The Arena · Father Josiah Trenham

Reflection | America's Sage - George Washington

April 7, 2026·28 min·2 clips

Pastor Holcomb declares Washington far greater than Alexander the Great because he ruled his passions and ascribed glory to God.

1. An Orthodox priest delivers a reflection titled 'America's Sage, George Washington' as part of a series encouraging patriotism in the 250th anniversary year of the United States. 2. The speaker is the same unnamed Orthodox priest heard in other Arena episodes; he references having observed the 200th anniversary in 1976 as a 10-year-old, and positions himself as a churchman who believes pastors have a legitimate political role. 3. The episode frames George Washington as the primary example of what the Christian founding of America actually looked like in practice, against both secular critics and theological misreaders. 4. The reflection draws from a two-volume collection, Political Sermons of the American Founding Era (1688-1788), published in 1998 by the Liberty Fund in Carmel, Indiana, which the speaker describes as 1,700 pages of sermons by Anglican, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist pastors. 5. The speaker argues that the America-hating he observes today comes primarily from ignorance of American history combined with 50 years of 'secularist hatred of America being pumped through secular universities.' 6. Pastor Henry Holcomb of Savannah, Georgia, is introduced: born 1762 in South Carolina, left formal education at age 11, served as a Revolutionary War officer at 21, known for fiery sermons delivered on horseback, converted from Presbyterianism to Baptist faith. 7. Holcomb founded an orphanage in Savannah, worked to improve the state's penal code, and published a literary and religious magazine called the Georgia Analytical Repository; he received a Doctor of Divinity from Brown University in 1795. 8. The sermon was published at the request of the Savannah City Council, which the speaker cites as evidence that pastors were expected to speak publicly on civic matters in early America. 9. Holcomb opens by arguing that atheists and deists were 'gloomy monsters' largely confined to 'miserable Europe,' asserting that America was on principle a Christian nation, not a deist one. 10. Holcomb is quoted arguing that modern Christians who hold happy funerals and avoid mourning are departing from traditional Christian practice — 'at the grave of Lazarus, Jesus wept' — and that devout mourning of the dead is both natural and scriptural. 11. Washington is described by Holcomb as 'the boast of his country and the glory of his age,' with physical dignity, a soul 'calm and serene as the most delightful summer evening,' and a mind that arranged facts across science, morality, religion, agriculture, commerce, and the histories of nations. 12. Holcomb notes that Washington received a Doctor of Laws from Rhode Island College in 1790, which Washington reportedly considered 'more precious than the crown of despotism.' 13. Holcomb compares Washington favorably to Alexander the Great, declaring Washington 'far greater' because Alexander conquered the world but fell to intemperance, while Washington ruled his own passions and remained temperate and modest in every circumstance. 14. Washington's humility is identified as his highest virtue — 'as little pride as any man on earth' — and the speaker identifies this as 'the very character of the heart of Christ,' noting Washington was beloved enough that supporters wanted to make him king. 15. Washington's Farewell Address is quoted at length: 'of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports,' with Washington arguing that no one who labors to subvert them deserves the name patriot. 16. Washington is quoted arguing that property rights, reputation, and legal oaths all depend on belief in God, and the speaker extrapolates that Washington believed atheism in public office was therefore impossible to reconcile with the oath-taking that undergirds the courts. 17. Washington is quoted saying that 'reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles' — that morality cannot be separated from faith. 18. The episode is a solo monologue reading from a historical sermon, with the speaker occasionally stepping out to comment; the style is formal and reverent, mixing historical narration with contemporary application. 19. American Christians interested in the theological views of the Founding Fathers and the tradition of pastoral engagement with politics will find this most useful. 20. Secular listeners or those who reject the premise that America was founded as a Christian nation will find the framing disagreeable.

As heard by us

A grave civic meditation on Washington, mourning, and Christian patriotism.

The piece treats George Washington as America's Sage and uses the 250th anniversary of the United States to call for love and prayer for the country.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want America's Sage, George Washington, framed as a patriotic Christian reflection.

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