NOTE: The following was originally published by Wesley Bradshaw in the National Review, Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880. There are available other slightly differing (in the details) accounts of this same inspired vision.
The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on July 4, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then 99 years old, and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which he came to visit once more. "Let us go into the hall," he said. "I want to tell you an incident of Washington's life - one which no one alive knows of except myself; and, if you live, you will before long, see it verified.
"From the opening of the Revolution we experienced all phases of fortune, now good and now ill; one time victorious and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington, after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to spend the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen our dear commander's care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington's going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was not only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort from God, the interposition of whose Divine Providence brought us safely through the darkest days of tribulation.
"One day, I remember well, the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shone brightly, he remained in his quarters nearly all the afternoon alone. When he came out, I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual, and there seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of the officer I mention who was presently in attendance.
After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone could command said to the latter: "'I do not know whether it is owing to anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of her presence. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of her eyes. "'Presently I heard a voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn," while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world---Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing, between Europe and America, the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. "'"Son of the Republic," said the same mysterious voice as before, "look and learn." At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating, in the hollow air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a cloud raised from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people. "'A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view.
A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, was dotted with them. Again I head the mysterious voice say, "Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn." "'At this the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking, I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word "Union," bearing the American flag which he placed between the divided nation, and said, "Remember ye are brethren." Instantly, the inhabitants casting from them their weapons became friends once more, and united around the National Standard.
"'And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." At this, the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene. From each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one. And throughout this mass, there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country, and burn the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up. "'As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat., I again heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast. "'Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word "Union," and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle. Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." "'As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.
"'Then once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities, springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice: "While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last." And taking from his brow the crown on which was blazoned the word "Union," he placed it upon the Standard, while the people, kneeling down, said "Amen." "'The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld.
This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who in the same voice I had heard before, said, "Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted. Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third." "(The comment on his word 'third' is: The help against the THIRD peril comes in the shape of Divine assistance; passing which, the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and Union.)" "'With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, progress, and destiny of the UNITED STATES." "Such, my friends," concluded the venerable narrator, "were the words I heard from Washington's own lips, and America will do well to profit by them."
End of George Washington's Vision
Other Divine Accounts
Some may wonder why it is that this type of information is included on Healing Unlimited's website. The reason is this: Our nation today is in dire need of healing, morally, politically, socially and educationally. George Washington was one of the most spiritually-minded of our founding fathers (along with others, such as Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson, etc.). History preserves several instances of Washington's unswerving reliance upon the direction, intervention and preservation by the Almighty. He had a divine commission in nurturing this nation, evident in his courage, perseverance, patriotism and self-abnegation. There is significant value today in reflecting upon the great spiritual, moral and patriotic lessons of these historical accounts.
From Four Centuries of Progress or Panorama of American History by Henry Davenport Northrup (p.294-5), we find an incredible account of George Wahsington's preservation in the midst of a heated, but lop-sided battle during the French and Indian War. General Braddock was in charge in defending against the onslaught of the guerilla tactics effectively employed by the Indians. He was mortally wounded in the battle, with enormous loss of life to the whole regiment (75% of the officers and over 700 of his troops), due markedly to the incompetent directives and actions of Braddock himself. George Washington was an officer in this contingent. His comments about the incident, in a letter to his brother,were as follows:
"I had four bullets through my coat, two horses shot [from] under me, yet escaped unhurt, though death was levelling my companions on every side around me." Washington attributed his wonderful escape from even a wound to the overruling providence of God. The Indians regarded the matter in the same light. About fifteen years after the battle, while examining some lands near the mouth of the Great Kanawha River, Washington was visited by an old chief. The chief told him "he was present at the battle, and among the Indian allies of the French; that he singled him out and repeatedly fired his rifle at him; that he also ordered his young warriors to make him their only mark; but that on finding all their bullets turned aside by some invisible and inscrutable interposition, he was convinced that the hero at whom he had so often and so truly aimed, must be, for some wise purpose, specially protected by the Great Spirit. He now came, therefore, to testify his veneration."
Our nation has a divine origin, purpose and destiny. It is the freest nation on earth, yet, today our precious freedom is in jeopardy of being lost. Apathy to the catastrophic moral decline of our nation is the necessary precursor to forfeiting the protection of our God-bestowed liberties as set forth in our nations' founding documents. The danger is real; concerned patriotic Americans should, one and all educate themsleves as to how to remedy this deficiency; they can do this by their consecrated study of the Bible, Mary Baker Eddy's writings, as well as the education of their families with wonderful information available from organizations such as Claremont Institute, Wallbuilders and others. America is indeed the cradle for the Second Coming of the Christ, as Helen Wright has so eloquently brought out in her book of the similar name, America, Cradle for the Second Coming of the Christ. (which may be acquired from Healing Unlimited in our Online Store above in hardcover or paperback).
In order for our nation to regain its stature in the world today and for Americans to retrieve the liberty bestowed upon them by our dedicated founding fathers and guaranteed us by our inspired Constitution, we must actively seek and desire to learn and emulate those qualities of character expressed by our morally statuesque founders. Apathy forfeits divine assistance. "Cowardice is selfishness," as Mary Baker Eddy has bluntly told us. The dangers that will befall us in the third peril spoken of above, are at our door today. Every dedicated Christian Scientist should read with interest those passages in Mary Baker Eddy's writings concerning our Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the dangers of apathy and how this contributes to excesses and abuses of power in government, industry, education, politics and society. We must reestablish the moral foundation that was so carefully designed and laid by our forefathers as regards our founding institutions and documents.