The Man Who Changed Washington

The Man Who Changed Washington

The Reverend Peter Miller made plenty of enemies taking on unpopular causes. But none upset the townsfolk of Ephrata in Lancaster County more than when he left the pulpit of the Reformed church to join a commune of mystics. Michael Widman, who took over Miller’s pulpit, especially hated the former pastor. In every sermon, the new preacher castigated Miller as a heretic. Whenever Miller came into town, Widman would scream insults at him. But Peter always responded to his tormentor with a smile, saying, “God loves you, as do I.”

Later, Widman quit his pulpit and purchased the town’s tavern. When the American Revolution began, he formed a militia. But pacifist Peter Miller refused to take up arms against the British. Widman mocked him as a coward. But the fact that Miller declined to join the militia didn’t mean that he wasn’t a patriot. In fact, he was one of George Washington’s most trusted spies.

One night, when British officers visited his tavern, Widman cursed them and their General Howe. When the redcoats drew swords and pistols, he jumped out the window. He spent days in hiding while they combed the countryside looking for him. Fearing for his life, he turned himself in to the British and offered to spy for them. The loudmouth who bullied Peter Miller for not bearing arms against the English was now spilling his guts to them. General Howe was so disgusted by Widman’s cowardice that he had him thrown out onto the streets.

The disgraced tavern owner returned to Ephrata under the cover of dark. When his wife found out what he had done, she told everyone. You might think that Peter Miller rejoiced that his tormentor had been exposed as a fraud. Instead, when word came that his old enemy had been sentenced to hang for treason, Miller walked seventy miles to Valley Forge to plead for Widman’s life. General Washington responded, “I’m sorry, Peter, but I cannot release your friend Michael.” The reverend replied, “My friend? Sir, he is my worst enemy!” Washington responded, “If you would walk all this way to beg a pardon for your worst enemy, that makes a difference. I will release him to you.”

The pacifist took the coward by the arm and led him home. Widman would pay a terrible price for his treason. He lost his tavern, was despised by his wife, and became an outcast. Peter Miller was the only one who refused to abandon him. Maybe that’s why a postscript to this story is so touching. Not long after Widman’s escape from the gallows, the notorious traitor Joseph Bettys had a rope around his neck when his family arrived to plead for his life. Washington was so touched that he personally removed the noose from Bettys. He then issued a directive to his army to show compassion toward captured enemies. Later, he issued more pardons than any president in US history. Is it possible that the father of our country was changed the day Peter Miller pleaded for the life of his worst enemy? Maybe we can change our world by remembering this:

We will defeat our enemies when we make them our friends.

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Matthew 5:43-44, NIV