The Gavelyte, February 1908

I Washi ngton. J and conduct. His word was unque~- ! tioned when once given; and his ac– BY ~Ev. w. R. M'CHESNEY, PH. D., · i tions were never charO'eable with im- l'f'tf'r 1i-1h,.:nn l'rofesso1· of Anc>iE>nt Lnn"H'l"E'S j · "' in <'Nhlrvill e .<'ollegt>. " ·" / pu~·e or sinist~r motives. H.is s~lf- When the Am~ncan Revolution · re::;pect gave him a command111g chg– broke out, George Washington was I nity and at the same time led him to tlw man of the hour. There were despise t;Onceit in himself or othen;;. ~larion, L~P, Lincoln, Arnold anri oth-1 From his. e~rliest years, he ~vas d~– ers, who 111 some respects were his I votedl_y religious, and even rn the suµeriors; but thPy were not ready. / mo~t strenuous days of the Revolu– One irnpreme qualit.y, which wrought tion, he never failed to give some. Washington's success, was that he part of every day to communion with was always reacty for what awaited :God. His faith was unflinching to ~is :-rideavors. Duri.ng the l?ng war II th~ l~~t.,. In his final moments, he for mdependence neither fnend nor I said, I me hard, but I am not afraid t " foe caught him off guard. This feat- , 0 go. . . . I He was not specially gifted with ure of his per,:;onahty secured for him 1 1 b I d . . ta ents ut 1e was O'OO ancl perse- umversal confidence. He was noted 1 • ' B . ~ "'k d . • • 1 venng . y 11am wor an deterrm- for promp.tness o~ actt~n. v~hen th.e I nation he forged without ignoble am- hour appornted with h11n arnved, his I bition to the front and won the well– pret-:ence could be ddpended on. The i deserved title ''Fathn of his country" Continental Congress was to meet at I ancl was called "the best general of 11 a. m. on one occa.~ion. N::ibody ! t~~ world" by the leading .ruler of , 1 his day. Doubtless no president had but Washington w_as pre~e~t when j a purer and more self-sacrificing love the clock told the time. At Just one I for his country, which grew deeper minute after l l o'elock. he lt'ft. : and deeper until hi:S death, and for ,'ome of the conO'ressmen on their ; which he has the undying reverenc~ way mePting him ,.,asked him if h~ i or all true A.meriean citizens. . . I He has given us an example rn werf> not to be present. He rrphed, , reaclinrss for duty, patience in trials, "I have just l,een there and t·he meet- j perseverence in the right, truthrul– ing is over." After that, any who ! ness in w.wd and action, self-respect, had busine:-is with him were on time. I the proper use of our powers, pa- His truthfulness is not only pro- I troitism and devoti?n to God. . . . . . In the words of (~eneral Henry Ler, vnlnal but a matter of h1ston c fact. : wr still say, "Washington, fin;t in Ile was sincere from boyho ,,d and hi~ J war. fir"'t in pracr, and firsr, in Uw whole <·flrl"PI' ~hows Vf'rarity in spePch I hrnrt s of his ronntrymrn".