Milford chronicle., 1915-03-05
THE FIRST AMERICAN
GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON

CT4,e following address was delivered by Rev
Thomas C. Davis at the First Baptist Church IN
Milford. Delaware on Sunday morning February
18th 1915, before the Sakimas Tribe No. TO- Inn
proved Order Of Red Men Of Milford:)
Fellow Braves:
When we speak Of the First American we may
mean the untutored savage. who in his wild estate
roamed the plains and forests of virgin America.
with his bow and knife-a veritable savage whose
hapd was against every man. But in the present
use Of the word or term we mean the True Ameri-
ean-the product Of four eenturies-the stately
gentleman George Washington, The Father Of
Bis Country. of whom Senator Lodge said In a
euloay, We see embodied in him the noblest pos
abilities Of humanity" He Is the American pat
tern we all do well to copy. Now as the Red Man
IN his primitive estateunafected by the influence
Of bad white men and half breeds, stood for man
Rness patriotism and endurance. 80 we hope 70
draw some lessons from the life Of this man-God's
noblenan. who was First In war. first in peace
and first in the hearts of his eountrymen." In ad-
dressing this body Of Red Men. wish to bring out
the characteristics of the race whose name you
bear and whose sterling traits you may well emu
Eats The Red Man." of whom a modern critic
sajd The Best Indian is a dead one. missed en-
Grely the solemn truth that uninhuenced BY the
laser breeds the red man stands for the nOblest
taits Of humanity-the traits embodied in the
man whose birthday the American public has just
celebrated and whose history is the history of his
native land We shall see he was the first man in
the American Republic. in the sense of possessing
the qualities that have made our Nation second to
none ON the face of the earth.
TO be a good patriot. man must consider his
eountrymen as Gods creatures. and himself as &C.
eOuntable for his actions toward them says
Bishop Berkley. Dean Stanley says: That is a
true sentiment which makes us feel that we do not
love our country. but more. because we have laid
up in cur minds the knowledge of other lands and
other institutions and other races. and have en-
kindled afresh within us the instinct of common
humanity. and of the universal benefeenee Of the
creator" Let us now consider the elements in |
Washington's character.
Washington Was First AS A Man.
Being Mason he had to be q man. being pa !
tFiot he had to be a tried man. being citizen he |
bad 70 be concerned for men. and being Christian
he must needs be a good man. Manhood is basal
m conduct and character-"By their works ye !
shah know them" said the purest Of men; one
who knew what was in man. Washington was OF
athletie form, given to much exercise. graceful
and expert rider fond Of the wild life of the woods
and the encampment-thus he had the instincts OF
the 'ehild of the forest" At the age of le he was
apparently man-six feet and two inches tall in
his stockings. Big in body. heart and mind. His
physical makeup was that Of an honest. pure
minded man. From boyhOod to manhood he was
noted for these qualities that to make sterling
virl manhood. His name is the synonym for all
that is gallant and noblehe was first of all man.
This foundation Of character was not an accident
1t was the effect of an adequate cause. His an
eestors and his environment were responsible Tor
bis manlness. Today we look back TO him and
distance lends enehanment to the view.
The ancients viewed their mighty men as demi-
gods. but we see Washington as a man among
men. who like Saul of old. lowered head and shoul-
iers above his fellows. He showed himself man.
But manhood does not consist in 50 many pounds
Il iesh and blood and bones the clothing OF the
certain functions and faculties; It
stands for intelligence affection volition. WASH
ngton was a real man, a full man. spiritual man
"a man with voice and a mission and vision
1e was a man bodily mentally and morally. This a
seen in his industry and strict attention to his
everal stupendous tasks. He was man with 2
onseienee So as a man the great Patriot had <
sveral love affairs. He did not wear his heart on
be sleeve of his coat. but he had heart He had