Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-26
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE, DID,,
Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

tolls the patriotism, the craftsmanship
and the Christianity of "thc Father of
His Country as worthy Of the emula-
ton of all good Americans. The text
is Genesis xvii, 4, "Thou shalt be n
father of many nations
Among the monarchs Of Europe there
IS only one whose lot I consider envi-
able. Justin Mccarthy once wrote that
the princes who were born to thrones
ought to be the most pitied of all men.
The kings and queens of Europe, as a
rule arc doomed to lives of oppressive
and circumscribcd scrvitude. The
would be assassins are always skulk-
ing around. ready to dig their graves.
Kings cannot marry those with whom
they fall in love, as other men are al
lowed to do. When they wed. consid-
national alliance govern the choice Of
partner, and they must not marry
simply to satisfy the cravings of their
own hearts. They must breathe, for
the most part, the tainted atmosphere
of sycophantal praise and insncere
as well as its dangers; but there is one
conspicuous example of their being
overcome. Even freeborn American
citizen can afford to admire the do
nestle relations of the German emper-
or. The six bright, healthy, intelligent
boys and the lovely little girl who
compose his family circle are n group
to make n fathers heart glad. TO be
the head of such family is more graft
flying than to be the head of the Ger.
man empire.
1t was so that the beautiful Cornelia
felt when she declared that no wealth
was comparable to being the mother Of
the Gracchi. What. then, must be the
joy of that man who is told that he is
to be the father of many nations.'
For that reason the Hebrew people
honor the name of Father Abraham;
for that reason the American people
ought TO honor the name of George
Washington. AS the Hebrews to this
day vcnerate the man from whom their
race Sprang. so we have in the leader
and founder of our commonwealth 4
man whose character is worthy of all
our honor and veneration. Thousands
upon thousands Of pilgrims have jour
neyCd to the ShrineS of Machpelah, in
which are supposed TO be buried Fa-
Their Abraham and Sarah, his wife. On
this national holiday in imagination
we should be willing 10 journey TO the
Mount Vernon tombs in which slunber
the moldcriug bodies of Father Wash
ington and Martha, his wife. We should
on this Washington's birthday be glad
to give up at least one service 10 the
study Of the life and the character Of
this great ana good man, whose name
not only towers above all other names
In American history, but whose life
has won the admiration of other ma
tons as we'll rs of our own.
Well Rounded Man.
George Washington was well round
ed man. His was not the brilliant gen.
Jus of a Napoleon or a Richclieu or n
Mazarin or n Cardinal Wolscy. His
military career was not spectacular.
like that of Arnold or Greene or Nor
gan or Light Horse" Harry Lee or
Mad Anthony Wayne. His pen was
not facilc, like that of Hamilton or
Jefferson. lie had no oratorlcal gifts,
like those of Henry or Adams or vii
liam Pinlincy; but, as he had not the
dazzling talents OF such men, neither
did he have the mor.l weaknesses
which married their characters.
Wherever we touch the life and char
actor of Washington there we find that
if he had any genius, his as David
Gregg wrote was the genius of char
actor" and Of character alone. AS Il
boy he was not n brilliant boy, but a
good boy, noble, high principled boy.
We do not have to refer TO the tabled
Ratchet story to prove this. There are
still preserved in his own boyish hand
writing the famous rules he made to
govern his future life, which he wrote
out at thirteen. Among those rules are
these words "Endeavor to keep alive
In your bcN,,n that little divine spark
called conscience" AS young man
we do not find him a brilliant young
man, but a conscientious and palnstak,
Ing young man. He was appointed
public surveyor by Lord Fairfax. Why's
Because Lord Fairfax knew that when
the ploddcr, George Washington, record.
ed measurement there would never be
doubt OF the one fact, that that meas
urement was right. AS n matured man
we cannot portray the well rounded
ness OF Washington's life better than
by quoting these words written by Mr
Lear, his private secretary, who lived
with him as member of his family In
Mount Vernon: General Washington
is, ! believe, almost the only man OF
exalted character who does not lose
some part of his responsibility by al
intimate acquaintance. / have never
found single thing that could lessen
my respect for him. A complete knowl
edge of his honesty, uprightness and
candor in all his private transactions
has sometimes led me to think hin
more than man"
Washington's character was not this
grandeur OF "A snow capped mountain
full Of crevasses and fatal precipices
1t was that of a we'll chiseled piece OF
| marble over which the sculptors hanC