Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-06
GEORGE WASHINGTON EULOGIzED.
Rev. 7. j. Leak, at the North Avenue
Church, Paid a Glowing Tribute TO the
Father of His Country Last Night.

Rev. T. j. Leak, at the North Avenue
Church. Paid a Glowing Tribute to the
Father of His Country Last Night.
Rev. 7. j. Leak, pastor of the North Ave-
nue., Allegheny, M. E. Church, preached
last evening upon ''George Washington. "
He took for his text, "Run ye to and fro
through the streets of Jerusalem and see
now, and know and seek, in the broad
plains thereof" etc.. Jeremiah, 5:1. The
reverend gentleman said:
There is nothing else that this world is SO
greatly in need of, as men. do not mean
merely bipids, who walk, and talk, and wear
clothes, but earnest, upright, useful men. No.
where else has this fact been illustrated more
fully than in the history of our own country.
In studying the history of those who laid the
foundations of our nation, there is one colossal
figure standing out more prominently than any
other; he who we call the father of his coun-
try: George Washington.
His school days closed early. At 16 years of
age he entered upon the work of surveying.
At 10 he was given a position as Government
Surveyor, which led him into the wilderness of
the Alleghenies, which oft-times furnished
him only the hard earth for his bed and
canopy of the sky for his covering. By these
hardsnips he developed strength and character
for his future work. At 26 years of age he,
with his forces drove the French out of Fort
Duquesne, around which spot our two thrifty
cities now flourish.
He was not only possessed of ph ysical cour-
age, but his moral courage was equally great.
When he thought thing right, he stood for
IL though the heavens should tall He was
also unselfish. When appointed commander Of
the Continental army, salary of $1,000 was
voted him by Congress, but he said that he
would not occupy such a position for none
tary consideration. He said he would keep an
exact account of his expenses, and only ask
that Congress should pay them Is 1t not
strange that such man grew indignant at the
efforts Of certain spectators, who endeavored
country, and expressed himself as wish
ing that their leaders might hang on
gallows four times as high as that
on which Haman was strung. The last charac-
teristic upon which I will touch was his devo-
tion to religion. This is seen in his statement
that upon certain days set apart for fasting
and prayer he wrote, II went to church and
tasted all day." At the opening of Congress,
when the chaplain led In prayer, while ali
his first orders as Commander of the Cont
mental army was enforcing the rule against pro-
family and drunkenness, and insisting upon the
officers attending upon divine service.
In the midst of the sufferings of Valley
Forge, an army hungry, and ragged, in the
midst of snow and freezing weather, crying mo
bread, "no pay" mo rum" he was discovered
by godly Quaker upon his knees in the woods,
with tears rolling down his cheeks, pouring his
petitions into the ear of the God of battles
We hold him tonight before the young Ameri-
ca of our day as light for their guidance, as a
life for their emulation and an example for
their inspiration.