Anecdotes and Letters for President's Day

Mixed in and among the sermon notes my grandfather George L. Majors left behind, are a collection of clippings from various magazines and newspapers. Grandpa always love to tell stories and, as a pastor, he liked to collect illustrations that he could use in his sermons. Often, he references various clippings in his sermon notes and whenever possible, I have tried to find and include the anecdote in the typed up version of the sermon. However, I have quickly discovered that there are far more anecdotes than there are references so I thought I would add special entries devoted to Grandpa Majors' collection of stories, jokes, poetry, and anecdotes. 


So, here is the first batch which are grouped together with a sermon for President's Day:

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Mothers of Men


The greatest battle that was ever fought - 
Shall I tell you where and when? 
On the maps of the world you will find it not: 
It was fought by the Mothers of Men.


Not with cannon or battle shot, 
With sword or nobler pen;
Not with eloquent word or thought
From the wonderful minds of men;


But deep in a walled up woman's heart; 
A woman that would not yield; 
But bravely and patiently bore her part
Lo! there is that battlefield.


But faithful still as a bridge of stars
She fights in her walled up town; 
Fights on, and on, in the endless wars; 
Then silent, unseen goes down


Ho! ye with banners and battle shot, 
With soldiers to shout and praise, 
I tell you the kingliest victories fought 
Are fought in these silent ways. 
-Joaquin Miller

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A Word for Mr. Lincoln
-Drummond Erskine of Cold Spring Harbor, NY for Guideposts Magazine
"Later I heard a story of another mother and child that echoed the way I was feeling. They were passing by the restored home of Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. It was at night, and the national shrine was brightly lighted. 'Look Mama,' the child said. 'Mr. Lincoln left his lights on.' 'Yes,' the mother replied softly. 'He left them on for all the world to see.' So he did." 

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Past Presidents - Thoughts from
Fingertip Facts, Ideas Unlimited, November 1975


Abraham Lincoln said:

- I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday 
- I don't know who my grandfather was. I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be. 
- When you have got an elephant by the hind-leg, and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run. 
- This Government, with its institutions, belongs to the people. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing Government, they can exercise their constitutional right to amend it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it. 
- Killing the dog does not cure the bite. 
- Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. 
- In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unaware. The older have learned to expect it.


George Washington said:
-I hope I shall always possess virtue and firmness enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of being an honest man. 
- Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government. 
- To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace. 
- Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company. 
- Truth will ultimately prevail where pains are taken to bring it to light. 

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Isaiah 1:4
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity... they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward."


"A few years ago, Samuel Doctorian from Lebanon said, 'As I travel through your vast country and see the mass merchandising on the Lord's Day, notice the lewd advertising on your theater marquees, hear the language of the street, and read the daily newspaper, while churches are engaged in raffles, bingo parties, church suppers, and dances, I am convinced that we need to send missionaries to your country more than you need to send them to ours.'" 

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Declaration Signers Are Paid Homage
179 Years Ago, 56 Men Acted in Face of Possible Death 
New Haven, Conn. (AP)


It was 179 years ago that 56 men signed a document that might very well have cost their lives, the Declaration of Independence. Today the men are buried, 55 of them scattered over the original 13 states, the other lost at sea. In unique ceremonies Monday, the men were honored at their graves by descendants of those who fought in the American Revolution and others. In the old cemetery in the little town of Norwichtown, Conn. two descendants of signer Samuel Huntington watched as a wreath was laid on the grave and listened as a Boy Scout blew taps. 


Not far from the grave lie 13 unknown soldiers. Frenchmen who came to fight with Lafayette, and died of tuberculosis. Three other signers are buried in Connecticut. Similar ceremonies were held at Litchfield, Lebanon, and New Haven.


In Boston a military parade followed a flag-raising at City Hall. The parade went to the old Granary burying ground, where signers Robert Paine, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are buried. In Quincy, Mass., the crypt under the First Parish Church was opened to pay homage to John Adams. 


In Washington, Eldbridge Gerry of Massachusetts was honored at memorial services at the Congressional Cemetary. He is the only signer buried in the District of Columbia. 


In New Hampshire, graves of three New Hampshire signers were decorated. 

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A Letter to the Editor
George L. Majors
Fairbanks, AK 
February 22, 1983


To the Editor: 


Men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were pillars in the structure of our nation mainly because there were men of the Bible. George Washington said, "True religion affords government its surest support. The perpetuity of this nation depends upon the religious training of the young. It is impossible to govern the wold without the Bible."


Abraham Lincoln said, "I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man. In regard to the Great Book I have only to say that it is the best book which God has given to men."


Mr. Lincoln's thoughts and deeds are well documented. He was raised in a home where prayer was offered before meals, and where Scripture was often read and quoted. Concerning his personal religious life, historians tell us that for a time, in his young adult life, he struggled with doubts, but there was always manifestations of tender conscience. It is said that he never gave up his early teaching and basic faith, even though he struggled at times with teachings that were at variance with it. 


Reverend James F. Jaques, a Methodist minister said that, after hearing him preach in 1839 on the text, 'Ye must be born again,' Lincoln visited him to talk and pray with him concerning his soul's salvation. "I have seen hundreds brought to Christ," said Mr. Jaques, "and if ever a person was converted, Abraham Lincoln was."


Dr. W.E. Barton sums up his appraisal of Lincoln's religious life by saying, "Abraham Lincoln believed in God, in Christ, in the Bible, in prayer, in duty, and in immortality." 


Gratefully, 
George L. Majors