The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-10-15
Thomas Jefferson.


| Thomas Jefferson.
Mr.. Jefferson WAS Il public professor Of
his beiiefin the Christian religion. In all
his most important early State papers. suc,
as a Summary View of the Rights Of Brit
i>h America, his portion oethc declaration
made 10y Congress on the Causes of taking
up Arms, the Declaration of Independence,
the draft Of Il Constitution for Virginia, etc,
there are more or less pointed recogni'ionS
OF God and Providence. In his two inaug
ural addresses as President er the United
States and in many of his annual messages,
he makes the same rccognilion-clohcs
them on several occasions in the most cx.
plicit language ge-suhstantialIv avows the
God Of his faith to be the God Of revelation
declares his belcfin the efficacy OF prayer
and the duty Of Inscriptions of praise to the
author Of all nercics-and speaks Of the
Christian religion as profcssed in his country
as Il benign religion evinciug the favor Of
Heaven.
Had his wishes been consulted, the SYM
hol borne on our national seal would
have contained public profession of Chris
tianity as a nation.
There is nothing in his writings, or in
the history Of his life, to show that his pub
lie declarations were i',sincere, or thrown
out for mere effect. On the contrary, his
most confidential writings sustain his pub
lie professions, and advance beyond them
into the avowal of belief in 4 future state
OF rewards and punishment.
lie contributed freely to the erection Of
Christians churches, gave money to Bible
societies and other religious objects, and
was liberal AID regular contributor to the
support o';''e clergy. Letters Of his are
exta.ft, which show him urging, with re-
spcct!ul dclicacy, the acceptance Of extra
and unsolicited contributions, Oh the pastor
OF his parish, on occasions of extra expense
to the latter, such as the building Of a house.
the meeting Of IN ecclesiastical convention
ut Charlottesville, etc, in these letters he AS
s''mcs that lie is only performing a duty.
and pleasantly compares it to the discharge
ofspecial service, hy feudal inferior TO his
l1egc lord, on those extraordinary occasions
when it was required by the fculal law.
lie attended church with as much rcuu
lar'ty as most Of the con.rcga,ion.-som
times going alone on horseback, when liz
family remained ut home. lie generally
attended the Episcopal church, and when
nc did So, always carried his piaycr.book !,
and joined in the responses and prayers Of
the congregation. lie was bap;ised into
the Episcopal church in his infancy; he
was married by one Of its clergymcn his
wife lived and died member of It: his
ch;llren were bap;scI into it, AMI when
married, were married according to its rites :;
its burial services were read over those Of
them who proceeded him to the grave, over
his wife, and finally over himself.
No person heard him utter word Of
profanity. and those who met him most
fam'liary through periods of acquaintance
extending from two or three to twenty or
thirty years, declare that they never heard
word OF impicty, or any scoff at religion,
from his lips. Among his numerous fam
lI'ar acqnalntanccs, we have not found one
whose testimony is diffcrent-or who en-
tertained any doubts Of the strict Justice,
sincerity, truthfulncss, and excmplariness
OF his personal character Life.