Dear Brethren,
February has become known as the "Presidents' Month." Two of our most beloved presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, were born in February. And although coming from diverse backgrounds and born seventy years apart, they will be forever linked by the contribution each made to our country.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia to a family of well-to-do Virginians. He spent his early years on the family estate in Virginia where he was educated in mathematics, surveying, the classics, and "rules of civility." His father died in 1743 and George went to live with his half-brother Laurence at Mount Vernon and when Laurence died in 1752, George inherited the estate which he has become identified with.
George Washington grew into a strong, forceful leader who, after a fearful struggle, led the Continental Troops to victory over the British. As a side note, it is said that as a Mason, he surrounded himself with Masons, as those whom he could trust. He was later betrayed by one of this most trusted officers, whose name has become infamous, Benedict Arnold. After leading his army to victory, Washington involved himself in uniting a loose confederation of colonies and territories, who subsequently elected him the first president of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809 in a log cabin to dirt poor illiterate farmers. There were no schools nearby so Abraham had only one year of formal schooling. The family moved to Indiana and then to Illinois where Abraham grew up working odd jobs and continued to study, eventually becoming a lawyer and entering politics. His early political experience was not particularly successful. He lost several elections, including one he lost to Senator Stephen Douglas. Two years later he ran against Douglas, this time for the presidency, won the election, and became the 16th president of the United States.
Shortly after his election, the Civil War broke out and Lincoln sorely tried to keep our nation together. The problem of slavery was met head on by the Emancipation Proclamation and because of it he had to struggle to keep the Union together. It took four long bloody years before the southern generals capitulated and the northern and souther states were again united as one nation. The war ended on April 9, 1865. Five days later Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, was assassinated.
The link between the two presidents is not readily apparent. Our first president, George Washington, in his time, was instrumental in bringing together a group of territories and colonies to form a united nation. Abraham Lincoln, in his time, was instrumental in keeping the northern and southern states together to preserve the United States. Our first president helped form the nation and our sixteenth held it together.
Happy birthday to them both.
Fraternally,
Robert James Rawding
Woshipful Master
