The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-24
JACKSON MEMORIAL HALL
THE BUILDING DEDICATED AT LEXINGTON
MILITARY INsTITE.
Speeches by Or. Hunter Mcclure, Rev. Or.
J. P. Smith and Senator John
W. Daniel

Lexington, Va, June 23.-The dedica-
ton of the "Stonewall' Jackson memo
rial hall, the most interesting feature Of
the commencement of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute, took place today in the
main hall of the building The hall was
packed to oyerfi0wing, throughout the ex-
ercises, large number of the audience
being compelled to stand in the lobby
aud doors. Many people from the coun-
try We're in attendance and large ex-
cursion from Lynchburg helped to swell
the crowd.
er by the Rev. c. r. Hemphill, DID,, of
Louisville. Mr.. Houston s. Letcher,
president of the board of visitors, then
gave a brief history of the efforts to get
funds for the construction of the hall,
saying that the first contribution was
made by president Jefferson Davis, and
that large proportion of the contribu-
tions came from Pennsylvania. Mr..
Letcher then introduced the first orator
of the day, DIR. Hunter Mcclure, of
Richmond, medical director of Jackson 5
corps, who opened his address by relat-
ing that he had been recently told >by
eminent British officers that the great
est English-speaking generals in the last
hundred years were Marlborough, Wei
lington, Washington, Lee and Jackson.
They declared that the campaign of
Jackson in the valley of Virginia was the
first in. which the world had known no
blunders.
The Rev. DR. J. p Smith of Richmond,
was introduced by Mr.. Letcher as the
next speaker. DR. Smith said among
other things:
''It was Thomas Carlisle who said "A
mans religion is the chief fact with re-
gard to him. and more than of any man
of renown of modern times, it is true
that the religion of Jackson was the man
himself 1t was not only that he was a
religious man, but that he was that rare
man among men to whom religion was
everlasting. Eminent critics are telling
us that the campaigns of Jackson will be
| the study and the admiration of mill
tary schools for centuries to come. How
ever true that may be of him, we are
sure that the religion of Stonewall Jack
son will be the chief and most effective
way into the secret spring of the char
acter and career of this strange man,
who as the years go by, is rising into the
ranks of the great soldier saints of his
tory"
The concluding address was delivered
| by Senator John w. Daniel, and his in
PRODUCTION by Mr.. Letcher was the oc-
casion OF a warm and hearty greeting
| from the large assemblage.
! Senator Daniels remarks were dis
cursive in their character and not of the
set speech order. He held aloft the char
acter of Jackson, the soldier with his
virtues, and his endeavors in seeking
training; his concentration of purpose,
and his genius, .in a manner that was
striking and captivating. The war, he
declared, had demonstrated to the world
the greatness and the virtue of the
Southern people, and its sacrifices and
trials had been repaid them in the pre-
sentation oNtwo military chieftains SO
great and good as Lee and Jackson. The
day before, he said, there had been gath
cred together in the city Of London a
large and representative throng Of En-
glish-speaking people to celeprate the
golden jubilee of England's Queen, now
the ruler of four hundred million people.
Had Lee and Jackson been alive and
there, all would have stopped to do them
honor.