FFQF: George Washington on Moral Authority
Again today, we examine our theme of “moral authority.” Our goal, once again, is to solicit the Founding Fathers on the question of “What is the foundation for morality?”
Today, we will hear from George Washington. He is definitely a fitting person to hear on this subject, as he has been called “the Eighth Wonder of the World” for his sterling virtue. Surely he can at least give us a few pointers as to the authority for moral standards. Here are his words, taken from his First Inaugural Address, of advice to the new American nation:
By the article establishing the Executive Department, it is made the duty of the President “to recommend to your consideration, such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The circumstances under which I now meet you, will acquit me from entering into that subject, farther than to refer to the Great Constitutional Charter under which you are assembled; and which, in defining your powers, designates the objects to which your attention is to be given.
… [T]here is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage, between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity: Since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.
I need not add anything; Washington said it all.
You’re right. Washington said it all. Now if only people would listen. lol.I did my FFQF today, too!
He did say it all, Herky, a very long time ago. Truth is truth, no matter when it’s stated. Too bad people still don’t want to hear it.
Thank you all for reading and leaving your comments!Mrs. M, I am half-laughing over here.Jean, I’m so glad you could stop by and read. Yes, it is too bad. But what a relief we have that we wait for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. We don’t need to spend our lives in the futile task of “making the world a better place” or creating a paradise here. What we Christians should have done was to be responsible with the blessings that were passed down to us by Washington and others. But man’s definition of paradise is to reap benefits and blessings without doing the hard work of tilling and sowing the right seed. And man has been long engaged in that futile effort, to create an earthly utopia, ever since the Fall. America’s demise is just one more example of the many, of how that attempt JUST DOESN’T WORK.Anyway. You have a way of getting me to think and rant on.
Happy FFQF to all! Stay warm!