The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
SPEAKS
IN SOUTHWEST
Roanoke Not Behind Any Com
munity in State in Observance
Of Lee Centennial.
rsnecI,l Ia The T,mes.plspatch,1

Especial 10 Ine I!mes-DlSp
n ROANOKE VA, January l9.-St
Johns Church was crowded long
before the hour set for the Lee services,
which We're conducted by Rev. w. II.
Milton. the rector. The two favorite
hymns of General Lee, How Firm a
Foundation" and For All the Saints
Who From Their Lahors Rest" were
sung. and the anthem Come Unto Me.
by the vested choir of the church.
General Lees farewell address to his
men was read by DIR. Milton, after which
he mad. the memorial address.
The solema and impressive church ser.
vices We're followed at the Academy of
Music by one of the most brilliant
celebrations ever witnessed in the city.
The beauty and fashion of the city
was out in full force. William Watts
Chapter, Daughters of Confederacy, Of
this city; Southern Cross Chapter. Of
Salem: William Watts Camp Of Confed-
crate Veterans, of this city, and Hupp.
lJeyerle Camp, of Salem. and Albert
Sidney Johnston Camp. Sons OF Gonfed-
crate Veterans, We're out in large num-
bers. All the organizations wore their
badges, and the stage-boSes We're beauti-
fully decorated with colors OF the Con-
.federacy.
The Roanoke Machine Band irst gave
Shortly before s Governor Swanson en-
tered. and was greeted with enthusiastic
applause, mixed with rebel yells. Old
Confederates occupied seats on the stage
with him, while on either side and be-
fore him We're boxes filled with beautiful
women.
The exercises opened In camp style,
after prayer by Rev. DR.. Keister, Cap
tain J. v. Hooper, commander OF William
lvlN t.st. INT.
camp was called by Captain S. l.. Crute.
the adjutant.+ Captain Hooper then in
troduced Hon. S. n. Trout as master
OF ceremonies Mr.. Trout introduced ex-
Mayor James P. Woods, who presented
Governor Swanson
The Governor first expressed the great
pleasure 1t gave him to address the people
of Roanoke, especially in exercises that
Were commemorate of the one-hundredth
anniversary OF the bir..h of Robert E. Lee
declaring that he was the foremost OF
sail sons of Virginia He then described
Lee as father patriots citizen and
soldier. and exhibited his prominence and
almost perfection in various relations of
life. He said the main distinctive forces
that controlled Lees life were devotion
to duty and strict adherence to what
he considered to be right under all cir
cumstances and conditions.
This characterized him on the SUI
preme hour OF victory. and in the
agony OF defeat at Appomattox, he said
1t was the same mo tive that controlled
Leo. when he refused to take command
OF the Federal army and gave his
sword to Virginia, the same spirit that
controlled him when he refused to leave
Virginia and accept honorable employ
ment with a great salary. but preferred
TO serve his State and country as a
simple teacher Lees character was SO
firmly planted that malice or detrac-
tion had not been able to point to a
single little act or ignoble deed He
said that Lees colossal figure In
creased lin proportion with each sue
ceeding year as the greatest military
genius of the world
AT the conclusion OF the Governors
speech Mr.. T., w Speed, representing the
Sons of Veterans, presented the medal
which was awarded to the writer OF the
hest essay on the causes that led 10
the war, which was offered by the
Daughters of the Confederacy, to Miss
Hattie French
Crosses of honor Were then conferred
on the following veterans; Messrs j.
]. Adams. It, F. Barksdale, II. c. Brown
Gniy l.. Bush, Andrew Jackson Davis
John Driscol Norborn Fuqua, j. S, Har-
,is, ". j. Jones, VIM. II. Layman. II. s,
l4ayne, NJ A. Luck, Robert Morris, w
G. OVERLY. NJ, " obenchain, NJ. Math-
eny. j. w Scott and NJ, j. Vineyard
Adjutant Crlte read the list, and as
the name was called a young girl pinned
the cross aon the breast of the veteran.
A cross was also given to Mrs. William
Gordon Robertson, her father having been
n gallant Confederate soldier. The pre-
sentation was made by Colonel Thomas
Lewis