revolution, they turned their faces away from God, finally God called out another; and Nebuchadnezzar is foreordained of God for that remarkable campaign, going down into Egypt, chastising that people, coming over into the land of Judea, laying waste all the land of Judea, and destroying the beautiful city of Jerusalem and laying its temple in ruins. It was the plan of God to chastise his people, and Nebuchadnezzar was called. Just as true as Nebuchadnezzar was called to this mission, so was Cyrus the Great called, seventy years after, to lead the same people, that had been fortified by this chastisement, back into the land of Judea to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and to restore the ruined temple. So God has, in all ages of the world, selected his patriarchs, his prophets; and historians have been compelled to chronicle his doings and warriors to seek his wisdom and his strength. No, my friends, this world is not the arena of chance. According to the statement of the Great Record, God exalted one nation and put down another. His smile means victory; his frown, just as certain, means destruction. Who can read the annals of sacred and profane history and fail to realize that George Washington was just as truly called of God to be the leader of his people in the cause of freedom as was Moses to lead his people out of Egypt? God was with him. God led and guided him. And his shield preserved him in carnage wrought by shot and shell. It was Jehovah that guided Washington from the snares of traitors. It was the hand that wrote Belshazzar's doom on the walls of his palace that wrote and inscribed victory upon the banners of Washington. Though his form for a century has ceased to be among us, his memory we honor with profoundest reverence; therefore do we honor him, as we say to our children and our children's children, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright."

We wish next to consider Washington as a man-pure and simply as a man. We have said of him that he was led by direction of Divine Providence. Next to a proper observation of his life, we need to see him as the patriot and the soldier, and then the completed work of his life, as a ruler and a statesman.

Washington as a man was almost ideal. In the brief account in the historical description, we see that he was almost a giant physically. He was of a very commanding appearance. He was a hardy son of the field and forest. There was no place that this son of freedom enjoyed more to be than in the open field or roaming in the woods. His very profession showed a natural inclination. He was a mountaineer, and a man of marvelous physique and physical strength. So again the words of the text apply: Mark the perfect man -a man perfect in his physical strength. And you see in this very fact how God selected a man of these natural physical characteristics to lead his people out-a man who enjoyed freedom himself, a man who loved the open world, a man who appreciated the independence of his people.

Washington was not, so far as historical record goes, a giant intellectually; that is, he would not be considered in this age one of the brilliant men of the world. There were men in his day who had enjoyed every advantage of the larger and higher schools of learning. There were college graduates. He called into his Cabinet, when he was elected President, one of the most brilliant men of this country, a man who, intellectually. I presume, would be considered his superior-Alexander Hamilton-whose remains to-day lie in Trinity Churchyard; and though he was not considered a giant intellectually, this one thing must be credited him, that he was a strong man mentally, and that the will and good judgment with which he was endowed in large measure made up for any other deficiency. Washington was a man who improved daily in his intellect, morally and religiously. It can be said of him that even among his male associates, Washington was a clean man morally-in word, in thought, in deed; hon

ored by his neighbors because of the beauty of his character, honored by those who met him abroad because of the attraction of that beautiful character.

What of him religiously? When he was out on the battlefield, it is said of him that he sought the influences of the house of God and attendance upon divine worship whenever possible. He was not ashamed to acknowledge the fact that he was a Christian, neither was he ashamed to follow the leadings of that star which led the Wise Men from the East to the manger of the Christ-child; for when he was at Morristown, N. J., and learned that in the Presbyterian Church they were about to observe the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, he went down to see the pastor of that church, although he was not a member of that denomination, and asked that he might come and commune with him and his people on the Lord's Day. So Washington, morally and religiously, stands out before us as an ideal man.

Washington as a patriot and a soldier. There are a few aspects of his life in this respect that perhaps most of us have not stopped to consider. Though Washington was left fatherless when a boy of twelve years of age, he was amply provided for, for his future comfort. He and his widowed mother and a brother, while living. had equal shares in the ample plantation, so that he might have lived in comfort, and been in enjoyment of that comfort. for the rest of his days, if he had followed out this inclination. I wish to show here briefly that Washington was a patriot in his heart-unselfish. Men are inclined to follow out their natural inclinations, and nothing, as we have already observed, did Washington love more than the open field. This was his natural inclination; but let us see. When just a youth, and Governor Dinwiddie had a commission to send over the Alleghanies to the Ohio Valley to warn the French to keep off in their aggressions, and as the governor looked about him, whom did he select as his trusted messenger but Washington? Not considering his comfort, but ready to serve his country, the moment he was selected he started on that perilous journey. It was through the cold blasts of winter, exposed to wild beasts and to the savages as he was traveling on, and to pass through swollen streams, at one time falling into a current that was running down, destined to carry him to a watery grave; still, Providence saved him, and he went on, completed his mission, and returned. Then, when he was called into the service of his government as a soldier, he did not consult his personal feelings, which would have been to stay at his home, but he started, unselfish to the last. When General Braddock came on with his army of 2.000 men, and started to chastise the French in the Ohio Valley, every single provincial officer, according to the decree of Braddock, was compelled to serve in the ranks; not a single one was to receive a commission, or was to have his provincial commission acknowledged. Every single man resigned. Washington resigned; but his unselfish patriotism again came to the front, and he offered his services under Braddock as a member of his staff. This is a remarkable thing in the life of Washington, showing his unstinted and unlimited patriotism. When he was called into the service of his country at the beginning of the Revolution, he was enjoying the things of his home and surroundings. He left immediately, and started for the field at Boston for the great work he was to undertake; and if any man doubts his patriotism, let him simply read the record that in the eight years of the war he went to his home but once. When that war was concluded, Washington had hoped that his work was done. Finding that the Federal Government among the colonies was not a success, he again came, unselfish. And when in attendance at the convention that adopted the Constitution, and his name was proposed as the first President, it was with diffidence that he accepted the honor. Whenever the voice of his country was heard. Washington could be relied upon. Having completed that first term, it was only by the appeal

of his numerous friends, and, as I stated once before, by the personal appeal of two members of his Cabinet-Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton -that he consented. By the way, both of these gentlemen were aspirants to the Presidency, Jefferson afterwards becoming President, and Hamilton desiring to be, and both of them would have been glad to supersede Washington at the end of his first term; but so popular was Washington among the masses of the country, that these men realized the fact that no other man would do, and each in turn wrote a personal letter and insisted upon his serving a second term. After these appeals he again listened to the voice of his country, serving the second term. Then Washington, fearing a danger that always was before the colonies, a tendency to imperialism, absolutely declined to serve a third term, for there was danger of a monarchy and he did not wish in any way to contribute to any such idea that was cherished in the hearts of men, and believed that it was for the highest interests of his country that he should not serve more than that second term. Now, mark! Having completed his second term, and more than sixty years of age, after such faithful service to his country, he goes once more to Mount Vernon. The country had been at peace. His work had been a glorious success. But difficulties arose between France and the Americans; war seemed to be imminent again. He was called from his retirement as commander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and he accepted the call and repaired to Washington at once. Is not this a marvelous demonstration of his patriotism to the very last?

Behold him as a soldier-the characteristics of this man. Though he had not enjoyed the advantages of the military training school, and relied entirely upon what he learned from his brother Laurence, who had served in the navy, and other military men with whom he came in contact, yet we find him becoming one of the marvelous soldiers of the world. Frederick the Great said of him, that in that campaign against the Hessians at Trenton, it was one of the most brilliant in all the annals of history. It was just at a time when the colonies and Congress were in despair; and so sure was Cornwallis that the Revolution had come to an end that he had already made arrangements to return to England, when on that Christmas night, Washington, with a handful of barefooted, weary men, dividing his little army in three divisions, two to cross below Trenton, the other above, sent them upon the town in one division. The Hessians would undoubtedly spend Christmas Day in revelry, and extend their revels into the night; and though the river was filled with ice and a rolling torrent, and it was almost impossible to cross, and day was likely to dawn upon them and disturb their plans, yet he, in his judgment, said, These men, being filled with revelry during the day and night, will become an easy prey;" and with one-third of his band he descended upon Trenton and captured one thousand men in arms, who begged for mercy. As I say, Frederick, who himself was a great soldier, said it was one of the most brilliant feats in the annals of history.

But what were his characteristics as a soldier? He was patient, he was painstaking, he was humane, he was religious. Let us drop a few thoughts here as we pass on. He was judicious; the very instance to which I have called your attention proves the fact that he was exceedingly sound in his judgment and reason, and never, in all the record of his history as a soldier, can it be charged against Washington that he needlessly exposed a single one. Remarkable man in his carefulness and good judgment!

We come to his patience. I wonder if God in his providence could have selected another man in all the history of the nation to fill his place. There were generals of larger experience. There were men who had had training in military affairs abroad. Why call upon this man? Behold the patience of this one! A man whom he had trusted in a very high position, and looked upon as one of his best warriors, turned traitor in a night. Benedict

Arnold almost broke the heart of Washington; and while Benedict Arnold was perpetrating his plot, there was another whom Washington did not suspect. It was General Gates. He also brought disgrace upon himself as a soldier because of the anonymous letters that he was constantly writing to Congress, seeking to undermine his commander-in-chief, injuring him by word and manner whenever he could. Finally Washington became aware of this fact. He said afterwards that the conduct of Congress was about as great a burden upon his shoulders as had been any of his foes. To his repeated appeals for assistance for his army, it seemed as though they were constantly settling themselves in indifference, and only now and then would bestir themselves to assist him. Yet this man, brave warrior that he was, went plodding along in the midst of these reverses and of these difficulties, bringing us to a gloricus victory.

He was painstaking. How he applied himself to his task! He conducted all of his correspondence personally, to see that it was proper. He kept a minute account of his expenses, that he might personally understand that the record was proper in presenting it to Congress. He could sit in the saddle three days and three nights to superintend work in his charge. Is not this painstaking?

He was humane. When Major André was convicted as a spy, it tore the very heartstrings of that good man to consent to his execution, but the laws of war made it an absolute necessity; and the same great heart that led him toward this man always led him to consider the highest interests of the men under his command. I will give you a single little instance which I have given you before. Passing along in citizen's clothing, he saw a corporal who had been ordered to lay up certain breastworks commanding a few soldiers to roll up a huge log; and these boys were tugging away with all their physical strength, and the corporal was standing back in the street giving orders and commanding the work-a work which was impossible for she few men he had. Washington came riding by, alighted, put his thoulder to the log and helped roll it into place; and when it was in position he turned round and said, "If hereafter you have a task for your men that they find it impossible to perform, send for me, your commander-in-chief, George Washington." That shows the attitude of Washington toward his men always. We hear in modern times of officers being shot by their own men in war because of their attitude toward the soldier. When Washington had completed his task and called his generals around him and delivered his farewell message, it was like a funeral. They fell upon him and wept as he parted from them, and the common soldiers wept as they saw their commander-in-chief leaving them and returning to his home. Washington was humane.

Briefly, Washington as the President and statesman. He might have been king if he would. Possibly most men in his position would have aspired to that honor that was within his grasp, but Washington chose freedom, not for himself alone, but for the people he served. When he was elected President of the United States, and turned away from his home to the city of New York, where he was to be inaugurated, one needs but to read that all the way of that triumphal march his path was strewn with flowers. Mothers came out with their daughters and sang by the way. This beautiful incident is related of his passing through Philadelphia: As he came around the Schuylkill River and half way over the bridge, it seemed to be garlanded with flowers and wreaths, and up in the archway, where mortal eye could not follow, sat a small boy; and-as the President rode under the archway, automatically a crown was placed upon his head. It simply shows the position that Washington held in the hearts of his people.

His two terms as President were glorious. The people insisted upon the third. He demonstrated by these two terms that he was a statesman. One

thing alone proves him to be a statesman worthy of the honor of men in all times-the selection of his Cabinet; choosing Jefferson as the Secretary of State, John Knox as Secretary of War, and Alexander Hamilton as the Secretary of the Treasury. A sound finance was at once adopted; insurrections throughout the country were at once quelled; the Indians that had been fighting against us on the border were chastised and pacified; and in his last administration a remarkable thing occurred. England, France, and Spain almost simultaneously seemed to be ready to assail us; but Washington, by his remarkable statesmanship. succeeded in adjusting the difficulty, so that when he came to the close of his last term he could say, "We have peace at home and peace abroad, therefore I must positively decline a third term."

From whatever standpoint, therefore, dear friends, we view the great life and character of this great man, we are led to exclaim, "Mark the perfect man! He was a master builder. building wisely, and better than he knew." How fitting that beautiful Psalm of Life with which we close the discussion of the subject, before reading just briefly his relationship with this fraternal Order. I presume that if any of us were to place over his tomb an epitaph, we should feel like making it like the Psalm of Life written by Longfellow. It seems as though written almost for such a character as Washington.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, "Life is but an empty dream!" For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest !

And the grave is not its goal;
"Dust thou art, to dust returnest,"
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way:
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead.

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of Time-

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate:
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

The speaker closed his address by reading a brief history of Washington's connection with the Masonic Order.