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Show IGI1 PLAYED A -GREAT PART IN OUR HISTORY Tho music at the services last evening eve-ning in the First Presbyterian church was furnished by Mrs. Stevens, Misses Miss-es Hamlll and Pierce, Mr. Saunders, and Mr. Livingston. The church was decorated with American flags." Rev. Carver said in part: "It seems strange that Virginia should have given so much to the formation of tho United States when we remember tho early history that colony. Virginia was called tho "Old Dominion" because of the part It played in the days of the English revolution. In those days Cavalier and Royalists formed most of its citizens citi-zens and these were aristocratic In tendency. When CromwelT beheaded behead-ed Charles thousands of royalists came to Virginia. The colony took measures, through civil and church measures, in condemning that regicide. regi-cide. All those who supported Cromwell Crom-well were declared traitors in that colony. Colonel Richard Lee was sent to Charles Second when he was exiled in Franco to offer him Virginia Vir-ginia as a kingdom. It was thus Charles Second'B oldest dominion. When Charles was crowned he remembered remem-bered this, and had his robes made of Virginia silk and his coins had stamped on them that his kingdom consisted of England, Scotland, Ireland Ire-land and Virginia. It was a descendant descend-ant of Richard Lee, namely Richard Henry Lee, who led in bringing the thirteen colonios together, and when together moved the following resolution: reso-lution: "Rosolvcd, That these United colonics col-onics are and ought to be free and independent states, and that all political po-litical connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved. "Virginia was a colony without cities. cit-ies. The planters shipped their produce, pro-duce, and bought direct from England. The four great rivers furnished means for the ships to load from the planters' plant-ers' homes. Therefore there was little town government in Virginia, while in New England tho township and town was the unit Therefore, Virginia did not contribute men and measures to the formation period. Iu New England the mass ruled. In Virginia the fow ruled. This led to the rise of men and measures of worth. Patrick Henry, tho magnetic leader; Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of Independence; Lee, who presented the resolution of Independence; Washington, the military mili-tary leader and first president; Madison, Madi-son, the father of '.he constitution; other than these, Marshall, thevfirst chief justice. It was a Virginian also who presided at the first constitutional constitution-al convention, and one also who first shaped our foreign policy. Truly, Virginia had repented and atoned for the conduct that gave rise to the name of 'Old Dominion.' "Washington is the name we think upon tonight, We see that he was no solitary patriot. His late was a leader In giving men and measures to our formative era. Washington, like Lincoln, was in part then a product prod-uct of his time and place and yet much more. Like all great leadors, he arose above his environment His schooling was little hotter than Lincoln's; Lin-coln's; almost the same In fact Both had meager training. Washington went little, If any, beyond tho 'three R's' oxcept as like Lincoln he taught himself surveying In order to secure a position of advancement Washington, Wash-ington, too, continued to develop though not in tho same way all hi3 days. The genius of each was uot so much that of learning or Intellect as It was the genius of character. This fact contains at once a lesson and an inspiration. A lesson in that we learn anew that there Is no power like that of character. It Is this that gives clear insight and perfect poise. It is this that aids' most to-' wards lasting success. It is this thnt secures tho blessing of God. No other quality can recompenso for characler in true success or lasting famo History and church teach the same great lessons. Man's record of deeds In history and God's book are at one In this. There is an Inspiration Inspira-tion in it for it places an open path before everyone. Our determinatlous and Ideals, our standards and goal3 arc our best aids, and most lasting powers. "From our sketch of this great leader, lead-er, and from his prototype In the Bible Bi-ble wo read our duty anew. A true and sincere lite lived In adherenco to right and duty in our greatest gift to our day and place. How do you answer the question 'Who are yod?' Do you answer it by positions held, property owned, and estimates that are without? Do you not rather answer an-swer It by what you are in character and soul worth. "Washington was very rich. He is an answer to the one who condemns riches and wealth. Ho owned vast tracts of land, and his wife possessed over 200,000 dollars In gold, besides great estates, an enormous sum Mn that day. Riches of character and service were his constant desire. How well he won his desire .all know today. to-day. "His was the childlike ,faith in God and .prayer and in all his checkered check-ered career he never lost sense of tho nearness of God. Money and ability were not enough. He felt the need of God." |