The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-03-25
Religion of Our Presidents.
[From the Examiner and Chronicle.

S4AC
The question has been raised whether
any one OF our Presidents was a commu-
meant in Christian church. There is a
tradition that Washington asked permis-
sion OF Presbyterian minister in New
Jersey to unite in the communion. But
it is onl y a tradition. Washington was
vestryman in the Episcopal Church. But
that office required no more piety than it
would take to be mate of ship. There
is no account Of his communing in Bog-
ton, or New York, or Philadelphia, OF
elsewhere during the Revolutionary
struggle. Adams was member of the
parish in Braintree. He was High Arian.
His attendance at worship was not very
constant Jefferson was an ayOwed Skep-
tic, and devout admirer of DR.. Priestly.
Madison and Monroe were moderate
churchmen. John Quincy Adams was a
protested Unitarian He attended the
services In the Representatives Hall dur
ing the session of Congress. In the after
noon he worshiped in the Second Con-
gregational Church, where he had pew.
When Congress was not in session, Mr..
Adams usually attended in the morning
the Unitarian Church. jackson was a
reverential nearer. He attended church
half day. His pew in the Four and-a-Half
Street Church was on the left hand side
OF the preacher. He paid close attention
to the sermon, and made profound bow
to the pulpit as he retired. He Joined
the Presbyterian Church after he left
office. Van Buren,, trained in the Re-
formed Dutch School, attended the Epis-
copal Church when he attended any.
His Sunday afternoons were devoted to
his political friends. Harrison cared very
little for religious matters. Tyler was
loose in regard to Sunday and worship.
Polk, though not protested Christian,
was regular attendant at public worship.
He was always in his place. He rode to
church on Sunday morning, and occu-
pied the pew next to the one Jackson sat
in. Col. Benton occupied the Jackson
pew, and would not give it up. In the
afternoon Mr.. and Mrs Polk walked to
the Second Presbyterian Church, which
was near the White House. Gen. Taylor
seldom went to church. Fillmore, more
than any other of the Presidents, was an
open and decided Unitarian He gave
his influence and support to that sect
Pierce was always at church on Sunday
mornings. He attended the Presbyterian
Church. Buchanan was an Old School
Presbyterian. The church was near his
residence. The building was small, and
the congregation both small and poor.
He was not a very reverential worshiper.
He walked to church went up the aisle
at shutting gait; lodged into his pew;
and seated in the corner seemed wrapped
in his own thoughts, paying no attention
apparently to the service. An observer
could not tell whether he was asleep or
awake. He hurried away as if afraid to
be addressed. Lincoln attended service
once a day. He always seemed to be in
agony while in church. His legs were
long, the pew narrow, and he often re-
ieved himself by putting his feet outside
of the door, stretching them clear across
the aisle. His pastor, Dr.1 Grlrley, had the
gift of continuance, and the President
writhed and squirmed, and gave unmis-
taxable evidence of the torture he en-
dured Gen. Grant is trustee in a
Methodist Church but that Office does
not imply profession of personal con-
secration.