The purely Great
Whose soul no siren passion could unsphere,
Thou nameless, now a power and mixed read more

The purely Great
Whose soul no siren passion could unsphere,
Thou nameless, now a power and mixed with fate.

Simple and brave, his faith awoke
Ploughmen to struggle with their fate;
Armies won battles when he read more

Simple and brave, his faith awoke
Ploughmen to struggle with their fate;
Armies won battles when he spoke,
And out of Chaos sprang the state.

His work well done, the leader stepped aside
Spurning a crown with more than kingly pride.
Content read more

His work well done, the leader stepped aside
Spurning a crown with more than kingly pride.
Content to wear the higher crown of worth,
While time endures, "First citizen of earth."

First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his fellow
citizens.

First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his fellow
citizens.

America has furnished to the world the character of Washington!
And if our American institutions had done nothing else, read more

America has furnished to the world the character of Washington!
And if our American institutions had done nothing else, that
alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind.

While Washington's a watchword, such as ne'er
Shall sink while there's an echo left to air.

While Washington's a watchword, such as ne'er
Shall sink while there's an echo left to air.

'Twas his ambition, generous and great
A life to life's great end to consecrate.

'Twas his ambition, generous and great
A life to life's great end to consecrate.

The defender of his country--the founder of liberty,
The friend of man,
History and tradition are explored read more

The defender of his country--the founder of liberty,
The friend of man,
History and tradition are explored in vain
For a parallel to his character.
In the annals of modern greatness
He stands alone;
And the noblest names of antiquity
Lose their lustre in his presence.
Born the benefactor of mankind,
He united all the greatness necessary
To an illustrious career.
Nature made him great,
He made himself virtuous.

Our common Father and Deliverer, to whose prudence, wisdom and
valour we owe our Peace, Liberty and Safety, now read more

Our common Father and Deliverer, to whose prudence, wisdom and
valour we owe our Peace, Liberty and Safety, now leads and
directs in the great councils of the nation . . . and now we
celebrate an independent Government--an original Constitution!
an independent Legislature, at the head of which we this day
celebrate, The Father of his Country--We celebrate Washington!
We celebrate an independent Empire!