The Washington times., 1932-02-20
Religion Of Washington
An Inspiration to Youth
BY DIR. ALLEN A. STOCKDALE-
Pastor of First Congregational Church

The youth of America have right to look to George
Washington for inspirations to citizenship 1t inter-
esting important that religious inspiration ana
example be found in the Father of Our Country In
Washington find not superstition but faith not credu
ous attitude toward forms of magic but an Intelligent de-
pendence upon Almighty God
Washington possessed deep veneraon for the Bible
book with authoritative messages in the spiritual ana mora
realms worthy of reading and dependable the guide
to mind and spirit Washington caused the Gospel to be
preached to his soldiers knowing that while they marched
the strength of their bode they fought the qualities
of their souls Washington practced secret prayer and pub
lie prayer WELL To Congress in 1894 he expressed this
noble worthy attitude Let unite there
fore mporg the Supreme Ruler Of Nations to spread His
holy protection these United States When the po
cal situation most perpexng and beyond the OF
mans control Washingtons attendance upon church
even frequent Washington blessing asked at the
table custom broken by the rush of modern life and for
gotten by the sesatisfied mind of materam and the
rreverent indifference of cynical and doubling The
example of wealthy and great Washington
knowedging dependence upon Power not himself, and
greater than himself to whom and gratitude
due is challenging practice defeated and mindpuzzed
and should be an inspiration to aspiring youth to go and
do likewise.
George Washington attended church in Pohick and Alex
andra Both churches distant from Mt Vernon They
had to be reached by coach It neither convenient
to The roads often bad and break downs and
nterfernces real and many There radio be
listened to in easy chair There the devotion and
strength of spirit to be found the of fire.
quent church attendance.
Russia says stay away from church. forget God, be
maerialist Washington said MAN shall live by bread
alone, Remember Thy Creator and "Neglect not the
assembling of yourselves together Present yourselves
living sacrifice, which is your reasonable service"
In an address to the clergy in Philadelphia in 1897 he
said: believing do that religion morality are the
essential pillars of civil society, view with unspeakabe
pleasure the harmony and brher love which characterize
the clergy of different denominations =" That your abors
Tor the good of mankind may be crowned with
shall not cease to uppcate the Divine Author of life and
felicity The youth of our country cannot be true to the
origin Of our national life to the example of our first
and immortal President without recognizing religion as
foundation stone and the practice Of continuing
method of private and national life As Washington lived in
the faith of God who supports life earth he died the
confident hope of life beyond the apparent experience of
death On his deathbed after "a hours of struggle for
breath he went to his Maker with his brave faith unshaken
we'll for the youth of the United States to listen to his
deathbcd words II felt from the first that the disorder
would prove fatal but not afraid to go Not Stain
but Washington the safe example for American youth