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

Always Acknowledged God.
A firm believer in an everything Provi.
dcnce. his dispatches. reports, and orders
ibreathed a spirit Of trust In and depend
ence upon "the Lord OF Hosts" He be-
gan his announcement OF the victory at
Cold Harbor and Gaines Mill. June q,
1862. by saying: Profoundly grateful to
Almighty God for the signal victory
granted us" In his order OF congratu-
lation and thanks to his troops. after
the victories OF Seven Days Around
richmond" he used the expression PRO
foundly grateful to the Giver OF all VIC
tory" TTe begins his announcement Of
his victory at Fredericksburg with
Thanks be to God" And he says in
his dispatch after Charlottesville. I'VE
have again to thank Almighty God for a
great victory"
In his general order to his army at this
time. he says.
While this glorious victory entities yol,
to the praise and gratitude of your peo-
pie. we are especially called upon to re-
turn our grateful thanks to the Giver OF
victory for the signal deverance he has
wrought. It Is. therefore. earnestly REQ
commended that the troops unite, on Sun
day next, In ascrfbing unto the LORD OF
Hosts tho glory due unto His name"
He closed his order for the observance
OF the Fast day." appointed by Presl-
dent Davis for August q. 1863. with these
ringing words: SOLDIERS. we have ahmed
against Almighty God. We have for
gotten his signal rneroies and have oul-
tivated a revengeful. naughty. and
boastful spirit. We have not remembered
that the defenders of Just cause should
be pure In his eyes. that our lives are
| L. d.
much on our own arms for the achieve
ment OF our Independence. God Is our
refuge and our strength.
| ''Lee US humble ourselves before him,
let us confess our many sins and
beseech him to give us a higher
! courage. n purer patriotism. a more
determined will. that He will con-
vert the hearts of our enemies. that
He Will hasten the time when war,
with its sorrows and suffcrings. shall
cease. and that He will give us n
name and place among the nations
| OF the earth. r. E. Lee, General"
| can never forget the effect pro-
duced by the reading OF this order
| at the aolemn services Of this MEM
| orable fast day. ~ revival was al
ready in progress in many of the
commands; the day was almost uni
versa11y observed the attendance upon
| large. TIC solemn attention and
starting tears attested the deep in
| terest felt, and the work of grace
| among the troops wdened and deep
ened. and went gloriously. on until
over fifteen thousand of the soldiers
| Of Lees army had professed repen-
| lance toward God and faith In Jesus
Christ.
The above are given as specimens
OF his oruers and dispatches They
| might be almost indefinitely multi
piled. and copious extracts from his
private letters might be given to show
that he constantly felt. and in every
proper way acknowledged. his utter
dependence upon Gods overruling pro-
violence.
Always an Active Worker.
General Lee fully realized that he
was saved to serve" and was always
an active worker for the good of
others. He did what he could to pro-
mote the religious interests of his
soldiers. and the chaplains and mis-
sionaries found ann always ready to
give them his active cooperation.
When he came to Washington Col
lege he took the most active measures
to promote the spiritual welfare of
the students. At the beginning of
address a letter TO the pastors or
the town, inviting them to act as
chaplains to the college and to do
what they could for the religious good
of the students, He made out careful
lists OF the religious status of each
student as he matrlculated. and
turned these lists over to the pastors.
with the request that each one should
look after the members of his church,
or those whose parents belonged to
his church. ss
One day when. at his request. was
telling him OF q great revival in the
Virginia Military Institute. which was
also located in Lexington, in which
enc hundred and ten of the cadets
protested conversion. he said to me,
with deep feeling: II rejoice to hear
that. 1t Is the best news that l have
heard since I have been In Lexington
Would that we could have such a re-
vival in our college, and in all OF our
colleges"
Rev. DR.. kirkpatrick. professor of
Moral Philosophy in the college. gave
the following Incident: I'VE had been
conversing for some time respecting
the religious welfare of tho students
General Lees feeling soon became so
Intense that for time his utterance
was choked; hut recovering himself,
with his eyes overlooking with tears
ms lips. qulNeTlnS WIFI emotion, ana
both hands raised, he eXclaimed: "Oh
doctor II I could only know that all
of the young men of tho college We're
good Christians. I should have moth
ing moro to desire"
To Rev. nr. William Brown. one of
the trustees of the college, he said
II dread the thought of any student
going away from the college without
becoming sincere Christian" He
used similar language to me upcnal
moro than one occasion.
When his last fatal illness struck
him, his tongue was paralyzed and he
was unable to sneak. We have. there
fore, no last words" Of Lee. But |
we need none. His life was "a living i,
epistla, known and read Of men," ana
death to him was but the welcome
messenger that the Master sent TO
call him to come up higher" to lay
aside. his cross, and wear his, fadeless
crown.
"That crown with peerless glorles
NJ bright,