Words from George Washington – Sunday, February 22, 1959
A very important part of our heritage is the lessons other men have learned and left us. The principles, the experience of prophets, of patriots and others of the past are precious and priceless in their continuing constancy of counsel.
And if Washington were here, we can only conclude that he would speak these same sentences, selected from his knowledge of people and problems and principles, as he did in his own day: “Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle … Cherish public credit . . . avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertion in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars have occasioned.”1
The “Constitution . . . till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all. It is important . . . that . . . those entrusted with . . . administration confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres for usurpation … is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”2
If Washington were here, we doubt not he would still seek divine help in prayerful humility, and counsel against irreverence and the offense of profanity, as he did in this General Order to the Continental Army: “The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is growing into fashion. He hopes the officers will, by example as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they and the men will reflect that we can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms if we insult it by our impiety and folly.”1 signed: George Washington.
With his having so well served, and his having surrendered further honors and powers that he might have had, history would well record what he said of himself: “My eyes have grown dim in the service of my country.”3
If Washington were here, earnestly we believe we would hear him say: Avoid the paths that lead to those which other men fervently wish they were free from. Avoid the principle of compulsion. Keep faith in freedom. *
1 George Washington, Farewell Address
2 Ibid, General Order to the Continental Army
3 Ibid
* Revised
February 22, 1959
Broadcast Number 1,540