The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20

In this age OF hero worship there is a
natural tendency to conceal the faults
and unduly exalt the virtues OF great
men. Indeed, some attempts have been
made to galvanize into Christians men of
notoriousIy immoral lives. This iS SO
well understood that 1t Is very natural
that men should discount what is said
about the Christian characters of our
heroes.
In reference to the Christian character
of Robert Edward Lee. however. 1 may
say that IL was my personal privilege to
know him intimately, to have come into
frequent contact with him during the
War between the States to have been
one OF tho Chaplains of Washington Col
lege during the five years he was its
president. seeing him almost daily; to
have been a frequent guest in his homo.
and to have had him as an occasional
guest under my own humble roof; to have
been one of that loving band who bore
him to tire tomb when two continents
,nourned his death. and to have had ac-
cess TO hts private letters and papers after
he had left us. am able. therefore. to
speak that v4iich l know and to testify
to that which 1 have seen" when write
about the inner life of this great man.
/ might write of Robert r. Lee as n
1UDuei ana bUedh OF MS ueNotiol W
duty: his modest humility simplicity and
gentleness: his spirit of self-denia for the
good of others: his firmness In carrying
out his purpose, but respect for the rights
and feelings OF others: his social charac-
ter; his love for children, and his beauti-
full domestic life But 1 shall strictly
conhne myself in this paper to the
Christian character of this military chief
tain. think that can show that he
was an humble devout Christian, who
trusted In Christ as his personal Saviour.
and tried to follow with firm tread the
captain OF our Salvation"
l had heard good deal OF Gen. Lees
Christian character. had seen him as
devout worshipper at our camp services,
had noted expressions In his official papers
indicating his firm trust In an overruiing
Providence. and had heard many incl
dents showing that he was decided
Christian. But my first personal interview
with him on RELIGIOUS matters was when
] was n member of committee of our
Chaplains' Association to ask his help in
bringing about better observance of the
sabbath in the army. He received aus
with the greatest courtesy. treated us
with the highest respect, entered prompt
~ into our views, and reminded us of n
previous order he had issued in which he
had directed abstinence on Sunday from
all duties not absolutely necessary. He
then promptly Issued a new order in
which among other things he directed
that none but duties strictly necessary
shall be required to be performed on
Sunday. and that the labor both of men
and animals which it Is practicable to
anticipate or postpone. or the Immediate
performance of which is not essential to
the safety. health, or comfort of the
army. shall be suspended on that day.
Chaplains Prayed for Him.
As We were about to leave his tent Rev.
B. Il. Lacy, "Stonewall" Jackson's chap
lain, said: TT think 1T right that I
should say to you, General that the
chaplains Of this army have deep in
terest in your welfare. and that some of
tho most fervent prayers we offer are In
Sour behalf" His face flushed. tears
started to his eyes, and he replied with
choked utterance and deep emotion:
please thank them for that, sir. I
warmly appreciate 1t. And can only
say that I am nothing but poor sinner,
trusting in Christ alone for Salvation.
and need all of the prayers that can BIO
offered for me-
At one of the meetings of the Concert
of Prayer for Colleges held at Wash
ington College not love after General Lee
became It's president. the writer of this
paper gave a talk in which he urged that
the great need Of that college and of all
of our colleges, was revival of religion
in the hearts of Christians ns we'll as
among tho unconverted: that we wanted
a genuine "God-sent revival" not one that
IMAM might manipulate and "get up but
such one MS God alone could send
down." that the Holy Spirit alone could
give us such q revival, and that we
needed to repent of our sins, come back
from our wanderings, reconsecrate our
selves to the service of the Lord. and
beslege the 'blood- bought mercy seat"
for the presence and power of the Holy
Spirit.
After the meeting General Lee came
across the chapel to take mo warmly by
the hand and say, IT want to thank you
for your tax. sir You struck the very
keynote of our wants. We poor sinners
need to come back from our wonderings.
to seek pardon through thu all-suflcient
merits of our Redeemer. And we need to
pray earnestly for tho power OF the Holy
Spirit to give us precious revival in
our own hearts and among the uncon-
verted,
Upon several other occasions I heard
HIM Axpress himself In similar terms. and