Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-01-24
LEE CELEBRATION.
Birthday of Great Confederate
General Fittingly Celebrated.
Mastery Address and In
spring Music.

At noon Friday, the 10th ami
versary Of the birth Of General Rob-
ert Edward Lee was appropriately
celebrated in the high school audi
torium under the auspices ! of the
Edgefeld chapter, U. n. G. The
attendance was larger than usual
and the programme was splendidly
arranged. The rostrum was fitting
ly DECORATED with Confederate col
ors and flags. Hanging on the wall
to the rear of the rostrum was a
portrait of Gen. Lee of life size,
with Confederate flags draped about
it, theswhoTe furnishing an inspir.
ing background for those who par
ticipated in the exercises.
Prof. T. J. Lyon acted as master
of ceremonies, calling upon Rev.
Arthur L. Gunter to open the exer-
cises with prayer. Then Dixie"
was sung by the several hundred
pupils Of the graded and high
schools. A recitation, Marse
Robert is Asleep,'' was well rem
dered by Miss Emmie Broadwater.
Rev. E. G. Bailey introduced the
orator of the occasion, DR.. Ashby
Jones, pastor of the First Baptist
church of Augusta and a brother of
DR.. E. Pendleton Jones. DR.. Jones'
subject was Robert Edward Lee. :"
He first presented the personal side
of the life of the great chieftain and
next referred to his achievements as
. military genius. DR.. Jones fol-
lowed or traced the military career
Of General Lee from the beginning
of the war, when he resigned his
commission as an officer in the Fed
eral army to fight with his own peo-
pie of the South in defense of honor
and justice, down to the surrender
at Appomattox. Campaign after
campaign, battle after battle, and
year by year of the four years of
deadly struggle, were taken up by
the distinguished speaker to show
the marvellous achievements of Gen.
eral Lee. Dr.. Jones is peculiarly
fitted 70 the task assigned him, in
that his distinguished father, the
late Rev. William Jones, D. D.,
was a member of Gen. Lees staff,
and upon the death of the general
his family selected the late DR..
Jones to write his biography, turn
ing over to him all of the official
documents and private papers of
General Lee. DR.. Ashby Jones
stated that it had been his privilege
to read these papers, even the let
ters Of General Lee to members of
his family and TO most intimate
friends. This opportunity which
came to but few made it possible
for him to know the great Confed-
crate general as but few were privi-
legged to know him. For more than
an hour DR.. Jones held the closest
attention of the large audience,
many leaning forward in their seats
in their eagerness to catch avery
word. 1t is deeply regretted that
the mastery address, SO replete with
personal reminiscence and valuable
historical data, can not be presery-
ed.
At the close of DR.. Jones' ad-
dress vocal solo, Garry Me Back
to Ole Nirginny," was sung by
Miss Ruth Tompkins, with piano
accompaniment by Mrs. Mamie n.
Tillman.
Ex-Gov. J. c. Sheppard present
ed in very fitting manner large
portraits of the three greatest Con-
federate heroes, Gen. Lee, Gen.
Jackson and President Dayis, to the
graded and high schools. He also,
in behalf of Mrs. Agatha Woodson,
presented to the Edgeield chapter
for their museum the roll Of the
Edgefeld Rifles, the first company
to volunteer for service in the Con-
federate army from Edgefeld conn
ty. The portraits were accepted
for the school by Prof. James Bon
ner, his remarks being altogether
appropriate.
A pleasing feature of the pro.
gramme announced at this time was
piano solo, Dixie" by Master
Benjamin Cogburn, which was fol-
lowed by reading, The Conquer.
ed Banner" by Master Edwin Folk.
At the beginning of the session
last fall the Edge6eld CHAPTER, y.
D. c., offered two prizes to the pu
! nils of the school Writinr the hes,