George Washington and religion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This, the earliest portrait of Washington, was painted in 1772 by Charles Willson Peale, and shows Washington in uniform as colonel of the Virginia Regiment. The original hangs in Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
Enlarge
This, the earliest portrait of Washington, was painted in 1772 by Charles Willson Peale, and shows Washington in uniform as colonel of the Virginia Regiment. The original hangs in Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
This 1866 engraving depicts Washington praying at Valley Forge. In 1918, the Valley Forge Park Commission declined to erect a monument to the prayer because they could find no evidence that the event had occurred yet in 1945 the Valley Forge Historical Society concluded that an abundance of evidence exists demonstrating that Washington was a prayerful man in private.
Enlarge
This 1866 engraving depicts Washington praying at Valley Forge. In 1918, the Valley Forge Park Commission declined to erect a monument to the prayer because they could find no evidence that the event had occurred yet in 1945 the Valley Forge Historical Society concluded that an abundance of evidence exists demonstrating that Washington was a prayerful man in private.[1]

George Washington (February 22, 1732December 14, 1799) commanded America's war for independence (1775–1783), and was the first President of the United States, from 1789 to 1797. Because of his central role in the founding of the United States, Washington is often called the "Father of his Country". His devotion to republicanism and civic virtue made him an exemplary figure among early American politicians. Historians and biographers continue to debate the degree to which he can be considered a follower of the Christian religion, and the degree to which he was a deist.

George Washington was baptized as an infant into the Church of England[2][3]. Until the American Revolution the Church of England was the state religion of Virginia[4], and as a young man he served as a member of the vestry (lay council) for his local parish. Throughout his life, he spoke of the value of righteousness, and of seeking and offering thanks for the "blessings of Heaven". In a letter to George Mason in 1785, he wrote that he was not among those alarmed by a bill "making people pay towards the support of that [religion] which they profess", but felt that it was "impolitic" to pass such a measure, and wished it had never been proposed, believing that it would disturb public tranquility.[5]

Washington was a firm believer in the importance of religion for republican government. While he declined suggested versions[6] of his 1796 Farewell Address that would have included statements that there could be no morality without religion, the final version remarked that most people do need religion for morality, that national morality is necessary for good government, and that politicians should cherish religion's support of national morality:

Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?

Washington sometimes accompanied his wife to Christian church services; however, there is no record of his ever becoming a communicant in any Christian church, and he would regularly leave services before communion—with the other non-communicants. When Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, mentioned in a weekly sermon that those in elevated stations set an unhappy example by leaving at communion, Washington ceased attending at all on communion Sundays. Long after Washington died, when asked about Washington's beliefs, Abercrombie replied: "Sir, Washington was a Deist!"[7] Though Washington often spoke of God and Providence, there is little if any reliable source material for quotes by him containing the words Jesus, Christ, or Christianity. Analysts who have studied Washington's papers held by the Library of Congress assert that his correspondence with Masonic Lodges is replete with references to the "Great Architect of the Universe", a neutral Masonic style for whatever one's chosen Supreme Being may be, but that "his response to a Christian clergyman conspicuously avoids mention of Jesus Christ or acknowledgement of personal Christian faith".[8] Various prayers said to have been composed by him in his later life are highly edited.[7][9] An unfinished book of copied Christian prayers attributed to him (as a youth) by a collector (around 1891) was rejected by the Smithsonian Institution for lack of authenticity [10] although it has not been dismissed altogether by some in the Christian community. His adopted daughter, Nelly Custis-Lewis, in response to a request for evidence that Washington was a Christian, wrote, "I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief in Christianity. His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, that they may be seen of men." [11] He did not ask for any clergy on his deathbed, though one was available. His funeral services were those of the Episcopal Church.[12][13] This was followed by a commemoration[14] by the Freemasons, an organization most branches of which require only that members believe in a Supreme Being, regardless of other religious membership[15].

While some historians and biographers argue that Washington's beliefs mostly resembled that of common deists, many historians disagree. These historians point to the wealth of historical information available that describes Washington as a man of faith (although exact identification of this faith is difficult) who held religion in general and prayer specifically beseeching God to intervene in the affairs of mankind in high esteem; neither of which are characteristic of the deists in the 18th century. Several authors reference orders given by General Washington to his Army requiring them to attend to their religious duties. Sparks relates one of these orders, given on July 4, 1775, the requiring "of all officers and soldiers... a punctual attendance on Divine service to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense." Johnson quotes Washington's statement as he resigned his commission on December 23, 1887, "I consider at an indespensable duty... commending the interests of our dear country to the protection of Almighty God." Eidsmoe credits Washington for establishing the tradition of stating, "so help me, God" at the end of the presidential inaugural oath.[16] Additionally, in Washington's First Inaugural Address, he called for, "fervent supplications to that almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides over the council of nations." The U.S History's Washington in Prayer article goes into some detail regarding the reliability of the account of Washington's prayer at Valley Forge. In the Valley Forge Historical Society publication, Jones covers some of the major aspects relating to this question. In his concluding remarks, he states, "Is it not reasonable to believe that a man who had, on frequent occasions, paid homage publicly to the God of all nations and earnestly exhorted his soldiers and his fellow countrymen to 'express our grateful acknowledgements to God, for the manifold blessings he has granted to us,' may have sought seclusion for his own private communion with the Father. Surely the evidence of Washington's faith is sufficiently established to satisfy a layman, if not an historian."

Early in Washington's presidency, he issued the first official National Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1789. In it he presents many themes that were in complete discord with 18th century deism, specifically in regard to prayer and homage. He assigns the day upon which "the people of these States" should be in service to "that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be." He exhorts the people in the young country to express their gratitide to God for: his protection of them through the Revolutionary War and the peace they had experienced since; for allowing the Constitution to be composed in a "peaceable and rational manner"; for the "civil and religious liberty" they possessed; and "in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us." He also states that "it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor." Washington concludes by calling the people of the United States to prayer and beseeches God : "to pardon our national and other transgressions"; to allow the national government to be wise and just; to "protect and guide" all nations; to promote "true religion and virtue, and the increase of science"; and to "grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best."

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • Boller, Paul, George Washington & Religion, Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1963, ISBN 0-8707402-1-0
  • Eidsmoe, John, Christianity and the Constitution (Grand rapids, Missouri: Baker Books House Company, 1987)
  • Grizzard, Frank E., Jr. The Ways of Providence: Religion and George Washington. Buena Vista and Charlottesville, VA: Mariner Publishing. 2005. ISBN 0-9768238-1-0.
  • Holmes, David L., The Faiths of the Founding Fathers, Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 0-1953009-2-0.
  • Johnson, William J., George Washington the Christian, (Milford, Michigan: Mott Media 1919, 1976)
  • Muñoz, Vincent Phillip. "George Washington on Religious Liberty" Review of Politics 2003 65(1): 11-33. ISSN 0034-6705 Fulltext online at Ebsco.
  • Peterson, Barbara Bennett. George Washington: America's Moral Exemplar, 2005, ISBN 1-5945423-0-9.
  • The Writings of George Washington, Jared Sparks, editor (Boston: Ferdinand Andrews, Publisher, 1838), Vol. XII, pp. 399-411
  • The Religious Opinions of Washington, E. C. M'Guire, editor (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1836).
  • The Messages and Papers of the Presidents, James D. Richardson, editor (Published by the Authority of Congress, 1899), Vol. I, pp. 51-57 (1789), 64 (1789), 213-224 (1796), etc.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links