Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-10
On Presidents and Religion.

A New York correspondent of
e Boston paper writes
Tho fact that Gen. Grant passed /
Sabbath at West Point and did not at
tend church, though the Post Chaplain
ofiiciated near him, has been com
mented on by the press generally. Ii
Is somewhat singular fact that as fil
as II is known no President of the
United States since the the days OF
Washington has been a communicant
in church. John Adams was the
representative Of the liberal commun.
lty of the day. Jefferson was styled
a free thinker. An attempt was made
when Jefferson was young man 10
make the Episcopal Church the estah.
lished religion Of Virginia, John Le.
liand' travelling Eapssst minister.
preached a sermon In the presence OF
Jefferson on what he called the ain.
cestuous connection of Church and
State" This sermon converted JEFF
ferson to that doctrine. His persis.
tent oppolition to a State religion
caused him TO be stigmatized as an
inhdel. Mrs Madison was a commu
meant at the Episcopal Church. Her
husband was not. Monroe was a
member of an Episcopal parish, but
not communicant. John Quincy
Adams, though member of a Unita-
rian parish in Massachusetts. held
pew in the Second Presbyterian Church
in Washington, of which be was a
trustee, and there be worshipped un-
III his death. In violent snow storm
! saw him wading to church, one Sun.
day, with the snow up to his loins,
and he was one of the seven persons
who composed the congregation that
morning He never communcd in the
church. General Jackson was a reg
nlar attendant on Sunday morning.
lie worshipped in the second Presby-
terian rhurch until bis quarrel with
the pastor about Mrs. Eaton. He
then left for the A Street Church and
took bis Cabinet with him He al
ways came early and entered bis pew,
which was on the right side Of the
church as he entered. Earnest and
devout attention be gave TO the SER
mon. 1t was his custom, at the close
of the sermon, TO rise In his pew and
make very courteous bow to the
minister, and then walk out, the andi-
erce waiting in their pews till be
reached the vestibule Van Buren, |
home church at Kind.rhook was Re /
formed Dutch At Washington, when
he went TO church, he attended st
Johns tEpispocalD in the morning.
Mrs. Polk was a devout and earnest
Christian woman, belonging TO the
Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Polk accompanied his family
every Sunday to the Four and a-hali
Street Church Mrs. Polk usually
attended the Second Presbvterian
Church IN the afternoon, where she
held a pew. The President seldom
accompanied her at the second service.
General Taylor was not professor of
When be attended church
he sat in the Presidents rcw at St
Johns. President Pierce was a mem
ber of the Congregational Society in
Concord, New Hampshire, but not OF
The church. He was very regular in
lis attendance at the Presbyterian
'hurch in Washington on the morning
lf each Sabbath. Buchanan attended
he small Presbyterian church on F
street, near the White House. This
was bis religious home during his long
lite. He was no member
He came TO worship usually on foot
md unattended His pew was on the
ide, about two-thirds of the way from
he door. He usually walked up the
isle with cat-like step, went TO the
'xtreme end Of the pew, curled him.
elf up in the corner, and seldom
moved till the service closed. He
arely spoke'to any one, and hastened
rom the church TO the White House I
irs. Lincoln was a commnnioant at
he New York Avenue Presbyterian I
hurch. Mr.. Lincoln was not But
e was aregular attendant at worship q
uhnson seems TO have no religions {
ome, but is rather inclined to the {
.utherahs. General Grant is not a /
Professor Of religion. He is trustee
4 the National Methodist Church at =
Washington, and is a frequent atten- I
ant on the preaching of that church. ,
g.