The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1839-12-19

are to people the hills and wales of on
laha. ;is TO be spoken with the profound
est regard the name Of Washington
mere have been other great men, whose
character required many years after the,
dieu to- determine whether they were r.
DC regarded with gratitude or disgust
Whether they were influenced by the love
OF Q. country or by ambition; whether thew
iived to bless or curse the race. Many
nave lived, and have transmitted their
names TO us, of whom it is now difficult
% determine whether we should regard
'llelr existence as a proof of the Divine
mercy or the Divine d spleasure, and of
Whom the opinions of men ma, continue
forever unsettled; but no such ambieui-
" attends the name Or deeds of Washing
ton. Ills character was well understood
When ne ed; there was no doubt felt on
me subject BY the weeping millions who
mourncd his death; and the lapse Of
years has produced no change in the pub
nc mind IN regard to this illustrious man.
we cannot be ignorant of the many
things IN our own age and time that are
lifted TO cali forth tears from the ewes of
those who love their country, or who
love the Chr stan religion. We cannot
be unapprised that large numbers of the
citizens of this land-and it is to be feared
many occupying places of trust and
power-have ceased to feel any depend
eice on God, and are trusting TO the Wis
dom OF human councils and the power of
a human arm in times Of danger. We
cannot be unaffected by the fact tina, large
numbers OF our countrymen have cast off
the religion of the Bible, and despise the
ordinances of Christianity, and are stran-
gers to humble and fervent prayer. Yet
1t is a subject of the deepest interest, and
is one of the happy indications of sub
stantlally sound state ofthings in this age,
that the hearts of the nation are turned
still to the sacred remembrance of the
Father of his country aud that enduring
monuments to his memory are erected all
over the land. l mean not in splendid
arches and obelisks; | mean not in the
skill OF the statuary and the art of the
painter; but | mean in the fact that his
opinions are collected, recorded, and pub
lished; that his name is one of the first
that is taught to infancy and childhood !;
and that there is not probably in all our
wide domain a hamlet so remote, or a
cottage so humble, that, in the hearts of
the children there, there is not already
erected monument tothe name and me-
mory of Washington.
The following is al extract from his
orders when he was colonel. s. Colonel
Washington has observed that the men of
his regiment are very proEane and repro
bate. lie takes this opportunity to in
form them ofhis great displeasure at such
practices, and assures them that if they
do.not leave them off they shall be severe
ly punished.
#
1t is well known that he was educated
in the Episcopal church, to which he adj
hered through his life; and he undoubted-
ly believed il the doctrines of Christiani-
ty as taught in that church, but without a
particle of intolerance, or dlsrespect for
the faith and modes of worship adopted by
Christians of other denominations. An
affectin and deeply interesting instance
of his liberality towards other denomina-
tons, and of his desire to honor the re-
ligion of the Redeemer, occurred when
the army was encamped during the win
ter at Morristown, New Jersey. The
anecdote is found in DR.. Hosack's Life of
De Witt Clinton, and is fact which does
not admit, it is believed, of dispute. l
was settled as a pastor in that place for
moro than five years; and can add my
testimony to the authority on which the
anecdote, is based in the Life of Clinton,
that it is a matter Of undisputed tradition
there, that Washington partook of the
Lords Supper in connection with the
Presbyterian church, at the hand of its
pastor, the Rev. DR.. Johnes. sin the
morning of the week previous to the COM
munion,'' says the Rev. DR.. Cox, in the
Life of Clinton, {. the General, after his
accustomed inspection of the camp, visit
ed the house Of the Rev. DR.. Jones
Tonnes, the pastor of the church, and
after the usual prelininaries, thus accost-
ed him: Doctor, / understand that the
Lords Supper is to be celebrated with
you next Sunday; | would learn if it ac-
cords with the canon Of your church to
admit communicates of other denomina-
tion!' The doctor rejoined: Mostcer-
tainly ours is not the Presbyterian table,
General, but the Lords table and we
hence give the Lords invitation to all his
70 lowers, of whatever name The doc
tor assured him of a cordial welcome, and
the General was found seated with the
COMMITMENTS the next Sabbath
It's one of the happy features in the
history Of our country, that we can thus
refer to the great name of Washington as
an nndoubted believer in the truth of
Christianity. Never can his example be
pleaded by the profane man-for no man
ever more decidedly bore the whole
weight Of his authority and example
against prof4neness than he did. Never
can his example be pleaded by those who
neglect the sanctuary, and profane the
Christian Sabbath--for in his diary which
T.