The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-10


mother country. There are a hundred
! spots, from Boston and Cambridge TO
! Lexington and Concord. which have been
| made famous by glorious words and
deeds. and the facts of history and the
\ power OF oration and poem are heightened
| IN thousands OF hearts and minds each
! year by these visitations. There are men
who get good living BY showing visitors
about and telling them what these places
( signify
But what is Boston as a source of his
toric and patriotic interest compared
with Bible lands and customs? With
little judicious attention. we can develop
as rare a passion for knowledge OF the
facts about tents and tabernacles. syna-
gogues ID temples. sacrifices and Of
ferings, as for a sight OF the spot where
Attucks fell or the bridge al which was
fired the shot heard round the world.
There follows the necessity of per
manent historical path. True, there are
| beautiful individual texts with an ALI
, sufficient personality standing out. like
Mt Hood. elean-cut against the eternal
| background but no one bases his love
| of natpre or knowledge thereof upon his
| admiration Of mountain peaks. from ka-
| tahdin TO Tamalpias: and he who claims
| familiarity with the Scripture merely be-
cause he can recite the twenty-third
psalm and the thirteenth chapter of III
Corinthians presumes upon the ignorance
or creduhty OF the people There Is no
creditable acquaintance with the WAYS
OF God along the centuries that Is not
traceable through the historic highways
from the time when Abram became
Abraham to that In which Saul became
Paul
What would be thought of the claim
of man to a knowledge and love of
American history who did not know the
significance Of l.g2 1920. l7T6 and 1861, of
Plymouth Yorktown and Gettysburg, of
Columbus Washington and Lincoln. OF
the compact of the Mayiower, the Decla-
ration or Independence and the emanci
patton proclamat ton. But that is no more
unreasonable that for Christian 10
talk Of his knowledge OF the Bible when
he does not see the relation of the pa
trarchs and priests. judges and kings,
major and minor prophets. John the Bap-
list and John the disciple.
II will signify little that these words
have been said. n they end with the say
ing. Even had they represented the logic
of an Edwards and been spoken with the
eloouence of a Webster and the fervency
of a Beecher. they would he of slight
value II reliance was placed upon senti-
ment When a scholarly disciple OF tram
scendentalism after many years an
nounced his acceptance OF the Christian
faith. among the reasons he assigned was
the fact that little was left of transcen-
dental philosophy that was tangible. while
the world was being benefited in many
ways by the organized devotion of The
churches.
With the close of the struggle for in
dependence Washington issued his fare
well to the army, I'm which he told the
soldiers. and through them the country.
some things that must be avoided, and
others that must be done. I'm order that
the fruits of the great war might be Sc
cured and retained. lie then settled
down In his beautiful home at Mount
Vernon TO enjoy the development OF his
properties. social ease. and the general
esteem In which he was held Such was
his faith I'm human nature 'and such his
confidence in the devotion of his country
men that he believed some regard would
be had for his opinion. Imagine his sur
prise and grief as he saw New York with
its central force; Massachusetts, with her
mighty leaders: Virginia. the pride of his
heart: and every other colony and every
leader. with possibly one exception, not
only ignoring the urgent advice of his
farewell TO the army, but literally doing
everything he had warned them not TO
do. and deliberately avoiding everything
he had urged them TO do.
Then Washington. the general awoke
from the lethargic conceit that the senti-
mental gratitude OF a people could be
coined INTO CIVIC WISDOM, ana, laying
aside all thought OF personal ease and
well-earned private privileges. he devoted
himself for the remainder OF his life 10
securing for his country. through organiz-
alton and attention TO minor detail. as
well as 20 great principles, the full bene-
M OF the prompt heroism at Concord:
the patient suffering at Valley Forge. and
the brilliant daring Of Ethan Allen. Gen
eral Putnam and Mad Anthony Wayne.
The grandest hour i'm Washington's life
was not al the cherry tree; was not under
the Cambridge elm; was not at York
town. hut at Mount Vernon. when he de-
cided to forego all personal ease. profit
and luxury and consecrate himself to the
great work Of organizing civic forces
which should ultimately project the
glories Of Independence beyond the Ohio
and the Mississippi: the Rockies and the
Sierras: up 10 the Arctic sea and out 10
the islands Of the Atlantic and the Pc
cihc-even 90 the fstthest east The Dec
laration of Independence fought for and
died for but for this renewed consecra-
tion would have vanished in thin air
through the vague and vicious sentiment
~ men In every colony. who denounced
George Washington and the constitution
he had advised. because he ignored their
sentimental ideas In esta ablishine base
line that was 10 cause the purpose and