Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-04-22
Religion Of our Presidents.

\ uC NuCSbtOH uAS DCCH EAiocu WuCtu
er any one of our Presidents was {
COMMUNICATE in a Christian church
There is tradition that Washington
asked permission of a Presbyterian
minister in New Jersey to unite 10 the
communion. But it is only a tradi-
ton. Washington was q vestrymsn
in the Episcopal church. But the Of
fee required no more .piety than il
would take TO be mate of a ship.
There ia no account of his commun-
ing in Boston, or New York, or Phil
adelphia, or elsewhere during the rev.
dictionary struggle. Adams was a
member of the parish in Braintree
He was High Arian. His attendance
at worship was not very constant.
Jefferson was an avowed skeptic, and
a devout admirer of DIR. Priestly.
Madison and Monroe were moderate
churchmen. John Quincy Adams
was a professed Unitarian. He at
tended the services in the Represent
atives' Hall during the session Of Con-
gress. In the afternoon he worship.
ped in the second Congregational
church, where he had pew. When
Congress was not in session Mr.
Adams usually attended in the morn
ing the Unitarian church. Jackson
was reverential hearer. He attend
ed church half day. His pew in the
-Four and Halt street church was on
the left hand side of the preacher.
He paid close attention to the sermon,
and made profound bow to the pull
pit when he retired. He Joined the
Presbyterian church after he left Of
fee. Van Buren,, trained in the Re-
form Dutch school, attended the
Episcopal church, when he attended
any. His Sunday afternoons were de.
voted to his political friends. Harri-
son cared very little for religious mat
tiers. Tyler was loose in regard to
Sunday and worship. Polk, though
not professed Christian, was regu-
lar attendant at public worship. He
was always in his place. He rode to
church on Sunday morning, and oc-
cupied the pew next to the one jack
son 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 wase near the White
House. Gen. Taylor seldom went to
church. Fillmore, more than any of
the other Presidents, was an open and
decided Unitarian. He gave his in
fuence and support TO that sect.
Pierce was always at church on Sun
day mornings. He attended the
Presbyterian church. Buchanan was
an Old School Presbyterian. The
church was near his residence. The
building was small, and the congrega-
ton both small and poor. He was
not very reverential worshipper.
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 ad-
dressed. Lincoln attended service
once day. He always seemed to be
in agony while in church. His legs
were long, the pew narrow, and he
often relieved himself by putting his
feet outside the door, stretching them
clear across the aisle. His pastor, DR..
Gurley, had the "gift of continuance"
and the President writhed and squirm-
ed, and gave unmistakable evidence
of the torture he endured. General
Grant is a trustee in a methodist
church; but that Office does not imply
a profession of personal conservation.