Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-02-06
DIR. James Cannon Writes OF His
Visit to Lexington

y
Visit to Lexington
Following are the Impressions of
Rev. DR.. James Cannon, editor of
the Baltimore and Richmond
Christian Advocate, on his recent
visit to Lexington as published in
last weeks issue of his paper: .
"Some weeks ago / received an
invitation from Washington and
Lee University to attend the ex'
ercises to be held in commemora-
ton of the centennial of the birth.
day of General Robert E. Lee. AS
a man cannot attend such a cele'
bration but once in a lifetime, and
as l considered that the nest az
propriate spot in the world fcr
such celebration is Washington
ard Lee University, I Immediately
accepted the invitation, and made
nv plans to attend. A week or
two before the time l was request
ed to preach in Lexington on
Civic Righteousness, so having
q two-fold call upon my patriotism,
whatever hesitation | might have
had before IN view of pressure oil
other duties, passed entirely away
"Lexlngton is an ideal location
for an institution of learning. 1t
is in a beautiful section of cuun-
try, on the banks of che prong OF
the James river. 1t has communi'
caticn with Lyuchburg ON the
south, and with Staunton on the
north, and the community is
sufficiently large to provide for the
physical needs of the STUDENT body,
and there is probably as much
social life as is good fer the stu
dents. The freedom from the dis
reactions and excitement of city life
ls 10 doubt a great help to discip'
line and to the best development OF
the powers of the young men there
assembled.
"Then Uiversltylis finely located
The principal buildings are on the
summit of hill which slopes gent
ly in front and in the rear, giving
fresh air in abundance and good
drainage. While the buildings
cannot be called imposing,yet they
are substantial, commodious, sight
ly and we'll arranged. The old
college building stands in the cen
ter and carries one back to the
period of half q century ago, ard
on either side of it have been built
more modern structures. The
general appearance of the campus
and of the buildings inside and
outside suggested careful manage
nent. i was pleased with tie
general bearing and department of
the student body, and although
not an advocate of a general mix
ture of college and university
students, the number of university
studer rs has not yet reached such
proportions as to affect very mate
rally the discipline and atmos-
phere.
81 met several members of the
faculty, had net some CT them be-
fore. They were pleasant and
courteous, and stand well in the
educational world. The standard
of the wcrk done ls fully abreast
Of the times. DR.. George H.Denny,
the president of the university, l
have known for several years. AL
though a comparatively young
man, about SO years old, be has
made an excellent record. He VIZ s
a good teacher, and although it is
u severe test of a man to put him
in the chair which has been occu-
pied by General Lee and W.L.Wil-
son, he has measured uI fully to the
demands made upon him, and has
made a fine executive officer.
81 preached It the Methodist
church morning and night. l was
pleased With the church and the
people. Notwithstanding the fact
that Rockbridge was settled by the
Scotch Presbyterians, and that
the University Itself is strongly
Presbyterian in sentiment and iE-
Auerc e, MethCd ism has good fol-
lowing Of substantial people. They
have a good plant, the church and
parsonage both being we'll adapted
to their needs. The congregation
fills the auditorium comfortably,
and they listen well, end consider
Ing the way they bore the night
sermon Of considerably more then
an hour in length, should say
that they were patient people.
The cadets from the Virginia Mill
tary Institute are an interesting
part of the audience, as young men
always are.
"rhe subject Of the night SER
mon was Civic Righteousness,
with special reference to law en-
forcenent. Lexir gton is like every
other place which has voted against
licer sing of the saloon. 1t hes
found that no law enforces itself,
and that there will always be per-
sons who will violate the law, if
they think that they can make
money by SO doing, and will take
the risk Of getting caught. Such
persons must be treated as the vic
lators Of all other lave are treated
They must be eau BIT and punish
ed as severely as the law allows,