irish Congress began at II O'Clock this
morning. President Bonner called the
society to ORDER. and the opening prayer
was made by Rev John :. Finlay. Of
Tinkling-spr.ng church. Augusta county.
Dr. John $ Macintosh. Of Philadelphia.
explained the methods and necessary quail
incetons for membership, and closed
his remarks by paying Rev. Dr. Henry
\. White compliments upon his address
made az last years meeting.
Rev. Hcnfy 4 White, Doctor OF Philoso-
ply Of Washington and lee University
thon made an address on The Presidents
% Washington College" Dr. White
said:
AS Washington College IN Virginia du-
ring period OF nearly SIX decades, from
1913 TO lsu stood the institution under
whose shadow this congress OF Ulster
men has assembled. Six presidents make
up the short list Of those who guided
the destinies Of Washington College
Three of these wer- granted long r.tsns
in the seat OF authority. ana these three
were ministers OF the Gospel III the Pres
byt,rian Church-GeorEe i. Baxter y.
-, lSi3-lSzf. Henry Rufluer. -. D.. liz
D.. lNi6-lsis. George Junkin. u. D.. 1876
l>ol. Between the FIRST and the second
a. the ministerial presidents interviewed
the brief reaime OF two scholarly lay
men Louis Marshall NJ D.. lSg0IS5i.
Henry Ncthake. IL. D.. lSi-lS}t. Last
OF all WIS the sccptcr held b. the beloved
southern lcdder-Gencral Robert Edward
lie, lsoj-lS,0. In honor Of General Lee
Was the name OF the school changed 10
the Washington and Lcc University, and
given IN charge 10 mis- eldest son. General
g. ". Gusts Lee. Before receiving the
title Of COLLEGE TINS institution had lived
as an academy during a period OF four
ana sixty years-fIom l1p 10 1873.
AUGUSTA ACADEMY.
Augusta Academy was the title ap-
piled 10 the lcg school OF the Colonial
era by the founder. Robert Alexander. In
lti9. IN Illustration OF the Ulstermon
was this canuy Scot. who had received
a classical and mathematical training in
Edinburgh. HIS was the first temple or
learning erected in the empire Of Augusta
mat vast realm within the domain OF
Virginia, extending from the Blue Ridge
peaks TO the waters of the Mississippi.
This empire Vas 90 become Tho final
home on earth of the race of Uistcrmen
and AleXander's log school-house dcdi-
Gated these western and southwestern
lands % the cause Of education.
Around this rude frontier acad my waI
made fast one end Of the ecclesiastical
chain known MS the Hanover Prcsby
tcry. which was afterwards on the cast
crn side Of the Blue Ridge made fast 10
the Prince Edward Academy. Tire pupils
OF Alexander and Of his successor, the
al IA hoy - II
up IN barefoot line to recite texts OF
scripture and verbs from the Latin
tongue could hear from without the
ccnocs Of the struggle for religious iolera-
ton fought by their fathers against the
Established Church; they could watch
through tho open door the passing rifle
men on their march against the French
and Indians.
NEWS FROM WILLIAMSON RIG.
on the playground could they pause in
their games t. listen 10 tho story 81 the
courier from williamsburg. who was
scattering the news that in the House
Of Burcesses IL was the vote % the
FISHERMEN from the upper counties that
carried Patrick Heurys resolution IN OPP
position 20 the stamp act With revercnt
touch did these same students handle
the Highland sword. which young VIII
liam Campbell proudly bore. 10 the school
room from the wall ~ his father house
ae soon - the llsicrmen began ~ make
the hills Of Nircinia ros1uni with the
earliest war-cry Of the Revolution. Win
rife on their shoulder some Of those
carly ulaymatos and fellow students were
TO follow Colonel William Campbell and
his sword 10 the field Of victory and Of
lasting glory on Kings Mountain-i'Sl
During the period when Virginia was
attaining her majority as "A Common
wealth-from 1915 10 1873 Reyolu-
tionary name Of Liberty Hall was be-
slowed Jpon the academy.
PRESIDENT ROBERT EDWARD LEE
"The period Of storm and stress from
1851 o. 1s'J .tw the banner Of Washington
College in tho fed # war. Pro Arts -
FOcie.' was the sentiment inscribed on the
nag ~ the Liberty Han Volunteers, which
the class Of 'Gl bore with yaiOrous pride
from Manassas TO AppomattoX. The
captains Of that band Of youthful heroes
We're Iletermen all. Captain James j.
White. Of the Chair of Greek. who held
his line ~ boys in steady column on the
Henry Hil al First Manassas; Captain
u. L. Morrison. Captain Hugh y. White
and Captain Grimes b. Stricken. The
alumni OF former years. almost 10
man. were also IN the midst Of those
scenes Of strife. The pupils Of Baxter
Rufiner ami Junkin had not forgotten
their lessons of duty and patriotism, and
at the call Of their native States knew
how 10 stcp forth gladly unto death IN
defence of home and Preside The peer
less leader Of these heroes Of the SCUM
was called 10 the presidency Of the college
g Washington. when all the land from
the Potomac to the gulf lay desoiate
Tho sum of $4,000 was tho patrimony OF
the college, and with lands AID buildings
valued az 5000 This inheritance was
locked mp in securities Of the state %
Virginia. and the Treasury Of Virginia
was empty. The library and apparatus
had been scattered amid the storm OF
war But o band Of Ulstermcn were the
Board OF Trustees. The private credit
Of the trustees was pledged, and money
was secured N quantity sufficient 10
Justify the opening Of the old halls OF
learning TO teach he young men of the
South 10 DO their duty in life was the
motive THAI brought General Lee 10 the
presidency Of this college Of the Ulster
men. IN October 800. He turned away
from more tempting financial Offers 10
the performance O: this labor of love.
As the nero x q united people, he drew
the young men % the land around him:
his cd soldiers came 70 the halls where
he then welded the sceptre Of peace.
ALL CREED LINES BLOTTED OUT.
AN lines of creed were blottod ont IN
tho Er az work of the fVe years when he
halted beneath those classic shades T.
teach his countrymen how 10 suner AMI
he strong. At ApDomattox had General
Lee gwen lasting evidence Of his devo-
ton TO the interests OF his people The
most trying hour Of his life did he face
with unhuching courage. by reason of he
love which be- bore 10 men who had fol-
lowed him. Ear! CORVALLIS at Yorktown
taIried In his ten; and refused 10 bear
IN public the cha-rin Of defeat. General
Lee. IN person, sought the Federal COM
marder at AppomattoX to negotiate for
the private property of his soldiers and
to ask food for his starving army. The
period cf reconstruction in the South saw
him ~ Washington Coll ge.
NO murmur escaped his lips IN all those
days of trial HIS principle OF action was
that. An should unite IN honest efforts
to oblttrate the effects ~ war and to
restore the blessings Il peace
Els PERSONAL INFLE ENCE.
"The personal Influence OF this man
was the great educating power In the
Washington COLLEGE or those post bellum