Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-26
Presidential Piety.

George Washington was q men,
ber of the Episcopal Church and q
great believer in prayer, as is evil
denced by numerous messages,
says a writer in the Louisville
Courier-Journal. One was: "The
blessing and protection of heaven
are at all times necessary, but
especially SO in time Of public
danger and distress" He also
said: Though I am a member of
the church of England, I have no
exclusive partialities."
John Adams was a Congrega-
tionalist and came of long line
of Puritan ancestors, but was very
liberal in his views of religion. He
was baptized Oct. 26, 1885, in the
First Church of Quincy, called
"The Church of Statesmen"
Thomas Jefferson's ideas on re-
ligion are difficult to classify. He
was an admirer of the great Tom
Paine, the agnostic, ,and was de-
nounced from New England pull
pits as goddess man." but a let
ter to Mrs. John Adams shows that
he believed in future life, where
"we will meet our friends and his
life was a strictly moral one. He
belonged to no church.
'ss5J John Quincey Adams was a Con-
gregationalist, like his father, and
wrote hymn.
Madison and Monroe were both
Episcopalians in good standing.
Andrew Jackson was notoriously
irreligious in his early manhood
and mature life. AS youth, at
Salisbury, N. c., he is described as
the ''most roaring, rollicking,
game-cocking, horse racing, card
playing, mischievoua fellow that
ever lived in the town." After his
retirement from the Presidency he
became converted and joined the
Presbyterian church, his dying
words being: "My dear children,
and friends and servants, I hope
and trust to meet you all in heaven,
both white and black"
Martin Van Buren, never made
any religious profession, but was a
man of irreproachable morality.
William Henry Harrison was an
Episcopalian of strong convictions,
which prevented him from fighting
duels.
John Tyler was also an Episco-
palian.
James K. Polk made no profess
sion until be was on his death bed,
when a Methodist clergyman
sprinkled him.
Zachary Taylor didn't give the
question any thought, but meekly
paid his wife's contributions to the
Episcopal church. Taylor was very
illiterate, knew little about the
ology and cared less.
Millard Fillmore was a very
quiet, but pious man, who affiliated
with the Baptists.
Franklin Pierce was an Episco-
pal communicate.
James Buchanan was always
pious, but didn't join the church
until after his retirement from the
Presidency, when he became a
Presbyterian.
Abraham Lincoln according to
Col. Bob Ingersoll, was disciple
of Voltaire, but he expressed
Christian convictions and was in
clined to Spiritualism. Both his
parents were Baptists.
Andrew Johnston was not a men,
ber of any church; but a tacit be-
lever in Christianity. He was un-
usually handy with his "cuss
Words" and inclined to Method
ism.
Ulysses S. Grant was Method.
ist, and extol!ed for his piety by
his biographers, though be was
never known to do anything be-
yond letting fall a few pious re-
marks.
Rutherford B. Hayes was a Meth
odist.
James A. Garfield was member
of the church of Christ, or Camp
bellite church, and once tried his
handiat preaching.
Chester A. Arthur was all Epis-
copalian, but played a game of
poker once in awhile.
Benjamin Harrison is a Presby-
terian, and attends church quite
regularly.
Grover Cleveland gets his snp-
plv of Christian fortitude from the
Calvinistie fount also.