The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1914-02-21
WASHINGTON BIRTH
DAY Anniversary,
His Ancestry and the Orig :
in of the American Flag.
Special Article Written for
The Sea Coast Echo by the
Rev. DR.. +. P. T. Duffy,
Rector of Christ Episcopal
Church, Bay ST. Louis.

-
Rector of Christ Episcopal
Church, Bay ST. Louis.
1t is universally admitted that George
Washington, as patriot, stands with
out rival in the annals of the world
It is not, however, SO generally admitt-
ed that as military genius he trans
cended all others; although if military
genius consists in accomplishing the OBJ
ject of the war waged, defeating the
most renowned military nation of his
age, compelling her general to surren-
der, taking her armies prisoners, extort-
ing the independence of his country
from the most stubborn of England's
kings, then George Washington mus
be allowed to be the first general of his
his age.
American citizens and his admirers
the world over may we'll rest content
with beholding their ideal citizen ac-
claimed with universal consent the
unique figure in the annals of human
veal. And as the arts of peace, not
war, is our theme we shall address our
selves to the subject in hand-George
Washington, his ancestry and the origin
of the American Flag.
Washington wass born at Bridges
Creek, Westmoreland county, Virginia,
A. D. 1882, His father died when
George was in his 18th year. Young
Washington g education was obtained at
an elementary school, and comprised
little more than the three Rs-rea ding,
'riting and 'rithmetic. But he was not
content with such elementary knowledge.
In his childhood he was trained to trust
in God, and to make use of His Provi-
dence in all future transactions of his
life. The youthful George had an am
bition to be something more than an or
dinary colonist boy, and his ambition
regulated by Cody fear. prompted
him to improve his mental faculties by
every !audable means. Accordingly he
directed his energies to the requirement
of geometry aud land surveying, anu SO
we'll did he apply himself to these prae-
tical subjects that at Is years old he was
employed by Lord Halifax to survey his
property in the Allegheny mountains.
Like little boy in Christ Church Sum-
day School, whom I know we'll and
who endears himself to all his teachers,
he wanted to be "hrst" in anything he
undertook. That little boys. name is
Laurence, and Laurence was a family
name of the Washingtons.
At the age of 19 George was appoint-
ed a major in the Provincial Militia.
In 1755, when but %, we find him colo
mel under General Braddock when he
exhibited rare military courage and
skill, particularly in conducting the
retreat of an army" Think of that, ye
young men of America-George Wash
ipgton colonel at the age of %, and
exhibiting rare military genius in the
hardest of all military operations, the
successful retreat of an army! And as
We think of it, go out and initiate his
example, and bring glory to your COM
pany and honor to yourself. Washing
ton held command OF the Virginian
troops until 1853 when, on account of
i'll health, he was obliged to resign, and
then he was made senator and in this,
as in all things else, he won fame.
Again, ye young men of America, think
of this: George Washington senator
at the age of 26. In 1853 he was sent by
General Dunwid1ie to the French COM
mander on the Ohio to complain of the
inroads that had been made in violation
of the treaties between the two nations.
He came into collision with detach-
ment of the French forces and defeated
them. For this he was thanked by the
House of Burgesses. Once again, younS
men of America, think of this: George
Washington major at 10. a colonel at
%, at senator at 26, victor over the
French at 81. And reflect how he at
tanned these distinctions-not by card
playing and gambling; not as drawing
room dandy, dancing the fashionable
dances then in vogne,-not by figuring
in the divorce court-not as vain tear
pet knight" mot by consorting with
drunken companions s'till wine influ-
ence them" but by a manly, self-reliant
perseverance till he developed brain
and muscle and Drawn which became the
habit of his life, and ended in the high
est honor that can come to mortal man.
The breach between Great Britain
ard her colonies widened owing to the
insistance Of the mother country upon
taxation without representation which
eliminated In the historic scene of
throwing the tea into Boston harbor.
Washington was unanimously chosen
the commander of the American forces
at Cambridge, New England, juno, 1775.
The history of the war from this period
is the history OF Washington. We shall,
therefore, leave that history and apply
ourselves TO a history not SO we'll known
The history Of Washington'a ancestry