President’s Day was originally established to honor George
Washington, our first and most important president. Had it not been for him, the
American Revolution could not have possibly succeeded. He led a small band of patriots against the
most powerful army in the world and despite incredible hardships, won the war
for our independence. Washington was
also chosen to preside over the Constitutional Conventions where his leadership
and wisdom was instrumental in brokering agreement over the many disputes that
ultimately resulted in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Washington’s birthday, Feb 22nd, was celebrated widely from
the time of his death in 1799, but did not become a national holiday until
1885. The Washington monument, built in
his honor, was begun in 1848. In the
1960s the holiday was moved from February 22nd to the third Monday
in February to comply with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, and the name changed
to President’s Day to include Abraham Lincoln whose birthday is February 12th.
Washington was a man of great Christian faith. He was a descendent of a long line of
Anglican Catholics, including a great grandfather who was an Anglican
priest. George himself was a vestryman
in his local Anglican church and participated actively in overseeing the
church’s affairs. Because Washington wrote
hundreds of letters and other documents, we know a great deal about his strong
faith in God whom he referred to frequently as “Divine Providence.” He was often observed by his troops on his
knees, in prayer. From his journals and letters, we know that he
entrusted and the outcome of the Revolutionary War to “God’s loving mercy.” Less well-known is the fact the while
encamped at Valley Forge, in the darkest, most dire hour of the Revolutionary
War, when all seemed to be lost, Washington experienced an amazing vision of a
“beautiful celestial woman.” Here are
excerpts about the event, in Washington’s own words, as told to his close
friend and confidant, Anthony Sherman.
“Looking up, I saw standing
opposite a singularly beautify female.
It was some moments before I found language to inquire the purpose of
her presence. A second, third and fourth
time did I repeat my question but received no answer from my mysterious
visitor, except a slight raising of her eyes.
By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen, but the riveted gaze of
the being before me rendered volition impossible. I essayed once more to address her, but my
tongue had become useless. Even thought
itself had become paralyzed. All I could
do was to gaze steadily at my unknown visitor.
Gradually, the surrounding atmosphere filled with sensation and grew
luminous. Everything about me seemed to
rarify, the mysterious visitor herself became more airy and yet more distinct
to my sight. I now began to feel as one
dying…
“Presently I heard a voice say, “Son of the Republic. Look and learn!” while at the same time
my visitor extended her arm eastward. I
looked and beheld a heavy white vapor rising at some distance. This gradually dissipated and I saw before me
lay spread out in one vast plain, all the countries of the world…
“Son of the Republic” said the mysterious voice, “Look and learn!” At that moment I beheld a dark shadowy being
standing, or rather, floating between Europe and America. Dipping water out of
the ocean with his right hand, he cast it on America, while that in his left
hand went on the European countries.
Immediately a cloud arose from these countries and joined in mid-ocean,
then moved westward until it enveloped America.
Sharp flashes of lightening gleamed through at intervals and I heard the
groans of the American people. A second
time the angel dipped its hand in the ocean and the dark cloud was then drawn
back...
A third time I heard the mysterious
voice say, “Son of the Republic, look
and learn.” I cast my eyes on America
and beheld villages, towns, and cities springing up, one after another, until
the whole land, from Atlantic to Pacific, was dotted with them.”
Washington had two more visions during this event, one that
portrayed Americans fighting against one another, but coming together after
many battles. The third and last vision
was that of all Europe and America engulfed in battle with massive death and
casualties. Here’s how Washington
described the end of his strange experience:
“I found myself gazing once more on
the mysterious visitor who said, “Son of
the Republic, what you have seen is thus: Three great perils will come upon the
Republic. The most fearful is the third,
but the whole world united shall not prevail upon her. Let every child of the
Republic learn to live for God, his land and the Union.” With these words, the beautiful visitor and
the angel accompanying her disappeared from my sight.”
You can read the full account of Washington’s vision in The
Spiritual Journey of George Washington by Janice Connell who discovered
that it had been originally published in The National Tribune in December
1880, and is preserved in the Library of Congress. Draw your own conclusions about this amazing
account and who the beautiful woman was, but what Washington apparently foresaw
was a vision of the outcome of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the
great World Wars of the 20th Century. A few days after this vision, Washington led
his sick, weak, and demoralized troops out of Valley Forge and on to defeat the
British at Trenton on Christmas day. It
was the turning point of the war and resulted in a resurgence of hope and
support for the successful outcome of the revolution. Had it not been for George Washington’s faith
and determination, the Revolutionary War would have surely ended in defeat and
there would have been no new Republic of the United States of America.
After the war Washington was unanimously elected by
Congress as our first president. He gave
many speeches attributing the success of the war and the founding of our new nation
to “God’s great mercy” and “Divine Providence.”
In addressing the Governors of the 13 States, he said, “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… brotherly affection and love for one
another.” This is obviously quite
different from the partisan and rancorous rhetoric we hear today from
politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Christians are frequently referred to as “right-wing extremists” for
opposing gay marriage and abortion, and the government now dictates that
certain religious beliefs must be set aside, under penalty of law.
I wonder what George would think of all this?
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