Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-04-29

Washington The Christian. SOLDIER ana
Ruler.


Washington The Christian. SOLDIER ana
Ruler.
In bis sermon yesterday morning On
Gods care OF Washington, Rev. Robert
H. Williams said, after speaking of Gods
hand In the great affairs Of nations and
with the chief actors 10 them. The eve
of the public was upon Washington at q
very early age. OF ell the distinguished
men Of that period Of our history. not
one attracted as much attention as Wash
ington.
Said Winthrop. at tie dedication of
the monument at the capital Of our nation
February 1885. every Office stood candi-
date for him, and was ennobled by his &C.
ceptance of 1t. When the country need
ed Commander In Chief OF its armies.
be was the man who came to the front.
When the country was looking around
for some one TO I'LL the honorable and
responsible position 81 first President OF
these United States, that wise man Ben
jamin Franklin remarked Gen. Wash
ington is the man that all our eyes are
fixed on for President, and that little in
fiuence / may have. Is devoted to him.
Washington must have felt, as few feel,
that be was the instrument in the hands
of God for great work. AT the age of
fourteen he received q midshipman' 9
warrant to enter the British Navy, but his
christian mother disappearing Of that
calling for. her son. he declined IL, and in
doing so made the history of his country
and bis own biography altogether differ
ent from what they would have been.
The aim Of the Indian, usually so uner-
ring and the river into which he was
thrown and 10 which he struggled, failed
tn Nh far46 20 10 sfa tmk al ~ Al
position and pension were offered by
Great Britain without success. Clinton
Of the British army made many efforts TO
capture him, thinking that we had not
another man to take his place. Then en-.
Wy among the officers, and discomfort
among the troops, and jealousies among
the colonies, made the position of Wash
ington one of great trial and anxiety
Then the offer TO make him ruler, with
the title Of dictator or king, was reject
ed with adherence, as Is shown in hts re
ply. He said with great feeling If
am not deceived in the knowledge of
myself. you could not have found a per
son TO whom your schemes are more dis
agreeable The man who looks at the
events in this most remarkable career.
and does not see the hand of God, must
be short sighted indeed.
Now this great man so honored by men
Of his own day, and so lovingly and ten
derby remembered by those who came af
ter him, was christian From his ear
ly days, when his pious mother reads to
him the Bible and Sir Matthew Hale's
contemplations, down TO the very close
Of life, he had high regard for our holy
religion.
when Braddock fell, the voice Of
Washington, then a young mao, was
heard conducting the funeral services.
HE believed 10 the providence of God.
and recognized 1t in. all his letters and
state papers. He believed in prayer, and
was found before the engagement Ia bat
tie seeking the quiet retreat to have COM
munion with God He reverenced the
house of God. aud was always in his
place at its service We honor his mem=
DRY to day, not merely as man. aud as q
soldier, and as a statesman and ruler, but
we honor him as christian man who
had faith in God and In His providential
care.
Religion will make men great in man.
illness. great Ia valor, great In statesman
ship and in ruling, great In every excel
lence. May our country have much of it
in her prominent men IN the time 10 come
as she has done in the past.