Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-09-07
REV. DR.. ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER OF PRINCETON
Hon. William Anderson Presents Portrait and Porrays Sketch
of Life and characteristics of the Great TheoIogian
Who Was Born in Rockbridge

address Of Hon. VIM. A. Anderson,
in Courthouse, Lexington, July 25. 1910,
on the occasion Of presentation of por-
traits for the Courtroom
have been greatly honored by
my selection on behalf OF the family
OF DR.. Archibald Alexander to pres
emit this portrait, the gift of his
grandson, Mr.. Charles B. Alexapd-
er of New York, to the county OF his
birth and of his lifelong affection.
AS nearly as have been able to
locate the site of the birthplace of
DR.. Alexander it was near to and
on the northwestern side of South
River, q short distance below the
confluence of Irish Greek with that
stream, in what was then Augusta,
but six years later became Rock
bridge county, on the farm which
has for many years been owned by
the Decker family and is now the
home OF Mr.. George Decker.
Here. on the 18th of April, 1772,
in the house OF square logs, which
was then the home of his parents,
William aud Ann Reid Alexander,
was given to his country and to
mankind life which was destined
to be potential for good through the
coming ages.
His early childhood was spent in
the midst OF the wild and pictuf-
esque landscapes OF that locality and
was soothed by the lullaby OF those
beautiful swift running mountain
streams which he seems never to
have ceased to remember. Several
years later his father moved 10 a
home in the limits of the present
town of Lexing ton, and in or near
this place he lived until he vas
nearly grown.
Not far from the spot where we
are now assembled, surrounded by
the same scenes of transcendent
loneliness, which we behold today
stretching out on every side around
this town, he grew from childhood
to boyhood and from boyhood to
youth.
What part the sweet influences OF
the strikingly beautiful in nature in
the midst of which his childhood
and youth we're spentexerted in the
formation OF the attractive traits OF
his mind and character, we cannot
tell, but we know that he ever
cherished their picturesque and
fadeless beauty in fondest remem
brance.
No region on earth was ever more
beloved or more lovely, if indeed
quite so beautiful to his eyes OF
quite so dear, as was that whic b
meets our grateful vision here to-
day.
Here he grew up and was trained
to fear God, to love the truth, and tC
be true to his country, to mankind
and to himself, and from hence he
went out into the world to do tn,
great work which has made his
name illustrious among the good
and great of our country.
But in the Providence of God q
far greater and more benefcent in
: f1uence than the natural loneliness
of his environment came into his
life during the formative period o
boy youth and early manhood
in the personality, the lofty charac
ter. the great learning and the
: vigorous mentality of William Ora
ham, the great teacher at whose
feet the Youthful Alexander was
permitted to sit and drink in the
= lessons of true wisdom and sounC
learning.
= Rarely has one great life impress
ed itself upon and projected itsel
into the life of another as was the
life of William Graham impressed
upon and projected into the life o
Archibald Alexander.
AS what was best and highest il
William Graham lived and continued
to work for righteousness in anG
through his pupil. so with largel
opportunities, with greater clio