The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-23
EXGELLENCIES OF
GEO. WASHINGTON
INTERESTING AND INSPIRING
SERMON ON FIRST
PRESIDENT
Delivered BY Or. A W Mills N
Fourth stree; NJ. e. Church
Last Night.

laAlnE Tor his text Daniel 5.l2,
/ An Excellent Spirit Was Found in
him. Dr. Mills said in part 1t has
been the custom in every civilized
nation To p'rt"tuate the memory u
lllustrious men by monumental in
scriptions. OF IN the historic page TO
record their worth. and to hold M
10 view their peculiar virtues not only
Tor the admiration. nut for the imita-
ton OF suCCecdinc ages. and TO pro
mote the same laudablc purposes. fu-
neral sermons and oratiOpg have for
several hundred years been delivered
My purpos" Is To point out a few
OF the eNCellCnCiCs Of Washington
mind. eNemplihed in CORES ponding ac-
tions. As a soldier and a commander
he was intrepid and brave. hc was
cool and determined. Let the dan
Cerous, hut successful attack hc made
~ Trenton. IN the dead of winter. IN
e dark and gloomy night with dis
spirited soldiers. eNinCe his prOWess
and the Vigor Of his mind. He fought
he conquered morning sun
cheercd the American world-our
country rose on the event Let the
hills of BrandyWinc-let the fields of
Germantown let the plains Of Mon
mouth witness his bravery. his cool
and determined Nalour
lie was apparently unmoVcd On
the most adverse circumstances Had
We seen that little army In the fall
OF l''6 retr'atiug through the Jerseys
after the enemy had made the garri-
son OF Fort Washington prisoners OF
war. had We seen the small remains
of this army diminishing every day
by the tim" of their enlstmrnts az
pirinE. scarcely amounting to 1000
men. had We bpheld those brave sol
diers without sufficient clothing. shiN-
ering with cold. had We observed
many OF them To be without shoes.
and the frozen ground marked with
blood. that issued from their unCoN-
cred feet, as they marched along. had
We seen this little band pressed Dy
"a numerous. well appointed army.
with most formidable train of artil-
lery. and a proportionate number OF
dragons. had We seen the militia at
this early period Of the war. appear
! ing like persons in the deepest amaze
mcn.t had We seen the inhabitants
who were friends to their country for
eighty miles in length. and from six
10 twelve miles In breadth flying in
all directions. to secure their movable
property. preserve their families and
save their lives. had we seen all this
CONSERVATION: had we heard their IN
testlne enemies CXultinE I'm the pros
peel OF British conquest. had We
heard the most sancuine friends To
their country s freedom giving up In
a moment of despair. that all was
lost. We might have read dismay on
aAllltEA WV y AhuIN'lldllAfs y II lfthf'tA
TO Washington. No sorrow seemed
to set on his brow He was serene
and clear as the unclouded sun. lie
was indeed then more than a host.
His words, his example. his counter
ance all jointly contributed 10 inspire
his army with confidence and COur-
age.
Stands Alone.
"lIc was eOuallcd by none Of the
heroes OF antiquity. by any general az
more modern times. They shrink
from the comparison They possessed
virtues IL Is true. hUt they were tar
nishcd by their defects. Alexander
was brave like Washington. but h.
was cruel and incorporate. Caesar
was intrepid, but he ,nslavcd ms
country. Cromwell was wise and sue
Ccssiul. but he acted like q hyuocrite.
and aimed at the regal power Bona
partc was full of martial fire. an able
and excellent general, bul did he not
Ike Cromwell destroy the sacred right
Of election The grand palladium OF
liberty Did ne not undertake 10
frame constitution for the French
people. when they had not delegated
h.mFihis authority Marlborough IN
the reign Of Queen Anne. M mauy
THINGS most rescmtled Washington.
lie had like our hero. handsome per
son. and an elegant manner Of address.
He was wise In the cabinet. he was
Grave in the hcld-hC knew when 30
attack and when 10 be passive. He
possessed great Calmucss In action
and wa merCiiul In victory: but
Marlborough was aVaritious 1c IOr-
s,sscd bN the bounty Of lis country
tn" highest hOnOrs. and one Of the
greatest estate in England. Yet h.
d"iraudcu the soldiers by diminishing
their allowance Of bread. and applied
their loss 10 his own use. the cloth
or he use Of the soldiers was Uur-
chased by his agents and overcharged
90 fh" government
'i'ut Washington was disintcrestcd
'c received no pay for his long and
tollsOm" services. he suffered ne
fought for his Country's freedom and
not cor its money. lie was not ambi-
tioUs % retgininC power. a. shown by
his cheerful and voluntary resignation
Of the command of the army. and his
retiring from the pTCsidcntship when
the term o. his Ug~t election expired
though certain %! being reelected ffc
was mild ard DpndrsrondIn.. no n,,-
60 treated with Oontemptuous Ian.
guaEo. any person that behaved with
Hopri'tN. OF addressed him with de-.
r'u'N. iI' was humane and mcrciful
no unnecessary punishment appeared
u hI- army h' always pardOu'd
when consistent with prudence. and
tho good OF the service would pos
s'hlt permit OF it lIn was temperate
and decent in his Department was
rhaIi'gll" and generous. her had "a
solemn reverence for Cod and roIi.
rip1 During his residence boz philg-
c.ipliI. hr generally kept Bible
open FOB private apartment. to which
boz" used ~ resort flc frequently at.
tended public prayers. and urelthiu.
ir tho army ard ho always attributed
iu tE' -aprTIrf nuding Of Providence
Cf Cod. lI' success of every measure.
both civil and mIitar,
.lu word although many have
been 'uu9li. .- brave ga soldiers
equally pafr.nI, as citizens while
some have been EQUALLY y.grffrbII
aud Generous. mild and humane.
HII' others have been equally wise.
rnauh'fIous or pIou-. have not heard
1i D have no.. read Of ono in whom sII
f.'.. qualities and virtues have been
con sufratUd COS .u our Washington
Irwin rs BANoUETEo