The gold leaf., 1901-08-08
GEN. ROBERT E. LEE.
THE PERSONAL SIDE AND CHRISTIAN CHAR
ACTER Of THE MAN,

FoiIn w IIlC WHN.
A Close and Intimate Friend Both
During and After the War Writes
About His Religious Views-A Sim
cere, Devout, Evangelical Christian
Who Had a Care for the Spiritual
Welfare of His Soldiers and the Stu
dents Under Hlm-t1is Order In Re.
gard to Observing the Sabbath.
Rev J William Jones, in Chicago Standa rd
| was much interested in the article
OF Rev. W. W. kyerts in the Standard
recently on the religious views of the
men whose names are to be EN- balmed
in the Hall of Fame" and | only re-
GREETED that he could not speak more
definitely of the Christian character,
or religious views, of some OF these
great men. [ will not comment On
what is said of the views of others,
but as it was my proud privilege to
know General Robert F.. Lee intimate
ly during the war, and especially dur.
ing the last five years Of his life 4.
president Of Washington College, Vir-
ginia. | desire to say that if | e"er
came in contact with a sincere, devout,
evangelical ChriStian-one who went
as a sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ,
and trusted in Him alone for saliva
ton, and who showed his faith by a
life OF simple, unostentatious piety
bringing forth daily the fruits nI
righteousness one was X. f.
Lee, the great soldier. the model man
Mr.. Everts says Of him: Lee was
from childhood member of the
church Of his ancestors. the Protestan,
| Episcopal church. and when presiden,
of a college he fostered Young Mems
Christian Association which was or
| ganized during his administration
Now this is putting it mildly, and il
this was all that could be said abou
him it might be we'll questioned
whether this was not another illustra
tion Of the natural tendency to minif,,
the faults and magnify the virtues o
great men, and to galvanize into
Christians those whose lives gave lit
tie evidence OF real piety
might illustrate at great length
Lees Christian character-indeed,
have done so in books and magazine:
but will not ask more than enough
space to give several incidents which
came under my personal observation
and clearly show the genuine piety o
the man.
l had heard a great deal Of Lee'
Christian character, had seen in his
orders and reports strong expression!
of his trust in an overruling Provi
dence, and gratitude to God for hi'
blessings, and | knew that he was {
regular attendant in our camp ser
vices, and had seen him as an atten
tive listener TO some humble chap
lain as he told 'the old, old story" o
Jesus and His love. But the frs
time | ever had a personal interviev
with him on religious matters wa
when l went with a committee of ou
Chaplains' Association to see if tn
Commander-in-Ch could not d.
something to prevent the pratice
irreligious officers OF making Sunda..
a day for drills, reviews, ETC., whicl
seriously interfered with our re
ligious services. | shall never forge
the cordial courtesy with which he re
ceived us, and the deep interest wit
which he heard our statement, an
the warm sympathy he expressed il
the object of our mission. He re
minded us of previous order Of
Sabbath observance which he ha
issued, but said that he would at ono
issue another, and would see that
was enforced. The next day he issue
beautiful order, in which he enjoin
ed upon commanders of brigades an
regiments to abstain from all drill
and reviews on Sunday, and t
do everything in their power
induce the officers and men to al
tend religious services, and cnjoins
upon all to abstain from all work o
Sunday not absolutely essential to tn
subsistence or safety of the army, @
which could be anticipated or post
poned. He then asked us about tn
religious work in the camps. an
manifested the liveliest interest as W
told him of those great revivsls
which were then making we'll mig
every camp vocal with Gods prais
and which went graciously on unit
over Is, 900 of Lees soldiers had pre-
fessed faith in Christ as their pei
, sonal Savior.
AS we rose to leave, Rev. DIR. K. i
. Lacy, Stonewall Jackson's old chaI
lain, said: General. think it rigt
to say to YOU that you have warl
place in the hearts of the chaplains
: this army, and that some of the mo:
frequent prayers offered in our NEE
ings are in your behalf" His fac
flushed, his eyes filled with tears, an
he said, almost choking with em'
ton: please thank them for tina
| can only say that | am only Just
poor sinner trusting in Christ aior
for salvation, and / need all of tt
> prayers that can be offered in my b.
half" Upon several other occasion
!, heard him express himself in simils
5 terms.
will not take space now to tell I
| his active efforts to promote the r
. lipious interests of his men; his dali
!, study of Gods word: his habit
il secret prayer-or his attendance ,
. the prayer-meetings of his soldier
When, in October, 1865, he went |
). Lexington, Va. as president of tt
Washington College he at once inau'
urated the most active measures II
: the religious welfare of his student
: Indeed, do not hesitate to say th
! never knew a college president WI
: manifested so anxious a concern II
4 the salvation of his students as d
: General Lee. He said, with de'
\ emotion: 81 shall fail in the chi
: object which brought me here if a
i not able to influence these young MT
: to become earnest Christians.
= 1 dread the thought that any stude
Z should go away from the college wit
- out hecominp a real Christian.