Condensed from "Washington's Vision" National Tribune, Vol4 No.12 December 1880
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Anong respected accounts of the current age is the experience of George Washington, a revelation bestowed on him by a heavenly being during the dark days of the American Revolution,in the year 1777. His was a vision of the future of a great nation arising on the American continent. An angel "a singularly beautiful" appeared to him " a new influence, mysterious,potent, irresistible, took possession of me......Everything about me seemed to rarify,the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than before.....I heard a voice saying "Son of the republic,look and learn'". A remarkable scene of "a dark, shadowy being like an angel, standing or rather floating in midair, between Europe and America" unfolded a vision representative of the American Revolution and America's ultimate victory. Similarly,a second vision unfolded predicting the Civil War.
And again I heard the mysterious voice saying 'Son of the Republic look and learn'" At this a third vision of great conflict was revealed to him. Then the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth , and blew a long fearful blast. Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone 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 were well nigh overcome,but who immediately taking courage again,closed up their broken ranks and renewed 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 dark cloud rolled back,together with the armies it had brought,leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious..........
....I FOUND MYSELF ONCE MORE GAPING 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,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'"