Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-28
The Lee Memorial Movement

The five years work of Lee the
Educator fittingIy crowns and sup,
Elements the five stormy years OF
Lee the Soldier. And undoubtedly,
when the long roll is finally called
and his contributor to the uplift and
betterment Of the human race IS
finally assessed and determined, his
work at Lexington will outshlne and
outweigh all the more transient
glories of his military career.
Above the battle-smoke and dust
of conflict of that stormy era OF
war and reconstruction his majestic
figure has been steadily rising III
the eyes of the world as the purest
and Hottest and most symmetrical
character yet evolved by our Chris
tian civilization. Yet till now the
South has strangely neglected to
rear to her greatest hero any adc-
quate memorial.
The Lee Memorial Movement is
inspiring evidence of a sincere and
widespread awakening from this era
!. Of forgetfulness and neglect.
It's general purpose is to perpetu-
ate thru all future generations, the
name and influence and ideals of
General Lee, not thru lifeless marble,
but by carrying on the work for
which he sacrificed his life.
It's specific lines Of action are
four:
First. The raising of a general
Lee Memorial Endowment to enable
his University to meet its rapidly en-
larging opportunities and become
more and more worthy of its great
name and lofty lineage.
Second. The second is the sacred
task of charging and dignifying the
Lee Chapel and Mausoleum and fur
/ nishing it with intelligent and loyal
custodlans that the stream OF rev.
erend pilgrims to the South's most
sacred shrine, now rapidly becoming
a flood of thousands each month.
may be suitably welcomed and in.
structed. This is the special task OF
the Daughters Of the Confederacy.
Third. The third is the equipment
and endowment of the Lee Memorial
School of Civil and Highway Engi-
/ neering. General Lees first progress
sive step as an educator, IN an eX-
clusivly classical era and section,
was to found this school of engi-
neering. The United Confederate
Veterans, assisted by the Sons OF
!. Confederate Veterans have appointed
national committee, of which Pres
ident Henry Louis Smith, of the I'm
iyersity, is Executive Secretary.
They hope soon to raise an adequate
! endowment and to erect in sight OF
! Generals Lees tomb, a stately and
beautiful Lee Memorial Building to
house his School of Engineering.
The work is already under way. !.
Fourth The fourth objective OF
the Lee Memorial Movement is to re.
establish an dendow the Lee Schoo. OF
Journalism which, owing to the
povrty of the times, was dlscontln-
ued a few years after the death OF
it's founder.
Facing a stormy era of social and
economic reconstruction, General
Lee, with prophets insight and a
! statesman's wisdom, Strove to 1ur-
nish to his stricken and bewlldered
people a nursery of high-minded and
broadly-trained leadership. !,
BY re-establishing his School OF
journalism we may share his spirit,
carry out his purpose, and turnlSh TO
our no less stormy and bewl!dered
era a stream of trained journalists,
which, issuing from his home and
tomb and institution shall lead the
public opinion Of the nation along
the lofty paths Of his own broad
minded and unselfish patriotism.
It is peculiarly fitting that this
work has been undertaken by the
editors of the South as their tribute
to the many sided greatness OF the
soldier-Statesman who, generation
ahead of his times, first recognized
the place of the journalist in mod
ern civilization, and founded the
first school of journalism IN America
Their enterprise, thus carried OUT
will accomplish threc-fold purpose
! It will raise 4 more hitting mohu-
ment than any pile of lifeless marble
however splendid and costly TO the
memory of General Lee; it will fur
nish to future generations mucn
needed and most fruitful nursery OF
natriotic leadership; and it vii! up
lift and inspire the whole South by
bringing this newer and buster gene
ration into close contact for awhile
with the ideal virtues OF the ga
South as embodied IN the matchlesS
character of Robert Edward Lee,
who fifty years ago, sacrificed ms
mortal life that his life work might
thus become immortal.