e
man who stood like a rock between the despot and the down-trodden--that
man, at the end of the career which glorified him, and which, with
reflected glory will light the annals of all coming centuries--that
kind, good man, George Washington, could not discern the separating line
between Duty and human happiness. "The consideration that human
happiness and moral duty," he said, "are inseparately connected, will
always continue to prompt me to promote the progress of the one by
inculcating the practice of the other."

LET US KEEP THE GOLDEN CENSER BURNING

with the frankincense of our highest endeavors. "Let us," as Theodore
Parker once said, "do our duty in our shop, or our kitchen, the market,
the street, the office, the school, the home, just as faithfully as if
we stood in the front rank of some great battle, and we knew that
victory for mankind depended on our bravery, strength, and skill. When
we do that, the humblest of us will be serving in that great army which
achieves the welfare of the world."

THE SOLDIER GOES FORTH

with his loins girded, hoping to conquer in the hard battles of life.
Let the incense of Duty cling to his garments and keep him clean from
selfish contagion. How lovely the picture of that old man of Goldsmith's
time, swinging the Golden Censer before the hearts that throbbed in
unison with him:

He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all;
And as a bird each fond endearment tries,

To tempt her new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

Our duty was created with us. It is a pleasure to live. What then should
be the pleasure to think there is a place for us--a duty beneficently
made that gives us rights with our fellow-creatures? What though the
duty may try your soul and stagger your capabilities? "Skillful pilots
gain their reputation from storms and tempests." Bear up with patient
courage--"the bird that flutters least is longest on the wing." "Duty is
the stern daughter of the voice of God."

Let us then, upon entering this stately Temple of Life, cast into the
Golden Censer our courage, our hope, our energy, our love, our industry,
and all those qualities which go to make the air around us redolent with
the fragrance of the achievements of life. It cannot then well be that
we shall lack in allegiance to our Maker, our country, or ourselves.
"Duties are ours; even