The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
One-Time Capital of the
Confederate States
Celebrates.
NOTABLE SPEECHES:
IMPOSING SERVICES
People Of All Glasses and Com
ditions Show Honor to Great
Chieftain - Members Of
Family Present Dur
ing Exercises.
Parade.

The one-hundredtn anniversary of tho
birth of General Robert e. Lee was cele-
brated with appropriate exercises all over
the South yesterday, especially in yir-
ginia, and in no part of the State or In
the country perhaps was the occasion
more fittingly observed than In this city,
the one-time capital of the Confederacy.
The day opened dark and gloomy.
Heavy clouds hung over tho city, and in
the early morning there was dense fog
| that made the face of the earth uninvit-
ing. Nevertheless the men who followed
Lee in darker days than yesterday wera
early astir, and so were their children
and children's children, who, to the ever
| lasting honor of their forefathers, have
been taught from infancy to love and
| reverence the name OF the great chieftain,
All We're bent on doing honor to tha
man who led when real leaders were
needed. and who. in all the trials and
sufferings that came to devotedly
patriotic people, never wavered In his
staunch allegiance to tho right and the
true. Il
Simple Program.
The arrangements that had been made
and the program that had been outlined
| were simplicity itself. and we'll in ac-
cord with the life and character Of the
The features of tho day were in the
nature of continual sacred service, and
the first of these was at Richmond Cof-
lege in the early morning. There the
usual morning religious exercises wera
converted into simple exercises in honor
of the greatest of modern soldiers and
men ttss
| 1t was known to only the college FAM.
ily'' that the morning service would BID
| in the nature of q Lee memorial, but all
| the students were present. and SO were.
| the officials of the institution including
the professors and their families. The
service was of the usual religious char
| acter. followed by short addresses by Ds
T. w. Bcatwright. the president of the
college: DR.. w. II. Whitsitt and DIR. G.
Fr. Ryland
The main service Of the day took place
at st. Paul's Church. beginning at noon,
and was attended by vast concourse
of people. Including old veterans, nenl-
bers OF the Confederate patriotic socie-
ties OF various kinds. and as many peo-
pie as the large auditorium could hold.
The music and all the exercises Were in
keeping with the occasion, and the SER
mon of Bishop Randolph. of the Episco-
pal Diocese of Southern Virginia, was
an oration Of rare merit.
There had been some uncertainty as to
provided for In the published program.
This was because of the inclemency of
the weather The men who We're to be-
most conspicuous in the parade We're
the aged soldiers who followed Lee in
the dark days, They are all old novt, and
many of them descrepit These men
could not turn out in bad weather. and
Lee day parade without the veterans
would be impossible. and so 1t had been
arranged between the executive commits
tee and the chief marshal that in the,
event of rain at the appointed hour tho
parade would be abandoned In the
early afternoon the clouds rolled by, the
sun came out just little, and 1t became
almost an ideal afternoon for just such
a quiet demonstration as had been hoped,
for.
The arrangements for the parade
were quickly completed and at the ap-
pointed hour the Veterans, the local
military, tho bands OF music. the drum
corps, the young "Covenanters. the
guests of honor, the officials OF the
patriotic societies and the people gem
orally formed In line and moved up
Franklin Street, to the magnificent
Lee Monument, where the service was
again simple and impressive. no
floral tokens OF love and affection that
can never die as long as Virginia
babies are taught to lisp the name OF
Robert Il. Lee, were laid at the base
of the marble statue that shall speak
his praises as long as the world stands.
After the Parade.
Perhaps the most delightful event Of
the day was that which took place at
tho rooms of the. Virginia Historical Sos
ciety in the aftrrnoon after the parade.
1t had been announced that the society,
which occupies the famous house No.
707 East Franklin Street, which WAS the
home of tho Lees in the sixties. would be
presented with painting of General
Lee, made by Mrs. Andrews, the dauglt-
ter OF Dr. Mlnnegerode who was Gen-
eral Lees rector and pastor during the
war,
At about $50 o'clock a goodly company
assembled in the rooms, aud was called
to order By Mr.. Joseph Bryan He an-
nounced in a few remarks ,hat the gath
erIpE was to receive the picture pre-
sented by Mrs, Andrews
The beautiful painting was unveiled ny
two little daughters OF Captain Robert y,
Lee Jr. granddaughters of the great
general and they We're introduced IN an
informal way to the audience by Miss
Mary Lee. the generals daughter TFa
little girls gracefully pulled the cords
that held the veilinG over the nagniit.
cent picture, and Captain w, Gordon Mc-
Cabe received 1t In the name or the Y
society. Captain AicCahe's address. IN
receiving the work of art was a gem OF
oratory. tis
AT S o'clock the mems club OF the Sec
ond Baptist Church held q Meeting, aHd
heard addresses on General Lee by
Thomas Nelson Page and Mr., T.. w
Valentine: poem by Mrs, Rosher. aud a
musical selections, This was followed hy
II reception In the parlors OF tho chureh. T
AT S:i5 II. u. Lee Camp, Confederate
Veterans. tho camp OF sons.i4f Veterans.
and the Daughters Of ta,.'ConfSdsrnaya