The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-10-07
The creeds OF the Presidents.

Gen. Washington was a member OF the
Episcopal Church long before he became
President. He was . communicate, too.
Besides his well known habits Of worship In
the Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Va,
where his pew Is still preserved In much the
same antiquated style that II had when he
was accustomed to occupy 1t, the fact is well
attested, and has often been Published, that
during the Revolutionary War he was ac-
customed to join in observing the Lords
Supper whenever his engagements with the
army permitted an opportunity. Many In
stances have been given to the public, and IL
Is particularly gratifying to know that he
who was "first In war, first in peace, and first
In the hearts Of his countrymen," set such
an example to our public men, both In his
public and private life, as a man, gentle
man and Christian.
. 1t Is to be regretted that so many of our
Presidents have failed to follow in all re-
-spects that example, but some Of them were
not wanting In respect to religion. John
Adams and his son, John Quincy, were Uni-
tarians, as was also Willard Fillmore. The
two latter were regular attendants on the
Unitarian Church In Washington. My i'm
preston is that The two former, and possibly
Mr.. Fillmore, were communicates, but Of
his am not sure. OF the religious senti-
ments of Thomas Jefferson the world has
thought itself we'll assured, but they have
been made the subject of controversy. The
general opinion Is that he was sympathizer
with the views of Paine, and repudlated
Christianity. The religious sentiments of
Presidents Madison aud Monroe are also en-
veloped 10 some uncertainty, and their most
ardent admirers have not claimed that they
were members or communicates In any
Christian church. Passing John Quincy
Adams, already mentioned, we come to
President jackson. The world knows what
he was in religion, as we'll as what he was In
politics, for few more positive characters
have ever appeared in our history. He was
out and out Presbyterian of the stanchest
sors, and In bis latter days a commandment /;
although 1t Is believed he did not join the
church until after he had retired fiom public
life. Martin Van Buren, was inclined,
think, to the Dutch Reformed Church, with
which he worsh'ped when at home In Kind
erhook, but so far as am aware, was not
communicate.
President Harrison, who succeeded Mr.
Van Buren,, aud died after being month in
| Office, was a COMMUNICATE in the Episcopal
Church for considerable period before ne
became President. He was a member oil
Christ Chusch in Cincinnati, and for long
time after his death his name engraved on
q silver plate) remained on his pew door
| and NAV remain there still. His decided
| Christian sentiments and character are vel
known, and in Cincinnati, near which hi
lived, his memory is held In high veneratioT
amorg all classes Of people.
President Ha. rison Is the only one in the
long list of Presidents of the United States
who, on entering upon the duties OF tha
Office, ever announced "a confession ol
faithn for blmself. His inaugural address
his only official paper, is probably well re
| membeied by the older citizeus of the coun
try. He said he deemed the occasion, OF
taking the oath of Office, fitting one fol
| the announcement of his "betief in the di
vine origin and obligations of the Christian
religion" 1t was grand thing for Presi
dent of the United States, when standing
up before the American people to take the
oath of Office a. their Chief Magistrate, t.
make such an explicit declaration. Per
haps all our Presidents have been believers
In God Gas their State papers show, but nc
one has given more explicit testimony fol
Christianity than this.
1t is probably true that not one OF thos
who have occupied the Presidential chair be
tween General Harrison aud General Gar
field was communicate. Yet nearly all o
them, ten In understanding those VIII
entered the Office from the -Presidenc
were church goeIs, and their denomins
tional preferences have been indicated
Tyler was an Episcopalian, Polk aud Bnch
anan and Lincoln were Presbyterians, Pierc
was q Congregationalist, Taylor probabl.
had no special preference, Fillmore was
Unitarian, Johnson was claimed by bot
Presbyterians and Methodists, Grant an
Hayes were Methodists, aud President Ga
field belongs 10 the sect which has variet
of names, as Complexities, Disciples, Chris
tians.-Rer. DIR. Ii. STATION, in the Epange
list.
John Adams and John Quincy Adam
were both communicates OF Christla