The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-27
MARBLE TABLET is UNVEILED IN
MEMORY OF ARCHER CHRISTIAN
Tributes of Love Are Paid to
Former Richmond Boy and
University of Virginia Stu
dent-Addresses by DR.. Alder
man and Others Are Eloquently
Tender,
Especial to Tho Timcs-Dispatch,

'Hio eNcuiHS III memory
Archer Christian, who at tho uEo of
eighteen years was killed IN the
GeoTgetown-Virginia football game In
the fall of 1909.
The exercises attending tho unveii-
Ing We're simple and impressive Deop-
~ touching speeches were made BY
several who knew tho young man
well, and the chapel was crowded with
MS friends and classmates and stu
dents of tho present day.
Accepted by DIR. Alderman,
The exquisite beauty OF the tablet
and tho tcnder sentiment provpdInE
tho memorial meeting were eloquent
ly expressed by President Alderman
in his brief speech accepting the
memorial on behalf OF the university,
when he said:
In the name OF tho University OF
Virginia 1 accept with solemn pride
this memorial tablet which his COM
rades and those who loved Archer
Christian have caused to be set up in
this quiet chapel. This tablet, I am
as thing Of art. The spectacle OF
tho breeding. fostering figure of
Learning. guarding and guiding the
way OF dauntless and steadfast youth
appeals to our maginot'ons and drives
straiht TO our hearts. With tenderer
and nobler symbolism, however. the
tablet possesses the power to keep
forever green and vivid in this dim
religious spot the memory of brave.
pure-souled Virginia boy who died
dong his duty eagerly in an honor
able contest In the service of his alma
mater.
Here Archer Christian shall dwell
always in immortal youth. cherished
by unnumbcred generations OF his
kind who will read this inscription
absorb this symbolism and come to
understand moro clearly the beauty
OF clean living. loyal acting and whole
hearted sclf-forgetfulness.
In this way may il please the dear
God who rules and guides us all to
transmutc pain into gain and grevous
loss into Astounding and glorious vic
tory"
Letter From the sculptor.
The memorial is of Gothic design.
containing two nSures-thc hooded
figure of Memory With book. and
ST. George. with cross on shield. pre-
senting Youth. on panel between
the figures is Il brief statement OF
how young Christian met his death.
and then a few words relative to the
object of those who erected the tablet.
There follows this inscription:
The hallowed memory OF love abidcs."
In u letter explaining how he came
to decide upon this conception of Il
memorial tablet. the sculptor. John
Gregory, of New York. said:
Il chose the Gothic style because
il harmonizcd With the setting and
because it Is SO associa ted with chiv-
airy.
''Trom the details L received of
Archer Christians life 1 felt the de-
sire to Go something OF beauty and
mystery. His story inspired me with
n feeling of wonder and reverence. as
appreciation OF Il higher Power. whose
control shaped u career to be as
guide. and l modelled figures of Youth
and Destiny. AS / worked l made
some changes, and, in order TO harm
onizc the nguro and the inscription. L
tried TO represent Youth and Memory.
Act L would rather not hold to an
exact definition. so let us say that the
young armed knight represents
strength, courage and deVoaion ana
the other figure Mystery
Mr. Gregory is young Englishman.
now living in New York. HIS design
Tor the tablet, which was accepted IN
competition with we'll known sculptors.
rs considered By the committee OF
awards as possessing unusual arts
tic merit. lilo came TO the university
and personally superintendent the de-
tails In connection With the erection
OF the tablet in the university chapel.
The tablet. of pink ScravezZa mar
BILE, Is probably the finest work mat
Ny. Gregory has yet done.
The music at the exercises in the
chapel was in keeping with the spirit
OF the occasion. Mrs. Charles Han.
cock played Beethovens funeral
march and a selected student c"o''
sang Lead. Kindly Light.
Charles Watkins. of Richmond an
intimate friend and liow-student OF
Archer Christian, presided.
Tribute From Conch NcH
DR.. John Ncff, who was head coach
of the Virginia team OF 1909 spoke
of the young student in part as fol-
lows:
ITO many here tonight, Archer
Christian is only an inherited mem
DRY, and those have not felt The poig-
nant sorrow nor cXperiehccu INC W.
stinate unbelief prevalent at a meme
rial service to him in this building
two and a half years ago. Then. Tor
us, one fact dominated, sense o!
irrcparab BILE loss. Reconciliation to his
absence seemed Impossible; bowed ~
deem grief was the common attitude.
'viradually, however. our feelings
softencd, bringing TO us III the change
the power to see brighter side. NO
matter how terrible ms death, we
came to feel that from the TRAGEDY
which had occurred before our very
eyes there was TO lie had an insp'ra-
ton to better things. not only for US.
but also Tor future generations uf
Virginia students. our youthful minds
caught the lesson OF forgetfulness OF
self in the figure Of n fearless fellow
student yielding up MS life and 10y
| atty to the cause of his school. This
was our consolation. Happy our for
tune TO rise from the bitter depres
Sion of deprivation TO the collaborating
heights OF hero worship.
II II were Imposed that Archer
Christians character be summed up
in one word. that word would be
| nlGnl!ness. FrInkness, courage, in
| terpidity he exhibited to n marked
| degree throushout the different stages
| of his life.
In September. 1909 nj the age of
! eighteen, he matriouiated at the uni
| Vcrslty with every prospect for u
| brilliant college career Possessed of