The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-04-09
Baltimore Sun. March both

cerces of His Later Lie as College
President-Left No "Last Words. +"
Baltimore Sun. March both.
Rev. J. William Jones, of Richmond.
secretary of the Confederate Memorial
Association, paid II tender and elo-
Quent tribute to General Lee in q ser
mon on "rhe Religious Character of
Robert f. Lee" at North Avenue
Baptist Church last night. DR.. Jones
was personal friend of General Lee,
having come in contact with him
many times during the war, and be-
ing chaplain at Washington College
(now Washington and Lee Universe
ty). Lexington, Va, during General
Lees presidency of that institution.
DR.. Jones gave many incidents of the
piety and deeply religious character
of the great Confederate leader.
The sermon was preceded by the
singing of "How Firm Il Foundation,
Ye Saints of the Lord" DR.. Jones
mentioned that this hymn was ia
vorite both of General Lee and Gen
eral Jackson and was sung at the
funerals of the two soldiers.
DR.. Jones took as his text Acts xi,
24: For he was a good man andfull
OF the Holy Ghost and of faith"
'It would not be appropriate to
use this language OF many OF the
worlds public men, and especially of
the soldiers, he said, "but | am here
to declare with emphasis that it may
well be said of the great man ofwhom
| am to speak Robert Edward Lee
was a good man and full of the Holy
Ghost and of faith From Harper's
Ferry to AppomattoX | followed his
standard and learned his Christian
character, but especially during the
last five years of his life, as president
of Washington College, did he show
those qualities that proved him
greater in peace than in war"
FIRST TALK ON RELIGION.
Dir. Jones told of the first time he
came in close enough contact with
General Lee to talk of religious mat
ters With Rev. B. I. Lacy, chap
lain at the headquarters of General
Jackson, he had been appointed by
the Chaplains' Association to ask
General Lee to order a suspension of
Sunday drills so far as possible. DR..
Jones spoke of the delicate courtesy
with which they had been received.
Next day." he said, 1.-THE General
issued a beautiful order enioining
that nothing should be done on Sun
day by men or horses that was not
necessary for the sustenance or safety
of the army, and that all officers
should impress upon the men the
duty OF Christian observance OF the
day"
On leaving the General Rev Mr..
Lacy told him how warm a place he
held in the hearts of the chaplains
and of the many prayers offered for
him.
"Please thank them for that, said
the General. II am but poor sin
ner, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ
for salvation, and need all their
prayers
General Lee was one of the most
trustful men in Gods providence |
ever saw" said Dr. Jones. "His love
of the Scriptures and devotion to the
study of Gods Word were beautiful.
The day after his death | sat by his
body, counting it privilege to be a
watcher there, and | picked up a
Bible from the table On the flyleaf
were the words, 'R. E. Lee, lieutenant
colonel U. S. A. | opened it and saw
that the passages marked were the
more tender ones concerning personal
salvation and the help to be foundin
Gods Word. thought how the old
book had influenced him in being the
man he was. In the army he was a
daily reader and student of the Scrip
lures, even in his most active cam
paigns, and when he came to the col
Iege he did everything in his power
to promote its study, becoming pres
ident of the Rockbridge Bible Society.
In letter to Hon. Beresford Hope,
of England, who, with others, had
sent him IA Rihle, he said: 1T is the
book compared to which, in my view,
all Others are of minor Importance,
and in all my perplexities, it has new
er failed to give Inc light. To me he
said once:
"'There 4" are things in that book
that / may not be able to explain,
but ! believe them with all my heart
and accept them as the inspired word
OF God
MAN OF PRAYER.
General Lee was a man OF prayer.
He always had family prayers at
home and while president OF Wash
ington College was never absent from
prayers in the chapel unless away
from the town or too sick to attend.
DR.. Jones told OF an incident at
Mine Run in November, 1864, when
Meade had crossed the river and Lee
moved out to meet him. With Gen.
A. Z. Hill, Lee was riding in the rear
OF the lines when he came to one Of
the prayer meetings which were held
SO often when battle was imminent.
He reined up Traveller" said the
doctor, "and when those humble sol
diers arose from their knees they