The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-25
IN HONOR OF
GENERAL Lee
IMPRESSIVE EXERCISES At THE
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
COMMUNICATING HIS -
BIRTHDAY.
Veterans, Citizens, Officials, oaueh-
tiers Of the cOnfederaey And
Cadets Take Part in Exercises

service al tut EAAoA ACehCuAoN
Saturday, to concentrating the
1OOdth anniversary Of the birthday OF
General Robert E. Lee.
The picture on the street in front
of the church was beautiful and touch
ing as the veterans of "a, many OF
them in the Confederate grey, bent
with years and thei' locks frosted by
the SHOWS of many winters. marched
ND from one direction and were met
by the soldiers of tomorrow-the long
line of cadets from the Columbia Mill
tary Academy Some Of the old vet
Grams limped from wounds received in
some of the bloodiest and hardest bat
ties in the annals Of history. The
footsteps of all dragged slowly with
the burden of years, while the cadets
marched with a lively, springy step, but
as some of the cadets said, they would
not like to meet as brave set OF men
as those veterans on the field OF bat
tie. for no drawer, stauncher set OF
men ever faced fire. The veterans
marched under the banner Of the
bivouac.
Coming down thu side walk from
the Elks Club were the noble women
of the two chapters of the Daughters
of the Confederacy, and here too was
a beautiful contrast. The handsome
patrons of the Merry Chapter were
led by Mrs. E. W. Carmack, while
their banner was carried by Master
Edward Carmack. Marching by their
side under TIE leadership of Miss EN-
ma Wooten land following the banner
carried by Master James Wooten were
the pretty girls of the Winnie Davis
Chapter. Business men, county OF
ncials, ladies, in fact citizens ef every
station followed ipta the church till
the large auditorium could hold no
more. In fact the interest In the cere-
monies was general and the spirit OF
loyalty and reverence shown for the
Lost Cause and its peerless leader
was marked.
The church was decorated in ever
green's and banners and with large
pictures of General Lee. One OF the
banners was loaned by Mr.. J. N.
Dedman and was the bullet torn and
blood-stained battle flag Of the 2Oth
Alabama regiment, of which his father
was colonel.
The interest in the exercises was
unusual. Major w. ]. Whitthorne
the President OF Leonidas Polk Bfv'
ouac. was master of ceremonies. The
exercises were opened by the singing
of the hymn, How Firm a Founda'
ton" which Mai. WhithoTne said wa
Gen. Lees favorite hymn. Rock OF
Ages" Stonewall Jackson's favorfte
was sung next. Rev J. w. Cherry
then delivered a prayer, and Major
J. r. Williamson resd Gen. Lees last
charge to his men. Maj. Whitthorne
then introduced the speaker OF the
day Rev. r. Lin Cave of Nashville
himself survivor at the Lost Cause
Or. Caves Address.
Dr Cave delivered splendid ad
dress: 1t was replete with information
II was forceful, but not as some al
dresses upon such occasions are, fui
some. It was earnest and full OF pathos
at times: 1t was candid and loyal anc
+rue but without one word of bitter
ness rebellion Sor regret. His splen
did audience listened with rapt atten
tion Now and then you might see
tear coursing its way down the fur
rowed cheek of veteran; the mex
moment you might see his oreas'
baave his face light up and his eye
burn with a renewed fire as the orator
touched upon some fact which reawka
ened some almost forgotten fact II
h;s earlier life Viewed from the
choir loft the congregation was In
sniring The young and the old, tht
high and the low. the rich and th'
moor all had met together to do honor
to the memory of the most matchlesi
man of his generation.
DR.. Cave began with Robt. Lee
boyhood. and followed him through al
tbe eyentful stages of his eventfu
life He told of his ancestors; that NJ
was well born: that he enjoyed th'
rich legacy of good birth fortunate
indeed the boy who has good fatheI
and a better mother The father NJ
said died young. and the mother wal
nm invalid. and responsibilities Tel
early upon young Robt. Lee. An'
aar,y he developed the characterls
tics that made him great. he wa'
nunctual painstakine and thorough
ana he Idolized his mother, and wa
her nurse and almost constant com
nant,n When he left home ana wen