The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-12
RELIGIOUS FAITHS OF PRESI-
DENTS.

jOrity of them as to their religious faith.
1t is further remarkable that as to all OF
the greatest of them, Washington ex-
cepted, there was much doubt during
their lives and much discussion after
their deaths as to whether they were
Christians at all; and, if they were, to
what classification of Christians they
properly belonged. By common con-
sent the greatest Presidential flames are
those of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson,
Lincoln and Grant. The religious be-
lief of all these men, except Washington,
was a matter of doubt during the greater
part of their lives, and in the cases of
Jefferson and Lincoln-the two greatest
of all our Presidents in the judgment of
the most critical and discriminating au-
thorities-the controversy is still an
open one. As to both of the last named
Presidents the assertion has been made
broadly, as Colonel Ingersoll has quite
recently made it in regard to Lincoln,
that they were not Christians" A GER
tain Teacher in the New Testament
classified all that were not for him as
against him. He gave his enemies the
benefit of the doubtful list. Measured
by this exacting standard, and most of
the Presidents named make poor show
ing from Christian point of view.
Washington was an Episcopalian in
good and regular standing, and he be-
lieved in prayer.
John Adams was nominally Congre-
gationalist, but he twas by no means a
Puritan of the Calvinist type. The first
church of Quincy was Unitarian
church to all intents and purposes long
before Claiming preached his famous
Baltimore sermon, which brought about
the separation of the Unitarian from the
Trinitarian Congregationalists in New
England" That Quincy church was
not the last to he essentially Unitarian
while bearing an orthodox name. There
may be such even to-day in very remote
sections of the United States.
The diagnosis of Thomas Jefferson's
religious status is admittedly difficult.
Yet we are told: HE was freely de-
nounced during his lifetime, especially
from the pulpits of New England, as "a
Goddess man, and was very commonly
classified, as Colonel Ingersoll has just
classified Abraham Lincoln, with the
great French philosopher and sceptic,
Voltaire. There can be no sort of doubt
now, however. that Mr.. Jefferson was
profoundly religious man. His moral
ity was never questioned, and if he we're
alive to-day, leading the same life that
he led and expressing the same opinions
which he expressed in his own time, he
would be a welcome member of any
liberal Christian church." Whether he
was Christian or not depends upon the
scope accorded to that not unelastic
term
Presidents Madison and Monroe were
members of the Episcopal church.
John Quincy Adams is dismissed with
the simple statement that upon retiring
he regularly repeated the simple prayer
taught to him by his mother, NOW
lay me down to sleep"
Andrew Jackson is claimed to have
been converted in his old age, of which
there was much need. Throughout his
public career and early manhood he was
exceedingly rough. The chronicler says
of him: "His profanity was marvellous.
He Swore great, strange oaths, such as
were never heard before nor since, and
he kept it up until he was quite an old
man. At Salisbury, N. c., where he
lived as youth, it is recorded that he
was the most roaring, rollicklng game
horse racing, card playing, mis-
chievous fellow that ever lived in the
town. The story of his many quarrels
and duels, and particularly the killing of
under circumstances which
in this age would cause it to be called a
cold blooded murder, are all well known.
But his passionate attachment and pic
turesque devotion to his wife mark the
line in his character, and after
her death there seems to be no doubt
that he was changed man" 1t is a
little strange that such a character
should be ranked among the great Presi-
dents. 1t was probably picturesque
ness rather than pre-eminent talent that
gave him the enviable classification.
The biOgraphers are significantly silent
the religion of Martin Van
Buren,. He was irreproachably moral,
however, if not pious, and this is not a
characteristic of statesmen.
VIM. Henry Harrison and John Tyler
we're Eplscopalians.
James X. Polk made no profession of
'aith until he was stricken with death,
which was rather late in the day for
ltilitarian purposes. He then received
he rite of baptism from a Methodist |
clergyman.
Zachary Taylors wife was an Episco-
1alian. Concerning Zachary himself |
he biOgrapheTs say nothing. Gen. |
scott says Taylor chad a contempt for
earning of every kind, but had the true |
Jasis of a great character-pure, uncOr-
upted morals, combined with indomit- !
Lble courage"
Willard Fillmore's wife was Baptist. |
lie did not join the church, but affiliated |
With that denomination. Nathaniel |
biography of Fillmore says
he had "a wide embracing sympathy for
ii forms of Christian worship and a
everence for individual belief as a mat
er between the Deity and mans soul |
With which no other has right to in
erfere."
James Buchanan became Presbyter-
an in his old age, after he had retired
rom the Presidency. He had much to
epent of.
OF the much mooted question of Lin
oln's faith 1t is said: NOW we come
o President Lincoln. whom Colonel In
,ersoll says held religious views akin to
hose of Voltaire. 1t is no doubt true
hat he never at any time in his life was
member of church in good and reg
liar standing. Yet from his earliest
'outh and all through his great career
lie ison record as holding and express
ng convictions which are essentially
christian, tinged, perhaps, with shade
# spiritualism. Writing about his
ather's death, he affirmed his belief that
he broken family circle would be united
'eyond the grave. He spoke often and
most reverently of his angel mother
'Oth of his parents, by the way, were
members of the Baptist church" This
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