The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER OF LEE
Chaplain in the Army Northern Virginia.

r. this age o. hero worship there is a
natural tendency 20 conceal the faults
and unduiy exait the virtues OF great
men. Indeed. some attempts have been
made 90 gnlvnnize into Christians m-n Of
rDtoriourlv immoral lives This Is 50
wen understood that it Sc very natural
t.at mon should discount what ie eaid
about the Crr.stiaa characters Of our
heroes
Iu reference ~ tho Christian character
90 Robert Edward Ice. however. / may
sar t.at it wss my personal privilege %
know him Intimately. 90 have come into
frequent contact with him during the
AHr between the states 20 have been
ono ~ tho CEaplainz OF Washington Col
le-r during tre five years be was its
president. foolrE him almost daily: e.
have been frequent guest ia his homo.
and 20 hnte bad him as an occasional
guest under my own humble roof 20 have
been oae % uat loving hand who bore
him to tre tomb when two continents
mourned nis death. and % have had ac-
cess % l's private letters and rapers aft--
d. had LEFT us am able. therefore. 90
"-prak tnat = Sch z know. ana 70 testify
~ t-nr which ! have seen when ! wute
about the inner lie Of this great man.
might write ~ Robert r. lee as
model man. and speak of hls devotion 90
duty. his modest humility. simplicity and
F1nt ni others. Ils trurees iu carry lug
or Bass purpose. h-t respect for tie rights
nnr feelings ~ others. lis social charac-
for. his love FOR children. and MS beauti-
fll domestic lie But 7 shall strictly
caudne MYSELF 10 t.is paper 20 the
CHRISTIAN character OF tnls military chief
tain. ] think that ! can show that he
was an humble. devout Christian. who
trusted in Christ as bis personal Saviour.
nnd tried 20 follow with firm tread the
Captain Of OUT Salvation
had heard q good deal Of Gen lee
'.ri-tan character. had seen him as a
cc.out worsAipper az our camp services.
lad noted expressions IN his oflcial papers
indicating las firm trust in an Ovcrrulinn
Providence. ana had heard many inci-
dents showing that DE was n decided
Christian. But my FIRST personal interview
with him ou relgious matters was when
7 was q member 90 a committee % our
ftarituus Association 20 ask his help in
bringing about q better Observance Of the
sabbath Do The army. lie received AIS
with the greatest courtesy. treated us
with the highest respect entered prompt
ly into our views. and reminded as OF ii
previous order De had issued ln which he
had directed abstinence on Sunday from
el duties not absolutely necessary He
then promptly issued new order in
which among other things be directed
shall Dee required 90 be performed on
sunday. and that tho labor both OF men
and animals which IL is practicable 20
anticipate or postpone. or the immediate
performance OF which is not essential 70
tie safetv health. or comfort Of the
army. SHAH Doe suspended on that day"
Chsplains Prayed for Him.
As We were about 20 leave his tent Rev.
=. II. Lacy. "Stonewal" Jackson's chan
lain. said II think it right that
should say 20 you. General. that the
chaplains of This army have deep in
forest in your welfare. and that some OF
tho most fervent PRAYERS Wa offer are I'm
sour behalf His face flushed tears
started 20 his eyes. and &c replied with
chokcd utterance and deep emotion:
please thank them for that. sir
warmly appreciate fl. And ! can ONLY
say that am nothing but n poor sinner.
trusting in Christ alone for Salvation.
and need all Of the prayers that can be
offered for me"
At one OF the meetings OF tho "Coucert
~ Prayer for Colleges" held at Wash
ington College not love after General Lee
became its president. the writer OF this
paper gave talk I'm which he urged that
the great need OF that college and Of al
OF our colleges. was revival Of religion
IN the hearts OF Christians us well as
among the unconverted: that We wanted
genuine 'God-sent revival" not one that
MAN might manipulate and set up" but
such a one rs God alone could send
down. that the Holy Spirit alone could
give US such revival. and that we
needed to -epent Of our sins. come back
from our wanderings, reconsccrate our
selves TO the service Of the Lord. and
besiege the 'blood-bought mercy seat
for the presence and power Of the Holy
Spirit
Aver the meeting General Lee came
across the chapel to take me warmly bv
the hand and say Il want 70 thank Won
for your tan, sir You struck the very,
keynote OF our wants. We poor sinners
need 20 come back from our wonderines
20 seek pardon through the all-sunicient
merits Of our Redeemer. And we need TO
pray earnestly for the power OF the Holy
Spirit 70 give US a precious revival In
our own hearts and among the uncon-
verted"
Upon several other occasions I heard
htua axpTess himself In similar terms. and