Evening star., 1943-02-23

day faced eefeat on many occa-
sions. We FACED, sad still face, re-
verses and misforIunes.
In l777, the victory over Gen.
Burgoyne's army at Saratoga led
thousands of Americans to throw
their hats in the air, proclaiming
that the war was practically won
and that they could go back to their
peacetime occupations-and nor
malcies."
Today, the great successes on the
Russian front have led thousands
of Americans to throw their hats in
the air and proclaim that victory
Is just around the corner.
No Joshua in Our Midst.
Others among us still believe in
the age of miracles. They forget
that there is no Joshua in our midst.
We cannot count on great walls
crumbling and falling when the
trumpets blow and the peoples
shout.
1t is not enough that we have
faith and that we have hope. Wash
tion of the other great need.
Would that all of us could live
our lives and direct our thoughts
and control our tongues as did the
Father of our Country in seeking
day by day to follow those great
verses:
Charity suffereth long, and is
kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil,
"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but re-
joiceth in the truth"
Most Of us Americans seek to live
up to those precepts. But there are
some among us who have forgotten
them. There are Americans whose
words and writings are trumpeted
by our enemies to persuade the dis
integrating people Of Germany and
italy and their captives that Amer
lea is disunited-that America will
be guilty of faithiessness In this war
and will thus enable the Axis pow
ers to control the earth.
spoken Many Years~Ago.
1t Is perhaps fitting that on this
day ] should read a few more words
spoken many years ago - words
which helped to shape the character
and the career of George Wash
ington.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they
shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hun
ger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for
they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they shall be called the children
of God.
Blessed are they which are per-
secuted for righteousness sake, for
theirs Is the Kingdom Of Heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for My sake.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad,
for great is your reward in Heaven;
for so prosecuted they the prophets
which were before you"
Eternal Heritage.
Those are the truths which are
the eternal heritage Of our civiliza-
ton. I repeat them to give heart
and comfort to all men and women
everywhere who fight for freedom
Those truths inspired Washington
and the men and women of the
13 Colonies.
Today, through the darkness that
has descended upon our Nation and
our world, those truths are guild
ing light to all.
We shall follow that light, as our
forefathers did, to the fulfillment of
our hopes for victory, for freedom
and for peace.