Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-01-23
President Denny's Address at
the Lee Centennial

the Lee Centennial
der Following is the eloquent adore
ed delivered By President George
nd Denny on the occasion of Il
4 Robert E, Lee centennial, held Ia
a Saturday in the chapel at Was
las ingtou and Lee University, wbs
IA he presented the Hon. Charl,
ne Francis Adams of Masss cbusett,
ms orator of the day:
n 1t would be impossible to pictur
s. in Imagination a mere appropriat
of spot in which to celebrate tn
90 centennial of the birth of Rcber
~ 4. Lee than on the campus of thi
# Institution, the heir CT his fam,
ano the guardian of lis dust
IL standing here in this building
n conceived in his own uind, con,
d structed under his own eye. and
i consecrated forever to his memory.
r IN full view of the recum bent
e ngure, representing him so faith
d iuiiy In majestic repose, / would
e inaugurate this impressive func-
g tion with the candid avowal that
whatever of sacred meaning THE
day and this hour may have for
{ DINERS the wide world over, it has
Tor this Institution and for those
who love it an inexpressibly beau.
u1ul and profound Significance.
10 the alumni and friends of
Washington and Lee it brings to
memory something more than a
mighty name and a mighty drama
In the Nations history. To some
OF us it brings to memory a great |
ana wonderful personality, mUv-
Ing among us daily and becoming
80 much part of our lives as to
make US feel that We knew him
JUST little better and loved him
JUST a'little more tran did those
who were farther removed from
him than we during those years
OF simple devotion and OF unsur-
passed dignity, when be was writ
Ing that splendid closing chapter
Of his career. TO all of us it brings
to memory our great President, the
greatest man who has ever adorned
the presidency of an institution of &
learning, not merely within Vir. '
glnia, not merely within the South, G
butt daEeI0also to say-within | 1
the limits of the American Re. {
public. We believe that, what.
ever Immortality is destined to a a
tend his great career as command i
er of armies, this work which a
engaged the last energies OF his a
life and uponrwhich he pronounced tt
his final benediction. will rest like b
4 capital upon the solid shaft of n
his civic and military renown. Il
No one who reads Alright the Il
history Of this institution will ever 10
Undertake to question the fact that g,
he life and service OF Robert E. b,
Zee is its largest asset. its richest q,
tradition, and its noblest memory. OF
The battl efields, glorified by his
'alor, have long since swept away in
he stains of war, and are now an
obed in the vesture of peace. 7 hey de
7ill some day be all but forgotten. gu
tut this great school, to which be ye
ave a second birth, will live and Co
rosper as the historic and lasting rio
memorial of the devotion, the DO
acrifice, and the over-ipcreasir q de
'me Of it's myriad-minded and try
yriad-hearted executive whose ga
,aracter, In as large degree as ly
lat Of any other figure CT secular of
lstory, lowered into ths rose CT So
exquisite and fragrant man. he
BOD. ALI
l do not envy tbs man his COM er
'sure who cen stand unn owed in do,
is presence today. Here are the
'tbered from all the land devoted has
nmni Of that period in the his. ty
~ of Washington and Lee, thr
lich will ever be set apart ard vic,
erished as a sacreu memory, tor
IRE are gathered stout. hearted ern
terans, proven fine steel by the tior
deal OF fire, who have in the in t
evidence Of God been spared to dur
citrate this day. Here are Anc
thered the SOILS and grandsons CEN
these and of other true men Lee
ose faith and courage son wars com
touchstone rang metal true" anot
re are gathered, in larger mum old
g than ever before In the long acti
Of this institution, earneet ava
UPS Of students from every Sec Doc
n Of the country, North, South, the
IT, and West, with their spirits day
retted by bitter memoriei, re- and,
ling that the day of SEE tional
fe and of sectional tate had Rev
ed before their young lives had D,
ched the life OF ne nation, as ~
ii to each other, to the truth Of siac
DRY, and to a reun tied country tor I
I peace hrd reigned thousand tian
re-. Here, too, We welcome TO- dan
aa Uuect urd orator a ,..o..
&C ueI' a"r oia'or' d great Leag
Ter al d officer in the Union visi,,
y, who bore himself as brayely cisee
attic and laid down his sword ! n
rec from stain Ns did any son Mr.
irginia In that fierce ordeal Nh
ugh which God remolded and and 9
new Il, Nation" wss {
~ "as oeen 'iu "neh he pr