George
Washington George Washington was born February 22, 1732.
He attained his well-rounded knowledge of literature, sciences, and penmanship through
tutors. After Washington's formal education, he moved to live with
another brother, Lawrence, and his family. He began to pick up
surveying and attended the College of William and Mary. When his brother, Lawrence, became
ill and past away, and his brother's wife and daughter past away too,
Washington ended up with all of the Mount Vernon Estate at age 29.
Washington also replaced his brother's position of Adjutant of the Colony,
equivalent to a Mayor of a county changing his life into both a political
and military career. George Washington eventually accepted the
position of our first president and remained in office for 8 years. In his
farewell address to the nation, George Washington expounds on his thoughts
on religion and government. The following is an excerpt:
"Of all the
dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity.
Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that
man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these
great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men
and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man ought to
respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their
connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked
where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense
of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of
investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge
the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.
Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of
peculiar structure--reason and experience both forbid us to expect that
national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." |