Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-02-23

the box i'm which trembles the magnet
ic needle. He would explain to you |
all the laws of the compass; he would |
tell you that no matter which way the
ships prov turns that magnetic needle |
always points toward the north pole
Then the passage of that ship over the
trackless deep can be made to you very
simple and plain. When we attempt TO
explain George Washington's career
without the aid of divine compass,
all is inexplicable, but when we lind
the cross as the magnetic needle, guld-
ing him over the troubled sea of life,
then mans impossibilities become
Gods easies."
washington's Divine Compass.
Henry Cabot Lodge summed up the
character of George Washington IN
these beautiful words: Il see in Wash
;no+on n great soldier, who fought a
irving war to successful END, linpos-
sihle without him; a great statesman,
who did more than all other men to lay
the foundations of a republic when
has continued in prosperity for more
than n century. | find in him mar
fault: a penetrating vision, which pc
held the future of America when IL
was dim to other eyes; a great lntellec-
tual force, a will of iron an unyleldln2
grasp of facts and an unequaIed
strength of patriotic purpose" But,
, above and beyond that fine conception
of Washington's character, see a still
higher beauty. l see in him a great
mind ard heart, but | see God in that
. mind and heart, using him to WIN su-
pernatural triumphs. | see George
: Washington able to overcome the
greatest obstacles of the Revolutionary
war. Why? Because | see George
Washington on his knees in the SHOWS
" of Valley Forge. l see George WASH,
ineton overcoming the besetting DIM
cuIties of his presidential life. why
Because I see George Washington as
soon as he had taken the oath OF once
y going to the sacred chancel. Ihere, a.
= a humble supplicant, he begged th'
= protection of him who was KING o
kings and Lord of all. | hear Georg
Washington turn to his old friend, ID
&c Craik. and say, Il die hard, but l al
not afraid to die" Why? Because I'll
~ Christ who had been his guide throuS
life was his comforter in death. VI
- nv brothers and sisters, would that W
- might one and all have the same
- vine reinforcement i'll llfes struggle
~ that George Washington had. Woul
- that we might be able to use the eros
:. as q magnetic compass to guide US owe
- :, the troubled sea of time into I'll
- smooth. unruff1ed sea of eternity.
Thus we draw near to the close
- the earthly career of this greatest
all Americans. His life and death
one sense shall in all probability
lust the same as our life and deat
lie He longed = earnestly and intense
ice longed-for the time when he could
AS tura to the beautiful fields of his dear
yer beloved Mount Vernon When that c
up Hghtful day at last seemed near,
.eo wrote those happy words: 4 nave
ION tired from all public employments a
LIS shall tread the paths of private SAT
w faction. Envious of none, L am deu
lhe mined to be pleased with all. ana tn
an. nv dear friend being the order OF
way march, | will move gently down
ses stream of life until sleep with my
100 thers.' But, alas, alas, less than thl
~ years after George Washington retu
seu ed to his beautiful Mount Vernon tn
isa was heard a rustic in the air.
% death angel flew down and knocked
jest his door, and within a few hours
ihy was gone So with our lives. We u
sei look forward to a happy and glorl'
,oou earthly twilight, but in all probabl
Neu life for all Of us means continued W
ileu to the close 1t will mean hard W
asn- clear up to the end. Then when
do work is done, whether we'll or poo
ate done, God will call us, and we ID
Gnu 90. We shall go in all probability
olis George Washington went-quickly,
Iol expectedly, With hardly warning.
no' May we one and all live as he llN
iiles Be able to die as he died. Live in
SoiH hearts of those with whom we
Ii VI come in contact; live as Washing
has been-a blessed father of M
) nations"
hlst copyright, 1903, by Louis Klopsch.
may
west Ur,hre,I,