The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-01-26
GEN. ROBT. f. LEE
A GREAT NATIONAL
TYPE OF CITIZEN
DAUGHTERS OF cONFEDERACY
HERE CELEBRATE HIS
BIRTHDAY.
CROSSES OF HONOR Conferred
Bethel house ParIors Is the Scene
of an Interesting Gathering, and
an Eloquent Address on the Great
Southern Leader.

gathering of the old soldiers and
| their friends to honor the memory of
Gen. Robert E. Lee, and incidentally
to confer honors on those of his fol
lowers who were present on the &C.
casion. The entire exercises were
under the direction of the Daughters
of the corfederacy and were highly
appropriate.
Rev. Walter Brannam Capers, who
delivered the address, said in part:
esteem it an honor to address
this audience, at the invitation of the
Daughters of the Confederacy, upon
so inspiring a theme as Robert E.
Lee.
The day we celebrate has come to
have more than local interest. In
fact the birthday of Robert E. Lee
has more than nation wide lnflu-
ence. It's influence is worldwide.
And this is true because the man was
the Incarnation of the best and no.
blest qualities and traits of charac-
ter of a great people. In Lee we see
the possibilities of the southern man.
Thus he has spoken to the world, and
made the world appreciate what is
meant when we speak of southern
chivalry," southern patriotism, >
southern courtesy and southern
manhood" Gen. Lee may therefore
be considered as great type man.
The world cannot know all the peo-
pie of nation. However, from time
to time a great man comes to the
front from among his people, and in
him that people is interpreted to the
world. / have often thought that this
was Gen. Lees unique distinction as
a son of the South. Moreover, Lee
speaks to the world not only because
he was the type of an ideal southern
gentleman, chivalrous soldier, ard a
militant Christian; but because On a
larger scale, he can also speak for
America. We have in him therefore
a great national type. The elements
were SO fixed in him that all the
world might stand up and say, "IIere
is great American" Here an ideal
man from the nations South" Some
one has well said, Lees America Is
the America of Washington, with the
traditions of an older day, it's high
beliefs, its grave stateliness, and its
ideals that the day of doing thing
was almost as important as the thing
DONE" This same author in contrast
ing MIN to Grant, goes on to say:
"On the other hand Grants America
is the America of the modern world,
with ITS rough business habits, it's
practical energy, it's desire to do
things, no matter how, and it's indif-
ference to the sweet graces of cere,
mony and dignity and courtesy
Grants America was the America OF
Lincoln"
This, | think is fine distinction,
and throws true light upon the char
acter of Gen. Lee. Therefore in
the birth of Lee, and
striving to perpetuate the influence
of his character, we bark back to a /
period in which were ideals and man.
ners and ceremonies it is well to re-
member and endeavor to emula.c.
1t is almost impossible to give a |
new Interpretation to so familiar a !
theme as Robert E. Lee. A compos-
tie picture of the man can only be
given in Lees own words, or in the |
words of others who were, upon oc-
casions, eyewitnesses to the scene or |
incident described.
The Rev. Dr. Jones, in his reminis-
cences Of Gen. Lee describes the con-
trolling principle of his life in one
word DUTY" He tells us: "Wheth-
Or as youth, meeting his obligations
% his aged mother, or passing
through the military academy without
| single demerit, or serving In the
United States army, or directing the
forces of his native state, or
quietly working in the college at
lexington for the good of the young
men of the country, DUTY was the
tar which guided him throughout his
ventful career"
However, Lee enjoys this unique
distinction, that he was supremely
.reat in more spheres than one.
treat as soldier, great as ad educa-
or; great as patriot; great as a
nan created in the image of his
iaksr, he stands four square to all
he world, and while disarming criti- :
ism, he invites enthusiastic Zero