The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-01-24
Address Delivered by c. ThOs. Greer
" Before Daughters of Confeder-
acy at Shellman.


acy at Shellman.
At a service held in the First Bap-
fist church in Shellman under the
auspices of the United Daughters OF
the Confederacy, on January 18th,
the birthday anniversary of Robert
/ f. Lee. an address was delivered by
Rev C. Thomas Greer. He said:
Nv friends, l shall be pleased II l
measure even in part up to the de-
mand of this hour. AS think OF the
interest of the organization who has
placed me here, whose place it is to
keen our memories alive to the days
of the sixties, when men contended
side nv side for the liberties of our
own Southland. | am indebted to
them for the privilege of paying my
RESPECTS to one of the South's great
est men. AS son of the South l de-
light along with you to claim him as
orr own. No nobler man became the
defender and champion Of our
rights than this illustrious son OF
Virginia.
Could | but speak half worthlly
of his noble career l would feel that
nv duty has been well performed.
More than half century has passed
since the conflict which immortalized
this peerless son of the South, yet
his name is a household word, and
his gallant career illumines the
pages of our histories.
l would be glad to speak OF MS
public life, but this has been denleu
of me. l dare not speak OF his supe-
.rior generalship. Nor recount MS
valor on the hill of bloody carnage
The subject assigned me is H. t.
Lee. the christian citizen. ROBERT
Edward Lee was born from the gem
eral level of American society. Inc
blood of a noble ancestry noWeo
through his veins. Such was the Dig
nity and majesty of his carriage MS
peers in social life could only De
found among the refined and cultur-
ed of courts and thrones. He was
characterized by that noble christ
ian virtue humility or self rejection
Whatever personal gifts man may
possess rich endowment may be MS
with great and beautiful accomplish
ments. 1t is yet true that to recog-
nize weakness and therefore our sS-
pendence upon God has been one OF
the principles of the great of all ages.
Daily Lee realized the need OF the
only competent help, our Divine
Father. He valued the wisdom that
came from above. He came to the
hour of prayer both reverently and
ioyfully looking for Divine dlrec-
| ton.
Let US notice some examples OF
his self-rejection. The war left him
a poor man. He accepted chair IN
a college as a means of support, and
while there a friend offered to en-
dow a chair for his benefit. He de-
clined, saying that he was doing well.
Again a splendid home was erected
and offered to him; he also refused
this, saying that he hoped the pro-
ceeds from this could be used to as
sist needy confederate veterans.
General John B. Gordon of Geor-
gia has said of him: Lees strong
salutary characteristics should live
in history as an inspiration to future
generations. In him was found the
lustre OF a stainless life. These and
others made him an ideal which hu-
man conduct could not excel.
Again this noble son of Virginia
was said to be a man of unblemished
purity. If only this could be said of
him he would be entitled to our
highest regards Our Savior in COM
menting on christian virtues said
Happy are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God" This grace
beautified the life of this great citi-
zen. Benz. H. Hill of Georgia has
said of Robert Z. Lee that he was as
gentle as a woman in life, and as
modest and pure as virgin il
thought. Without purity OF christ
ian life the most wholesome words
are empty and meaningless, and the
best advice is refused MI. B. Nj
Palmer in his notable address il
New Orleans in 1874 spoke thus O
Robert f. Lee: That wherevel
philosophy, culture and refnemen
have gone upon the globe it is pos
sible to place the finger upon indi
viduaI men who are the exemplari
of a nations character. Once more
R. E. Lee possessed the ability o
triumph over alluring temptations
What shall we say of this giant enc
my of man? Temptation has sat a
victor upon the shattered ambi
tons and defeated lives of thous
aAds. 1t turned fair Eden into vii
derness of thorns and thistles an