The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-01

 So, like the modesty of Washington, our deeds in time of peGce may equal any deed of military conquest. We may be heroes and heroines in civilians garb. George Washington. upholding the fnan- eial policy of the secretary of the treas ury. Alexander Hamilton. was Just as im- portant to American History as George Washington leading his troops across the Delaware; George Washington in the po- litieal councils of state, just as important for American success as George Washing ton under the famous elm of Cambridge.
 George Washington lived and o.~>. Christian gentleman. If you knew noth- ing of the principles of navigation and should see a ship sail up New York har- bor. you might be surprised. You might say to the commander of the ship: Cap tain. how was 1t possible for you to steer your ship through the traekless deep? Miles and Miles away Is England, and yet you have pointed your chips prov straight into the Narrows of New York harbor" Then the captain would take you to the box in which trembes the magnetic 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 ma gnetlc needle always points toward the north pole. Then the passage of that ship over the lTdckieSS ueep cdn De ndut tu you very simple and plain. When we attempt to explain George Washlngton's career with out the aid of divine compass, all is in- applicable, but when we find the cross as the magnetic needle guiding him over the troubled sea of life. then mans impossi- bilities become Gods easies.
 Washineton's Divine Compass.
 Henry Cabot Lodge summed up the character of George Washington in these beautiful words: T see in Washington a great soldier who fought a trying war to a successful end impossible without him. great statesman who did more than all other men to lay the foundations of republic which has continued in pros- perity for more than century. l find in him a marvellous judgment, which was never at fault; a penetrating vision, which beheld the future of America when 1t was dim to other eyes, a great intel l lectual force will of iron, an unyielding l grasp of facts and an unequal strength of | patriotic purpose" But, above and be- | yond that fine conception of Washing l tons character, l see a still higher
 beauty. l see in him q great mind and heart, but l see God in that mind and
 heart, using him to win supernatural tri- umphs l see George Washington able to 1 overcome the greatest obstacles of tho revolutionary war. Why? Because 1 see George Washington on his knees In the
 snows of Valley Forge. l see George l Washington overcoming the besetting diff | faculties of his presidential life. Why? 1 Because l see George Washington as soon | as he had taken the oath of office going to the sacred chancel. There, as a hum ble supplicant, he begged the protection of Him who was King of kings and Lord of all. l hear George Washington turn tO lie n1d ri T1r H. die hard but I am not afraid to die" l Why? Because the Christ who had been
 his guide through life was his comforter l in death. Oh, my brothers and sisters,
 would that we might one and all have the | same divine re-enfore ement in lfe's | struggles that George Washington had. l Would that we might be able to use the | cross as a magnetic compass to guide us l over the troubled sea of time into the smooth, unruffled sea of eternity.
 | 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 just the | same as our life and death. He longed- earnestly and intensely longed-for the 1 time when he could return to the beauti- full fields of his dearly beloved Mount Vernon. When that delightful day at last seemed near, he wrote those happy
 
 employments and shall tread the paths of private satisfaction. Envious of none, I am determined 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 I sleep with my fath- l CTS" But alas, alas, less than three years after George Washington returned to his beautiful ..ount Vernon there was | beard a rustic in the air. The death an- | gel flew down and knocked at his door. and within a 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 us means continued work to the close. 1t will mean | hard work clear up to the end. Then when work is done, whether well or poorly done God will call us, and we must go. We shall in all probability as George Washington went-quickly, un- expectedly. with hardly a warning.
 May we one and all live as he lived. Be able to lie as he died. Live in the hearts of those with whom we have come
 in contact; live as Washington has been d blessea father of many nations" |