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To: central_va
After the Civil War, there was a famous incident at a church Gen. Robert E. Lee was attending. People were singing hymns at the church and one of them who appeared was a black fellow; however, the other southern parishoners disapproved of the black fellow and told him to leave.

Robert E. Lee did not like what happened; said he would leave too because the black fellow couldn't sing in there; and the general did leave.

Another time, the General was to be in an insurance company and receive quite a stipend; however, Gen. Lee inquired what work he would do and the company said we just want your name. Because Robert E. Lee was not offered to get his hands dirty with work and was just to sit in an office doing nothing (at best), Gen. Lee turned the phony position down.

It is said that Gen. Lee said of Abraham Lincon that this man has character. The same could be said of the great General, Robert E Lee.

22 posted on 04/20/2011 5:24:11 PM PDT by Stepan12 (Palin & Bolton in 2012)
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To: Stepan12
Robert E. Lee did not like what happened; said he would leave too because the black fellow couldn't sing in there; and the general did leave.

That's not the story. The first time the story ever appeared was in 1905, in "Confederate Veteran" Magazine. Here it is in its entirety:

"NEGRO COMMUNED AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH," CONFEDERATE VETERAN, 13 (AUGUST 1905): 360. "Col. T. L. Broun, of Charleston, W. Va., writes of having been present at St. Paul's Church, Richmond, Va., just after the war when a negro marched to the communion table ahead of the congregation. His account of the event is as follows:

Two months after the evacuation of Richmond business called me to Richmond for a few days, and on a Sunday morning in June, 1865, I attended St. Paul's Church. Dr. Minnegerode [sic] preached. It was communion day; and when the minister was ready to administer the holy communion, a negro in the church arose and advanced to the communion table. He was tall, well-dressed, and black. This was a great surprise and shock to the communicants and others present. Its effect upon the communicants was startling, and for several moments they retained their seats in solemn silence and did not move, being deeply chagrined at this attempt to inaugurate the "new regime" to offend and humiliate them during their most devoted Church services. Dr. Minnegerode [sic] was evidently embarrassed.

General Robert E. Lee was present, and, ignoring the action and presence of the negro, arose in his usual dignified and self-possessed manner, walked up the aisle to the chancel rail, and reverently knelt down to partake of the communion, and not far from the negro. This lofty conception of duty by Gen. Lee under such provoking and irritating circumstances had a magic effect upon the other communicants (including the writer), who went forward to the communion table.

By this action of Gen. Lee the services were conducted as if the negro had not been present. It was a grand exhibition of superiority shown by a true Christian and great soldier under the most trying and offensive circumstances."

That paints a rather different picture, one of a "True Christian and great soldier" showing his superiority to the "offensive circumstances" of a black man showing up in his church.
30 posted on 04/20/2011 5:34:36 PM PDT by Bubba Ho-Tep ("More weight!"--Giles Corey)
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To: Stepan12
In related news, Lee was a very close friend of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
38 posted on 04/20/2011 6:37:24 PM PDT by starlifter (Pullum sapit)
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