The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-24

u. C. v, Birmingham, January 10, 1904,
the anniversary of the birth of Robert
e. Leo
Today ninety-seven years ago, January
10. 1907. there was born at Stratford Man.
sion. Wesmoreland county. Virginia, the
most perfect and illustrious man that
fourished during the nineteenth century,
Robert Edmund Lee.
He was the equal of the 1oftiest char
acter that had preceded him for ten CEN
turtles. He was born in the same room OF
the same house in which were born two
of the signers of the Declaration OIL IN
dependence, Richard Henry and Francis
Lightfoot Lee Thus we are informed that
the place where he was born and the IL
lustrious ancestry from which he sprang
were each and all suggestive OF the I'M
mortal and renowned character that then
first saw light.
But one incident in the annals OF the
race has there been superior to that ABOUT
which we are speaking and that was the
birth of the Goldman when the angels OF
heaven on the Judean hills proclaimed,
nC,lorv TO God in the highest, and on
earth peace. goodwill toward men" On
earth there had been born a Savior OF
mankind.
Other Duties Pressing.
While 1t is a part Of the purposes of this
meeting to celebrate the birthday oil Cen
eral Lee, vet the situation of affairss and
the rapid passing Of time that now con-
front us, suggests that 1t would be an in
appropriate intrenchment upon the time,
that should be devoted to the discharge
of other pressing duties for me to enter
upon a discussion of the causes and
events of the "War between the states
in which the sublime majesty OF Lees
character burst forth in full orbed
splendor. What l say shall be limited to
Lees character as a man as from the
character of an individual spring forth
and are predicated the deeds that shed
such glory and honor upon human life.
The world loves hero, and heroic cour-
age in one covers a multitude of defects
of character in worldly estimation.
1t is possible to find the equal of Lee
in some one virtue or gifts in the lives
of those who went before him, but it Is
difficult to point out character that
embraces to such a marked degree,
development and practice of all the exa1t-
ed virtues that lift men above the grovel-
ing elements of this life and place them
upon the hills of Zion, as were contained
in the character of General Lee.
Qualities of Lee.
His sagacity and prudence might find a
parallel in Fabius; his justice, love of
truth and patriotic firmness might centre
in Aristides and Cato; his unselfishness
and devotion to what his conscience in
structed him was right his disinterested
soul might be seen in the life of Cincin-
natius his heroic courage might be found
in the prowess of Caesar; his military
genius might find an example in Bona
parte: his patriotism and love of truth
finds an equal in that of Washington.
Yet General Lee, possessing in an equal
degree q combination of all those virtues
that made so undying and illustrious
those immorteles of the past, his humble
Christian spirit, his purity of thought his
chastity of conduct his obedience to God
shone with such untarnished lustre in the
sublimity and nobleness of his character,
that we have to turn to the pages of the
Sacred Book to find his prototype in
Moses, Joshua and Paul.
Enthroned in the admiration OF the
world, without a superior In the history
of the race his character stands among
the children of men like some ancient
and colossal ruin amid the degenerate
and more diminutive structures of modern
times, its vast proportions magnified by
the contrast, and its virtues made more
resplendent by the halls of glory that en-
circles the memory of his compeers.
Care for Invalid Mother.
Tn his youth the care and close atten-
ton to his invalid mother, was a pressing
duty upon his time yet amid all this he
was prompt at school and well prepared
at all recitations. Attending to all domes
tic duties, assuming all household cares
to relieve his afflicted parent, ever alert
and quick to respond to her every want,
he was so sympathetic, so gentle and so
tender that woman without detracting
from her own nature, might claim them
all for her own.
Ever a prompt attendant upon divine
service, and a devoted pupil of the Sab
bath school il would seem that Lee was
ever a consecfated Christian As general
in command of the armies of the Confed
eracy he would ride along his battle lines
and coming upon his soldiers engaged UNI
der the trees in prayer meeting he
would dismount from his war-horse and
Join with his men in humble and sup
plant petitions to his Heavenly Father
for His blessings.
To Church Triumphant.
Never ashamed to acknowledge his
Savior before the world, he passed out
from the folds of the church militant into
the glories of the church triumphant in
the heavens beyond the stars. He was so
submissive to discipline, so obedient to
lawful authority. so strong in the recti-
tude of his conduct, that he became the
adjutant of the corps of cadets at West
Point and graduated from the military
academy without a demerit He was at
once assigned to the engineer corps, one
of the most honorable and highest dis
tinctions that can be awarded a graduate.
General Scott said Lee was his right arm
in Mexico not only did he locate and
adjust the battle lines on the march from
Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, but
often he guided brigades and divisions in
to action. lie was ever on the firing, his
martial spirit ever inspiring him to be-
lieve the post of honor is the post OF dam
ger.
Not to encroach upon the domain of
history, but to exhibit the conservation OF
Lee to the discharge of any duty. what
ever personal peril might be involved to
him, | call attention to an incident of
the Mexican war, mentioned by General
Scott in his report.
An Heroic Deed.
Before the battle of Contreras. SCOTS
troops had become separated by what was
known as the field fof Pedresal, a most
dangerous locality Of rocks and lava, BIZ
sected with numerous drains ad such i'm
mense bitches caused by some volcanic
upheaval as to make it impossible on
bnrgabapl< Rands of EfroliinQ MqxfpanS