Washington and the Genius of Character

As young people face problems, the qualities of character that have shaped the leaders of the past become urgently important in the present. And this increasingly becomes clear: that without character, without integrity there is no safe leadership. Concerning George Washington, Edwin Percy Whipple said: “His genius . . . was the genius of character . . . Washington had the greatness of character which . . . grows up through . . . the power of spiritual laws . . . character . . . composed of the power of facts and principles so that men instinctively felt . . . his . . . manhood. . . . There are few falser fallacies than that which represents moral conduct as . . . detached from moral character. . . . Many have miserable failed because they have ceased to discern and regard the inexorable moral laws, obedience to which is the condition of all permanent success.”¹ “Labor to keep alive in your breast,” said Washington, “that . . . spark of celestial fire⎯conscience.”² In his reverence for God and on the offense of profanity, Washington said: “The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low, that every person of sense and character detests and despises it.”³ Nor did he hesitate to bow down in acknowledgement of need as humbly he prayed and pleaded: “Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep us in Thy holy protection . . .”⁴ As president of the convention which framed the constitution of our country, there, at the end of the instrument itself and first among many eminent honored names, was the bold and honest signature of George Washington, a signature which always carried with it the integrity and influence of his character. . .”¹⎯with the witness of this ever-living lesson: that without integrity, without reverence, without living the moral laws, there is no safe leadership, there is no safe example.

“Our Fathers’ God to thee,

Author of liberty,

To thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light.

Protect us by thy might,

Great God, our King!”⁵