Daily Republican., 1881-09-30
CRKEDs OF THE PREsIDENTs,
Yearly all OF them Members OF
Churches.

The Rev. DR.. Stanton thus writes in
the Evangelist General Washington
was member Of the Episcopal churcl
long before he became President. He
was commuDicant, too. Besides hi.
well known habits of worship in the
Episcopal church in Alexandria, Vir
ginia, where his pew is still preserved
in much the same antiquated style that
1t was when he was accustomed to uc.
cupy 1t. The fact is we'll attested, and
has often been published, that during
the Revolutionary War he was accus-
toned to join in observing the Lurd's 4
supper whenever his engagements
with the army permitted an Opportu.
nifty. Many instances have been given
to the public, and it is particularly
gratifying to know that he who was
first in war, first in peace, and first in
the hearts OF his couDtrymen," set such
an example to our public men, both in
his public and private life, as a man, a
gentleman, and Christian.
| Ii is to be regretted that SO many of
our Presidents have failed to follow In
all respects that example, but some of
them were not wanting in respect to re-
ligion. John Adams and his son John
Quincy were Unitarians, as was also
Millard Fillmore. The latter two were
regular attendants at the Unitarian
church in Washington. My impres.
sion 10 that the former two, and possi-
bly, Mr.. Fillmore, were communicates
but of this am not certain. OF the re-
ligious sentiments Of Thomas Jefferson
the world has thought itself assured,
but they have been made the subject of
controversy. The general opinion is
what he was a sympathizer of Paine,
and repudiated Christianity. The re-
ligious sentiments of Presidents Madi-
son and Monroe are also involved in un-
certainty and their most ardent admi.
rers have not claimed that they were
members or communicates in any
Christian chnrch. Passing John Quin-
cy Adams already mentioned We next
come to President Jackson. The world
Knows that he was in religion as well
as what he was in politics, for few
more positive characters have appeared
in our history. He wac out and out a
Presbyterian Of the stanchest sort, and
in his la er days a communicate; al
though it is believed that he did not en-
ter the church until after he retired
from public life. Martin Van Buren,
was inclined, | think to the Dutch Re-
formed Church, with which he wor.
shipped when at home in Kinderhook,
but as far as l am aware, was not a
comlnunicant.
President Harrison, who succeeded
Mr.. NanBuren, and died after being a
month in Office, was communcant in
the Episcopal Church for considerable
period before he became President. lie
was a member of Christ Church in Gin
cinnati, and for long time af;er his
death his name engraved ON a silver
plate) remained on his pew door, and
may remain there still. His decided
Christian sentiments and character are
we'll known, and in Cincinnati, near
which he lived, his memory is held in
high venoration among all classes of
people.
President Harrison is the only one in
the long list of the Presidents of the
United states, who, on entering upon
the duties of that office ever announced
. "confsssion of faith" for himself. His
inaugural address, his only official pa.
per, Is probably well remem bered by
the older citizens of the country. He
said he deemed the occasion, on taking
the.oath of oftice,a fitting one for the an
noincement Of his "belief in the divine
obligations of the Christian relig-
ioD." 1t was grand thing for the Presi-
dent Of the United States when stand.
ing before the American people to
take oath of office as their Chief Magis-
trate, to make such an explicit declar
tion. 1t was lesson for young men
and politicians. Perhaps all our Presi.
dents have been believers in God Gas
their state papers show,) and no one
has given more explicit testimony for
than this.
IL is probably true that not one Of
those who hare occupied the President
ial chair between General Harrison
a d General Garfield was communi-
cant. Yet nearly all Of them, ten in
NUN ber-including those who entered
office from the Vice Presidency-were
church goers, and then UNCONVENTIONAL
preference have been indicated. Tyler
was an Episcopalian, Polk and Buch-
anan and Lincoln were Presbyterians,
Pierce was Congregationalist, Tay lor
had no special preference,
Fillmore was a Unitarian, johnson
was claimed by both Presby terians and
Methodists, Grant and Hayes were
Methodists, and President Garfield be
longed to u sect which has q variety OF
as Campbellites, Disciples,
Christians.