Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-01-20
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE
Rev. Dr. Mckim, of Washington
breaches on Life of Gen. Lee q
Christ Church-silver Plate Dedl
cated-Veterans Attend.

uary, being the 112th anniversary Q
the birth of General Robert E. lie
was observed in this city, by me
mortal service, at eleven o'clock i
the morning, in Old Christ Church
where he was confirmed and of whicl
he was for number of years a con
sistent and devoted communicate
The preacher was the Rev. Dr.. RAM
| dolph Fl. McKim, rector of Epiphany
Church, Washington, d. c., a formel
rector of Christ Church and the ser!
vice was conducted by the Rev. VII
liam J. Morton, D. D., the present
rector, assisted by Rev. Berryrla1I
Green, D. D., Dean of the EpisconaI
Theological Seminary, near this city,
the immediate predecessor OF Dr..
Morton as rector, and the Rev. Sam
ul A. Wallis, d. d.. Professor at the
Seminary, who was in charge of
Christ Church in the interim between
the death of DR.. Suter and the COM
ing of DR.. Green as rector of the
church. The lessons of Holy Scrip
ture read in the service, were espec-
tally chosen for the day, the first les
son being the first chapter of the
book of Joshua and the second the
eleventh chapter Of the epistle to the
Hebrews. first to the twenty y-eight7
verse. Both selections were sing
ularly appropriate to thu occasion.
After the service of morning prayer
was ended General Lees favorite
nymn, "How firm foundation ye
saints of the Lord' was sung by the
choir and congregation. Dr.. Morton
then in brief but felicitols address
announced to the congregation that
IN interesting feature Of the COM
memoration service of the day was
the placing of silver plate on the
chancel rail at the spot where Gene
raj Lee knelt when he was confirm.
cd; with two of his daughters, also:
kneeling, one on each side of him, on
Friday, the 9th day of July, 1853.
oy the Rt. Rev. John Johns, D. D..
assistant bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in Virginia, al
that time. This is inscribed on the
rlate:
After the services Bishop Johns
remarked to Colonel Lee if you make
as good soldier Of the cross as you
have of your country the church will
be as proud of You as your country
is.
The fact of General (then Colone.)
Lees confirmation was remembered
by General Lees eledst daughter the
late Miss Mary Custis Lee, and b,
Miss Sallie Stuart, the latter OF
whom was confirmed at the same
time, DR.. Morton also paid an elo-
work as leader in the Woman's
ouent tribute to Miss StEart whose
Auxiliary was well known in the do
cese of Virginia and throughout the
Episcopal Church in this country as
we'll as in England. The confirma-
lion hymn of. the Episcopal Church
IN the diocese of Virginia was next
sung. DR.. McKim then ascended the
pulpit, and announced as his text the
24th and 25th verses of the eleventh
chapter of Hebrews: "By faith Moses
when he was come to years refused
TO be called the son OF Pharaoh's
daughter, choosing rather to suffer
sffliction with the people of God, than
10 enjoy the pleasures of sin for
season.
The doctor referred to the years
that he followed Lee as one of the
Confederate army and how the noble
chieftain had won his love and devo-
ton as well as that Of his soldiers.
He paid an eloquent tribute to Lees
Christian character. his great act OF
self reunciation when he refused the
tender of the leadership of the Fede-
raj Army, because he must be true
to his State, his answering faith II
God, his heroic devotion to duty, NJ:
spirit of reconciliation and MS noolf
sense of true justice to his own arm!
his suffering people, and even to tn
whole country in accepting the issue
of the war by surrendering at tn
last unreservedly to the overwhelm
| ing power of the United States. /
conclusion DR.. Mckim said ne ma
.often asked himself the question
Why was the South permitted I
], scffer defeat in the Providence
, God. He felt there must be som
good reasons for this. The answe
5 had come in the gigantic struggle
the late war against, the fell power
lKaTiserisni. The Anglo Saxon! RAJ
had a great mission andeit must