The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-05-08
FARMvILLE, VA, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1903.

In times OF peace. We may often be
able to serve our country and people
In the store and the home as unselfsh-
ly and bravely and nobly as II we don
ned a soldiers uniform and marched
up TO the cannOfi's mouth.
George Washington lived and died a
Christian gentleman. II you knew
nothing OF the principles OF navigation
aud should see a ship sail up New
York harbor, you might be surprised.
You might say TO the commander Of
the ship: Captain, how was II pOssl-
bic for you TO steer your ship through
the trackless deepI Miles and miles
away is England, and yet you have
pointed your ships PROV straight into
the Narrows OF New York harbOr'
Then the captain would take you to
the box I'm which trembles the magnet
ic needle. He would explain 10 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 Washlngton's career
without the aid OF a divine compass
all is lnexplicable, but when we find
the cross as the magnetic needle, guild.
Ing him over the troubled sea OF life.
then mans impOsslbillties become
Gods easies."
Henry Cabot Lodge summed up the
character OF George Washington I'm
these beautiful words: 81 see in Wash
ington a great soldier who fought
trying war TO a successful end, lmpos-
sible without him. a great statesman,
who did more than all other men 10 lay
the foundations OF a republic which
has continued In prosperity for more
than a century. | find In him mar
yelOus judgment, which was never at
fault; a penetrating vision. which be
held the future OF America when it
was dim TO other eyes; a great intellec-
tual force, a will of iron, an unyleldlng
grasp OF facts and an unequaled
strength OF patriotic purpose But,
above and beyond that fine conception
OF Washlngton's character, see a still
higher beauty. see I'm him a great
mind and heart, but see God in that
mind and heart, using him to win su-
pernatural triumphs. see George
81. 10 tho
greatest obstacles Of the Revolutionary
war. WhyI Because | see George
Washington on his knees I'm the SHOWS
Of Valley Forge. see George Wash
Ington overcoming the besetting Diff
cultles Of his presidential life. Why?
Because see George Washington as
soon as he had taken the oath OF office
going to the sacred chancel. There. as
a humble supplicant, he begged the
protection OF him who was King Of
kings and Lord OF all. ! hear George
Washington turn to his old friend. Or.
Cralk. and say, II die hard. but | am
not afraid TO die" Why? Because the
Christ who had been his guide through
life was his comforter In death. Oh.
my brothers and sisters. would that we
might one and all have the same di-
vine reinforcement in life's struggles
that George Washington had. Would
that we might be able to use the cross
as a magnetic compass TO guide us over
the troubled sea Of time into the
p.I - afarnffNr
Thus we draw near to the close OF
the earthly career OF this greatest OF
all Americans. His life and death in
one sense shall In all probability be
lust the same as our life and death.
He longed - earnestly and intensely
longed-fOr the time when he could re-
turn to the beautiful fields OF bis dearly
beloved Mount Vernon. When that de-
llghtful day at last seemed near, he
wrote those happy words: 81 have re-.
tired from all public employments and
shall tread the paths OF private salts
faction. EnvIous OF none, | am deter
mined TO be pleased with all, and this,
my dear friend. being the order Of my
march, | will move gently down the
stream OF life until sleep with my IA
thers.v But, alas, alas, less than three
years after George Washington return
ed to his beautiful Mount Vernon there
was heard a rustic I'm the air. The
death angel flew down and knocked at
his door, and within few hours he
was gone. So with our lives. We may
look forward TO a happy and glorious
earthly twilight. but in all probability
life for all OF US means continued work
TO the close. II will mean hard work
clear up to the end. Then when our
work Is done, whether well or poorly
done. God will call us and We must
20. We shall go in all probability as
George Washington went-qulckly, un-
e1pectedly, with hardly warning.
May we one and all live as he lived.
BE able to die as he died. Live I'm the
hearts OF those with whom we have
come IN contact; live as Washington
has been-a blessed father Of many
nations"
Always Lucky.