The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-26
WASHINGTON A CHURCHMAN.

To rHR EprroR: Will ron kindly give space
to one who begs to iiffsr from the opinion ex-
pressed In . recent editorial on Advantageous
Religion?" In that editorial IL was stated that
Washington was nominaily an Episcopalian,
but like Franklin and Jefferson he was deist"
The testimony given, which was called 'con-
elusive" was the statements OF three different
divines-ail OF II being largely OF q negative
character. Dr.. Abercrombie. OF Philadelphia,
says that Washington did not come to the sacra-
ment, and resented the rector's demonstrates.
This would seem to indicate that Dr.. Aber.
crombis supposed Washington was In the habit
OF attending the communion or he would not
have approached him on the subject The fact
that Washington died without prayer or sacra-
men; signifies little. Many protested Christians
do the same where the illness ID brief or when
physicians object to disturbing the patient The
testimony Of Dr.. Ashbel Greene and the opinion
OF Dr.. Dexter can be Offset by evidence sum
cient to warrant the declaration that Washing
ton was Christian in the sense OF believing in
the efficacy Of prayer and IN being . communi-
cant OF tie Episcopal church.
The Rev. Phillip Slaughter, D. D., histortog-
rapher OF the diocese of Virginia, discovered a
few years ago the old ves.ry book of Truro,
which has disclosed many interesting facts con-
nected with the life Of Washington during the
period following his marriage, when he was en-
5oying ottun cum dtgnitote at Mount Vernon.
This old record shows Washington spending
much OF his time building churches and attend
Ing vestry meetings. being the most puncsual
ana devoted OF all the members. The book gives
dates and incidents In elaborate detail. Dr..
Slaughter. in . discourse delivered before the
Mount Vernon A<socistion OF the Union on
Career OF Washington" adduced evidence of the
most positive kind in support OF Washington be-
ing Christian and communicate: and 1t 10 to
this discourse that am indebted for the main
points In this letter.
In the first place let it DO remembered that
Washington had devout Christian parents, aud
that after his fathers death the mother trained
her boy in the principles Of Christianity. instill
ing the habit Of prayer and Bible reading which,
II we are to believe the testimony of his wife,
MI. and Miss Gusts, inmates Of his house and
his fellow officers, lasted Washington all
through his life. If from any given effect We
can trace . cause, certainly to the Christian be.
lief and practice OF Washington can We 60 to
ind the source of his lofty character In his
own writings we have proof Of Washington's be-
lief In the power OF prayer, and this, too. in the
sense OF recognizing the providential guiding OF
q heavenly Father. We know that he read the
service at Fort Necessity. At the Great Meadows
and In the Alleghanies. When Braddock was
killed Washington read the burial service by the
light OF torch and, writing of this battle to his
brother. he said: "By the all-powerful dis.
pensations OF providence have been protected
beyond all probability or expectation, for had
four bullets through my coat and two horses
shot under me and yet escaped unhurt"
In his own diary for the day appointed by the
House of Burgesses in 1774 for prayer and fast
ing, We ind, "Went 70 church and tasted all
day."
All through his milithry career we find him
calling on his officers and men to rely on prayer
to the Almighty God.
~ ~
muuicant The Hon. Mr.. Sewall, Of New
Hampshire, said: HE was constant attend
ant on public worship and q communicate At
the Lords table. / shall never forget the i'm
preston made BY seeing this leader Of our
hosts bending in thiS house OF prayer in humble
alteration to the God of armies and the author
OF our salvation" His pastor. Rev. Lee Massey,
tsstifes: "He was the most punctual attend
ant at church have ever known. No company
ever prevented his coming. and his behavior
was % reverential a. to greatly aid me in my
labors." Bishop Meade, who was intimate at
Mount Vernon, and with Mr.. Massey's family,
says thew affirmed that "Washington was .
commitment" Miss Gusts, q member Of tho
family, attests that "her grandmother, Mrs
Washington, told her often thar Gen. Washing
ton always communed with her before the
Revolution" G. ". r. Gusts, Washington's
ward and a member Of the family, tells how
Washington spent Sunday, allowing no visitors
except relatives and Mr.. Speaker Trumbull.
LOSING, Mr.. Custis' editor, adds this note:
"Washiugton was Q member In full communion
with the Protestant Episcopal church." Gen.
Portsr6eld declared to Gen. Samuel Lewis:
"Gen. Washington was pious man, a member
of the Episcopal church. Isaw him myself on
his knees receive the Lords Supper in Phila-
delphia." Porterfeld also tells how he found
Washington on his knees In private devotion,
and that while with him often he never heard
him swear or profane God In any way, Mai
Pophams . Revolutionary officer, writing to
Mrs. John A. Washington, OF Mount Vernon, af-
firms that he often sat In the same pow with
Washington during the presidency. "and am
a. confident a. Q memory now laboring under
the pressure OF 81 will serve. that the pres
ident often communed, and had the privilege
of kneeling with him. My elder daughter re-
members hearing her grandmamma, Mra Nor.
ris. mention the fact with pleasure" Dr.. Ber-
rien lays that Maj. Popham's mind and memory
were unimpaired- cdr. Chapman deposes that
lsdy. whose word could not be questioned, as
sured him that soon after the close of the Revo.
luton she saw him partake OF tho symbols OF
the body and blood of Christ In Trinity church,
New York. The negative testimony of DR..
Abercrompie and Bishop White may be ex.
planned by the fact that In those days IL was not
the custom in the Episcopal church to COM
mune except at Christmas. Easter and Whitsun.
for not commuuing at DR.. AbercrOmbie's
church. There is certainly enough evidence OF
q direct Character to overhalance the dsnias
OF che several distinguished men mentioned In
the editorial.
1t 10 significant, too. that those who have most
thoroughly studied the life of Washington. hav.
ing access to the family papers and leaving no
source OF intelligence UNEMPLOYED, agree that he
was . man OF devout religious habits and firm
believer in prayer. number OF these scholars
affirm explicitly that Washington was . COM
municant.
Bancroft summing up his religious character
istics, says: "ue was q member OF the Protest
ant Episcopal church, and belonged decidedly
to the party OF moderation" Sparks says; ''He
was Christian in faith and practice, and he
was habituaiy devout" Chief Justice Mar
shall, his fellow soldier and biographer. says:
"He was sincere believer In the Christian
faith aud q truly devout man." LOSING says:
He was . member in fun communion in the
Protestant Episcopal church, and q vestryman
OF Truro and Fairfax parishes" Irving says:
"He and his wife were both communicspts."
Considering this testimony and all the afiirma-
tions OF the eye witnesses Of his communing,
aud contrasting il with the simple denials OF
the president OF Princeton college, the rector OF
the Philadelphia church and the editor Of the
Conoregdtsondtisl We shall leave IL to the reader
10 decide which testimony il the conclusive.
d. C. GARRErr
To The EprroR; The late editorial In your
paper on "George Washington, the Father Of
His Country" seems TO me TO so completely
misrepresent his religious views as % call for
correction. The statements were that he was
deist, . Unitarian. not . believer I'm Jesus
Christ, or at least not q believer in His divinity