#126: Should We Then Live by the Character of Founding Father President George Washington?

      If I were imprisoned and only was allowed to have two books, one would be the Bible and the second would be Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary published by the Foundation for American Christian Education. Whenever I desire to obtain a definition for use of a word, this is my "Go to" resource. Webster produced an incredible dictionary. It reflects the linguistic derivation of words and their meaning with some very topical uses of the word in writings by well-known classical authors of the time. The 1828 dictionary by the publisher of this facsimile edition is dedicated "...to the Christian students of America, who, under the guidance of their parents and teachers, are developing a character of obedience to God's Biblical principles of life and liberty." The dedication page writes of President George Washington:

     "After eight long years as Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Republic, Washington was ready to resign his commission. He wrote from his Head Quarters at Newburgh, June 14, 1783, in his circular letter to the states, 'I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.'"

     Daniel Webster, Bunker Hill Monument Address, 1843.-"America has furnished to the world the character of Washington! And if our American institutions had done nothing else, that alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind."