p. 75 | REFLECTIONS SUGGESTED BY READING THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1879

REFLECTIONS SUGGESTED BY READING THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I ask myself, What was it in the character of Washington that won for him the unbounded esteem and admiration which he has ever since enjoyed? It certainly was not his great generalship; for he was far inferior to Napoleon, Alexander, or Caesar in this respect. Doubtless he was a good general; but other men, with the same resources, on many occasions would have done far better.

Was he the most profound of statesmen? He was not much of a speaker; but there were two traits of his character that very forcibly impressed my mind. The first was the real, solid, every-day goodness of his soul. It always shone out bright and clear above the characters of those around him, like the sun among the moon and stars. The second was his indomitable perseverance, his courage and unfailing faith that the right would finally prevail.

When his army was small, and the enemy’s large; when his soldiers were destitute, and the British well fed; when his men were deserting him, and the British were receiving recruits, he as firmly believed in the triumph of the cause of freedom and right as when success perched upon his banners. When battles went against him, when his men forsook him, when cautious ones began to fear and tremble and doubt, Washington stood unmoved. When others were in despair, when the dread night of adversity settled down like a funeral pall over all the colonies, and liberty seemed to be expiring with its last gasp, Washington never quailed, never spoke a discouraging word. If his own men left him and turned to another, if his enemies slandered him, he never faltered. Envious ones tried to undermine him and to blast his reputation, the government was ungrateful; but Washington went straight forward in the discharge of his duty when it seemed to bring upon him nothing but curses and opprobrium.

Not so with Arnold the traitor. I believe that Arnold was a much better general than Washington. He was a man of great ability. He struck terror to the hearts of the enemy everywhere he went. He was a host in himself. But when he found that he was not appreciated, when secret enemies slandered him, and his pride was wounded, instead of holding firmly on to the right, and standing by his post of duty, and waiting for time to vindicate his work, he allowed his pride and selfish feelings to warp his better judgment. Battles, and cannons, and swords he did not fear; the cause of patriotism and liberty he loved; but when his own comrades and fellow-officers did not appreciate him as he thought they should, then he failed. Feelings of wounded pride rankled in his bosom till he became an odious traitor, and endeavored to ruin the very cause for which he had fought.

Washington did the reverse of this. In adversity, in secret and open enmity,—no matter where he was placed,—all the reproach that could be heaped upon him never once turned him from the line of duty that he had marked out. This is what causes all to bow to him, and it is this that has caused the world to pronounce him the greatest man that ever lived.

Dear brethren, I have thought that the life and character of Washington suggests some profitable hints for us in our work. It is not the man of the greatest genius nor the most brilliant success that is of the greatest use in the cause; but it is the man who will ever stand at his post, and do his duty whether brethren smile or frown. Whether they appreciate or undervalue his labors, whether he is put forward or kept back, whether his success is great or small, whether the cause flourishes or languishes, ever and always he does his duty, is as unmoved as the everlasting hills.

We all admire such a spirit as this, and why? Simply because it is so very rare, and yet so valuable. Oh! why can we not have manhood and nobility of character to do and persevere in doing that which our sober and better judgment tells us is best and right? Why do we not cultivate those traits which in our hearts we know to be the noblest and best in the human character? But it is natural to get miffed and offended, and let our pride be wounded, and lay down our trust, cease to do our duty, and act like a petted, spoiled child; to stand back and say, “Let others try it, and see if they will do any better.” It is a shame for a man to act in that manner. It is a grievance to God and a sin against Heaven.

As I laid down the life of Washington, after finishing its perusal, I said, “O Lord, help me to be in the cause of God as was this man in the cause of liberty.”

D. M. CANRIGHT.