The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-01-22
LEES NAME HONORED
Memorial Services at St. Georges
Church.
HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS READ
FaVulte Hymns Sung-Beautful Tribute To The
Peerless Leader BY Or. Rosebfo.

celebrated in this city in "A manner beiit
ting the name and fame of the Southern
chieftain.
The public memorial service at St
Georges church at - O'Clock was the
main feature OF the day. At the time OF
the opening OF the service the church
was crowded. The members Of Maury
Camp aud other Confederate Veterans
had previously gathered at the court
house and marched in body to the
church. The Daughters o. the Conleder-
acy also attended in body, as well n
the Ladies Memorial Association, and T.
S. Chew Camp, Sons OF Confederate Vet
Grams, was also we'll represented. Ladies
and citizens were ont in large numbers.
At noon the services opened with the
professional, Soldiers Of Christ. Arise,
by the selected choir, arranged under the
direction of MR.. Charles l.. Iackett.
This was followed 10y ier'ent prayer
by Rev. j II. Light, pastor OF the Meth
odist church. The singing Of How
Firm Foundation, - one Of Gen. Lee's
iavorite hymns, 10y the choir, the audi
ence joining 10, followed.
Gen. Lees farewell address was i'm
pressiyely read by Rev r. Aubrey viii
Hams, pastor OF the Baptist church, and
another selection, Come Unto Me" WAS
rendered by the choir.
The address of the occasion was then
delivered by Rev. DR.. }, W. R0sebro,
pastor Of the Presbyterian church aud
president OF fredericksburg College. DR..
Rosebro took for his subject "The Life
and Character OF Gen. Lee
REV. DIR. j. W. ROsEBRO's Address.
The address was eloquent and appro-
pirate and was listened to with pleasure
aud interest by the large audience. Dr..
Rosebro said ia part:
The days of bitter feeling have surely
gone when the North gives iull sympathy
10 the South. as she with one heart and
i'm ole accord meets at this hour to com.
memorate the one hundredth anniversary
OF the birth OF r. +. Lee. Not only so,
but the North also unites withus IN pay
ing tribute 10 his memory as one ol the
foremost patriots aud nOblest Christians
OF America.
Today one of Massachusetts, leading
men, Charles Francis Adams. IL at this
hour speaking words OF eloquent eulogy
over the South's great leader. Think OF
H. In 1861, the press OF Massachusetts,
the pulpits. the orators. all united in Bit
ter attack on this great rebel and
traitor"
God be thanked that this change has
come. All praise 10 tie nObler portion of
Americans that they can rise above par
tizan prejudice, and honor truth and pa
triOtism, North or South.
Is there an intelligent patriot IN the
South who does not honor Abraham
Lincoln At one time his name was the
synonym Of all that was coarse and bru-
tal aud tyranuical now We honor his
great and tender heart aud know that
his as.assin's bullet slew the trupst friend
the South had in ths North.
Ii is not OF lee, the captain OF the in
comparable army OF Northern Virginia
in the terrible conflict. nor OF his mighty
battles / speak today Our poor words
could not add % his fame. He stands
acknOW lodged a. the peer OF the greatest
commanders OF all ages aud Of all lands.
Never had any great captain "A nobler
soldiery; never had nObler sOldiery a
greater commander. Poets can give to
Us King Arthur aud his knights as the
ideal of all that was noble and brave,
but Lee and the knightly spirits around
him made fact more true and beautiful
than romance. IL would not be- in keep
ing with this house OF God. where per-
chance when war Numbered he came to
worship the Prince Of Peace, nor with
the spirit Of this sacred hour set apart
throughout the South 10 commemorate
his Christian virtues, To speak OF strife
and battles AMI bloodshed.
wish 20 emphasize two iacts-iirst,
the vindication of the South given by the
character and li- OF Lee; second, the in
SEPARATION Of his Christian life.
IN. Yindication Of the South.-Let me
remind you that almost with the life Of
the colonies began two different views Of
which eventually crystal
lied into the North ami SOUTH one
held that the Federal government was
the unit Of government, the other that
the State was, so that the chief allegiance
in one section was given 10 the MON, in
the other to the State.
There can be little doubt that the ma.
jority Of those who drew up the Declare
ton OF Independence, The Articles Of
and the Constitution Of
United States held the view that they
were organizing a Coniederaey OF States;
a voluntary compact for protection and
benefit; from which any State might
withdraw at will. The logic OF this
picture il unanswerable.
Now 20 with me TO Arlington and see
that noble figure walking back and forth
in the wide pOrticO overlooking the
Potomac and Washington. That man
loved the Union so much that he could
truly say, "Wers all the slaves OF the
South mine. would freely give them to
cave the Union He had just been
offered the highest position in the army
of his country. Could he accept that
honor and draw his sword against Yir-
zinia2 His president vision saw the
final victory OF the North.
Harsh, bitter and cruel the struggle,
aud undimmed
The altar OF duty shone out OF the dusk,
And love burned away all dreaming OF
drOss.
But he knew not when yielding one
sword for another
de had carved on the heart OF his coun-
try forever
Leel"
Can Lee be called Traitor, " "Rebe"-
AN men who followed Lee be called
traitors? He Is but the illustrious repre-
sentative OF men who followed him to
sacrifice and suffering and death, and Of
women no less heroic and noble. Shall
men and women who have made suprem
,st sacrifices and followed the pure white
light of duty be called by any name less
patriots?
No wonder that today, with the life OF
zee before them, no intelligent man can
peak of the rebellion and rebels. We
have our united country, but may no
ever cease TO glory In the
,anse that was lost and in-Lee.
~. His Christian Characterize said
At Lexington, Va, when speaking OF the
character of one under discussion, But
Of all be is a Christian gentleman" That
was the crown of Lees own head.