Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-27
Or Pre- siCient ).

1t is Wa.! for Us 10 recall the fact that
our Government had lis inception in
social lie. Washirrtoa and his first
Cabinet ,yere married r2ou. The first
Presi1t ut Bad two adopted cbil;ren.
highly gifted s.'e, and son u hom he
lived to see in the Presidential chair.
Jefferson WAS a deeply bereaved widow
er. His wife died twenty years before he
reached the Presidency. They had
eigit children, ali daughters, only two
Of whom survived infancy. Madison
was married but had no children. IIis
wife WAS the most elegant woman that
ever adorued the Presidential Mansion.
She survived him and was for many
years the price of WASHINGTON society.
having lived to listen to Henry Ciays
fere we'll speech in the Senate. Ion-
roe's wife died early, leaving him a
daughter, in whose care he died.
Jackson was widower. and SO were
Van Buren,. Harrison and Tyler. The
latter, soon after his elevation, married
the heiress, Miss Gardiner. He was
the only President that married during
his term of Office. Polk was mar
ried man. and his widow survives.
General Taylor was Il widower.
Pierce was a married man. but Buchan-
an WAS our first bachelor President, and
ought to be the last The social con-
dition OF such men RS Lincolu, John
sen, Grant and their Successors, needs
no reference except to add that Grant
is the first President to have daughter
married while in flee.
1t is to be observed that all the
Presidents were. with one exception,
men who represented Christianity.
who. " 'iIie in office. was u church
conn 'icant. He was an Episcopa
lian, t'd Was very regular in his at
/ tendai ce en- worship. John Adams
married clergyman : daughter Abigail
Smith but he did not accept her views.
He was inclined to I nitarianism, which,
in His days, was becoming very preva
/ leat in Massachusetts,, J tl'erson was
not believer in Christianity. ut least
while President. He lad, during his
residence in France. become skeptical.
and his election was opposed by soile
on the score of infidelity. After Tom
Paine bad written the" Age of Reason"
Jefferson invited him to return to
America, which was understood to be
diiect recognition and acceptance OF
his opinions. Iniidelity, at that time.
was SO fashionable, that in polite society
it was rather eccentric to avow different
opinions.
Madison, while student at Prince
ton College, was of religious turn,
but 1T wore off under the cares Of Cilice.
His early religious connections were
Presbyterian. Monroe is said to have
favored Episcopacy. John Quincy
Adams was inclined to Unitariauism
Jackson was Methodist, and died
in the communion tf that church.
Van Buren, was brought up in the
Eefoi med Datch church, but afterwards
became inclined to Episcopacy. Har-
rison favored the Methodists. Tyler
was Episcopalian. Polk WAS baptized
by II Methodist preacher after his term
of office had expired. Taylor favored
Ep;scopacy. Fillmore attended the
Unitarian church. Frank Pierce was d
member OF the Congregationalist socl'
ETY. in Concord, but was not commun'
icant. Buchanan was q Presbyterian
Lincoln attended Gurley's church
(C9ngregationalist) as often as he
could, but was not a member, though
!;is religious convictions were deep
, Johnson's and Grants predictions are
we'll known. Garfield is q CaRpbellite
sect very extensive in the Southwest
/ where Alexander Campbell once exer
cised great il tluence. They are mucl
like the Methodists. but practice i'm
; mersion.