Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-30
SINCE HAS OUTGROWN
DEMANDS MADE OMIT
Not Intention of ". & l.. Au.
thorities to Disturb Tomb
Of Southern General.
COLONEL LEE INDoUsED IDEA
Attitude or L. ID. {. Chapters In
firEfnin Due to Misundrrstnnd-
ing. Say Proponents.

James p. Nelson. valuation en-
gineer OF the Chesapeake and ohio
Railway. and one OF tho TWO .urv!v-
ors OF the class Of engineering at
Washington and Lee when the Lee
Chapel was built. strongly is in favor
"f cnlargtng the chapel, AS pro-
posed BY President Henry Louis
smith and the trustees Of that in
s'!tution. Mr.. Nelson saw the build
ing erected from the laying of the
foundation TO the completion, and
ID" Ia confident. he says, that Gcner-
al Robert +. Lee. under whose per-
s"nai direction tho work was done.
heartily would approve the idea.
MT. Nelson said the chapel was
erected az place OF worship and
meeting place for tho students and
mat II vas large enough. at tho
time. 10 accommodate the 400 young
men VINO were then enrolled a; the
university. 1t was GcucraP Lees
.des To enlarge tho chapel IL tho
emergency demanded. in the opinion
OF MT Nelson, and there now are
approximately 500 students attend
ing the institution.
II Is also pointed out by Mr.. N.l
son that there is no, now, and has
never been any intention on che
part OF the university authorities TO
disturb the tomb of General Lee and
that. when the chapel Is enlarged. il
VII be made fire proof and pro-
'ined with modern equipment.
Favor Proposed Enlargement.
Besides ths president and trustees
o. Washington ana Lee University,
the late Colonel Robert F. Lee. Mr.
Nelson and others familiar with con.
ditions at the university; General
Julian S. Carr, comma nder. In chief
United Confederate Veterans, Dur
nam. y. c.. IS in favor of tho pro-
posed enlargement Of the chanel
and has SO Informed President Smith
by letter.
While the trustees OF Washington
and Lee have the authority TO i'm :
prove the chape! In any manner they
may see ft. an effort is being made
TO have the proposition approved bv
the Daughters OF the Confederacy
I: VIII require approximately s1O0.-
"oo 10 do this work. 1t is said. and
the corporation OF the various
chapters would aid materially in rails
ms The necessary amount. 1t is
probable that DR.. Smith will ad-
dress the Virginia Division. L. y. g.
when II holds i;s annual conven
tion in Fredericksburg next month.
and the hope ia expressed that he
Will he ahlc 10 break down the on
position to the movement and gain
the divisions support.
Tho attitude OF tho Virginia pi-
vision. I. j.. G., and many Of tho in
dividuai chapters in Virginia, toward
the proposed enlargement OF the
chapel. is due TO "A MISUNDERSTANDING
It is claimed by DR. Smith and those
VINO favor 1t. Mr.. Nelson. himself.
was under wrong Impression at
hrst. he said yesterday, and so wrote
tho president OF the university. He
changed his attitude when he was
Advised OF the real idea. he said. and
now is strongly In favor OF it.
Gives Ont Correspondence.
The letter from Or. Smith to Mfr.
Nelson and Mr.. Nelson's reply, and
Or. Smiths letter TO General Carr.
regarding the proposed enlargement.
OF the chapel. in part. follow:
My Dear Mr.. Nelson The
matter was brought before our fac
ulty three years ago. and after full
discussion, they unanimously ap-
proved the plan. 1t was then brought
before the local members OF the
board OF trustees. including William
y. AndeSson, rector Of the board. a
war veteran. and an intimate per
sonal friends OF General Lee. They
Continued on Page O. Col b1