The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-01-15
ALL IN READINESS
FOR CELEBRATION
BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
OF GENERAL LEE TO
BE OBSERVED
PROF. w. G. BURGIN
To Deliver An Address On The
Life And Character OF
SOuth's Great
Soldier.

Doctor H. II. Ellis, superintendent
of the public school system of Col
umbus, has completed the program
for the exercises to commemorate
the life and character of the SOuths
illustrious military leader, General
Robert E. Lee, at the high school next
Thursday morning.
Doctor Ellis, being in a compara-
tive sense stranger in Columbus,
having become one of us only last
fall, was casting his eyes around for
suitable man to deliver the Lee
Memorial Address. He casually re-
marked to the editor of the Dispatch
that he wanted to get some one who
could do the subject justice, and we
suggested The name of Professor Viii
liam Garner Burgin as one eminently
fitted for the work. Doctor Ellis re-
qucsted Professor Burgin to deliver
the address, and Prof. Burgin very
graciously consented. So if the "Sage
of Mayhem makes a fine speech, the
people of Columbus can fire a need
of their thanks in our direction. If
the distinguished young educator
falls flat" we'll take all the blame.
We are safe in making this state
ment, inasmuch as Professor Burgin
has never "fallen fiat" In of his
many laudable and praiseworthy un-
dertakings.
Doctor Ellis desires it understood
that the celebration of General Lees
birthday anniversary is for the peo
pie of Columbus and its environs. |
All will be welcome to attend. Doctor |
Ellis is especially anxious to have all |
Confederate soldiers of the commun-
ity to be present and occupy chairs |
on the stage. He also is desirous of |
having all Daughters of the Confed-
eracy and all Sons of Confederate |
Veterans present.
Inasmuch as the birthday anniver-
sary of General Stonewall Jackson
falls two days later (on January 21st) I
it has been deemed fitting that he be
included in the memorial exercises.
To that end, Hon. B. A. Lincoln has
very kindly consented to make brief
address on the life, character and
services of Stonewall Jackson, which,
we feel assured, all will enjoy.
The order of the exercises will be
as follows:
First-Song by the School.
Second-Scripture reading by Doc
tor Arthur Growden, pastor of the
First Christian Church.
Third-Prayer by the Rev. Jesse c.
Rowan, pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church. i
Fourth-Appropriate Reading by
Miss Loa DeLoach.
Fifth-Address, General Robert +.
Lee" by Prof. William Garner Bur
gin.
Sixth-Solo, selected, by Miss Lou
cille Glenn.
Seventh-Address, "Stonewall Jack c
son" by Hon. B. A. Lincoln. a
Eighth-Benediction. b
The exercises will begin next i
Thursday morning at ten o'clock and a
will last one hour. 1t is understood a
that, from this time on, the exercises t
in honor of General Robert +. Lee c
will be held each year. This is as it Fl
should be, for in honoring the memory t
of the South's great military leader, 7
we honor ourselves. /
A people honors itself in honoring n
its great men. Not Virginians only, G
not only those who dwell in the fair
land that stretches from the Potomac s.
to the Rio Grande, but all who bear Il
a h.r-, |.-
son to feel proud of the life and Ii
character of Robert f. Lee. For, as nj
the Latin poet said. that, wherever a
the Roman name and sway extended, S,
there should be the sepulchrc Of OF
Pompey, so, in every part Of the Am
arican republic, the name of General
Lee may be pronounced with rever-
ance and love. 81
Such was the grandeur Of the &c
.haracter Of Robert Edward Lee. and 81
80 appealing was its natural equip n
,ise, that, by its cherished impress "a
lpon heart and mind, he must remain Fl
acknowledged, during all time. as one h,
# the purest and greatest. men the f.
world has ever known. r-
In becoming minutely Informed Of h
he ancestry, associations and noble m
ife Of General Lee. unalloyed in its -
ntire exempliication with aught 20 n
ause regret, youth 0f both sexes can ii
.ut be stimulated to the development
f al that Is good. sweet. pure and
.oble in human nature.
OF him it was said By one who
new him and loved him for his mob p
ity Of character. his heroism. his e
tainless life:
when the future historian comes