HERALD Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas. Founded 1897. BENEVOLENCE
VOLUME 55 — NO. 8
HUMANITY
BROTHERHOOD
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, FOB 100, TEMPLE, TEX. 76501
FEBRUARY 22, 1967
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK AMERICAN FREEDOM AND GEORGE WASHINGTON Freedom is a word with a special meaning to all Americans. Their country was born in the turmoil of battle and the battle was for liberty from the most powerful colonial nation in the 18th century. Outstanding as the leader of the 13 colonies in their struggle against the English motherland was the commander of the American forces, General George Washington, whose birthday is celebrated on February 22. It is also a matter of pride to Americans to remember that when the war was won, Washington rejected suggestions that he be king. Instead he helped establish the new unifying constitution and served with great distinction as President for the first two terms of four years each. Born in 1732, the son of a Virginia gentleman whose great-grand-father had come from England in 1656, the young Washington was soon concerned with running the family plantation and surveying neighboring lands. Part of a non-industrial society where most things were made at home and by hand and only the scarce silks, weapons, fabricated metal, spices and books were imported from the English homeland, Washington spent his first 40 years as a hard-working country squire.
GEORGE WASHINGTON 22 February 1732 14 December 1799 "Washington, the brave, the wise, the good, supreme in war, in council, and in peoce ... The hero, the patriot, the Christian, the father of nations, the friend of mankind, who, when he had won all, renounced all." —Inscription at Mt. Vernon As a young man he had fought Indians and French soldiers opposing the spread westward of British colonists. A natural soldier, Washington was a colonel at 25 and was early recognized as a man of special ability in the military field. By 1775, opposition to British rule with its appointed governors and special taxes, had spread throughout the
13 colonies. George Washington, a delegate to the colonies' Continental Congress, was asked to become Commander-in-Chief of the army which was to lead the American revolution. He accepted and with determination and skill led an army that was often out of supplies and on the verge of starvation. Aid came from France along with its volunteer officer Lafayette. From Germany came an experienced drill expert, von Steuben and from Poland came Pulaski and Kosciuszko. From other nations, also, came leaders to aid the newly established United States. By 1783, victory had been won and the new states were forced to decide what sort of government establish. The democratic republic they set up had as its leadership men of various views, but all , were united in their devotion to freedom. When he had served two terms in office, Washington was asked to run again for the presidency but he declined and returned to his Virginia home. Here he had a brief three years of home life before he died. His successor, President John Adams said of him, "Possessed of power, possessed of an extensive influence, he never used it but for the benefit of his country .." • In medicine the new republic was still relatively uneducated and when jenSimi Staty Arnerickymi a Washing-