I am currently reading a book entitled, George Washington’s Sacred Fire by Jerry Newcombe and Peter Liliback, Ph.D., published in 2006. It is a close examination of the religious comments and actions of George Washington as a child and as an adult.

The authors discuss Washington’s education in detail. Schools, in Mr. Washington’s time used to include Biblical lessons to live by in their daily studies of reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, they also used to teach social skills too. From the Bible were derived the following “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation”. They were attributed to a man named Francis Hawkins (who was at least the translator) and George Washington’s father Augustine Washington was taught them at Appleby Grammar School and he drilled them into George.

There are 110 of them in all. This week, I am going to share the final ones (possibly abbreviated and spelled/worded in modern format) in hopes we may learn some of Mr. Washington’s ability to lead, desire for his nation, and personal piety. Some of them may apply today still, some may not. However, all of them we can learn something from.

77. Talk with others about business at the right times and do not whisper in company.
78. Don’t compare one person favorably to another.
79. Do not gossip.
80. Do not be tedious or a bore.
81. Do not be curious to know other people’s business.
82. Do not commit to something you do not have the time to do, keep your promises.
83. When you speak regarding an issue, do it without passion and with discretion.
84. When your superiors talk to you, do not laugh or speak, listen!
85. When in the company of your superiors, do not ask questions until they have spoken, stand up, and wait and answer in just a few words.
86. When you have a dispute with someone, your goal should be to understand and hear the opposite opinion before it should be to “win”.
87. Do not contradict others at every turn.
88. Do not beat a dead horse in conversation.
89. Do not speak evil of those who are not available to defend themselves.
90. When you sit down to eat, do not scratch yourself, do not spit, do not cough, do not blow your nose unless necessary.
91. Do not show yourself to be entranced with your food, do not be a glutton, cut your bread with a knife, don’t lean on the table, and if the food is poor, keep it to yourself.
92. Clean your knife.
93. Do not support someone who your Superior does not want at your table.
94. Do shove bread in your mouth
95. Do not put meat in your mouth with a knife, or spit out a seed onto a plate, or put anything under the table, while at the table.
96. Use a napkin.
97. Finish chewing before opening your mouth and do not bite off more than you can chew.
98. Don’t drink or look around while chewing.
99. Do not drink too leisurely or hastily. Use a napkin.
100. Don’t pick your teeth at the table.
101. Don’t rinse your mouth in the presence of others.
102. There is a time for company and salutes and there is a time to just eat.
103. In the company of your superiors, do not stay eating when they are done.
104. In the company of your superiors, let them start eating first.
105. Control your anger at the table.
106. In the company of your superiors, do not take the head seat at the table.
107. Don’t talk with your mouth full.
108. When you speak of God or His attributes, do so with reverence.
109. Have hobbies which are manly, not sinful.
110. Labor to keep alive in your chest that little spark of celestial fire called Conscience.

This list of 110 things that George Washington lived by are a mixed bag. Some of these, a lot of them are just how to act around, “your superiors” and a lot of them are how to be polite. However, some of them are very meaningful. All of them are rules that our founding father lived by and made him into a true man of value.

Proverbs 21:23: Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

———————————————-W.