Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
WASHINGTON A COMMUNICATE.
Also a vestryman in Truro Parish,
Whose Church, Pohick, Was Built
Under His Supervision.

Under His Supervision.
It is not disputed that Washington
was an adherent of the Episcopal church
and a regular and devout attendant upon
his services. says the Church for Ameri-
cans. but the statement that he was also
a COMMUNICATE is sometimes questioned. In
Church Of June %, 1886. the Rev. Mr.. Will
lam E. Hooker settles this question. He
entitled. Memoirs Of washington. by His
Adopted Son, George Washington Park
Custis.' There is as well a memoir of the
lished in 1883. on page 17s. the writer
speaks of Washington as a strict observer
tending public. worship; of his respect for
the clergy; of his friendship for Bishop
R Malas a gee Of AfTBs al3ims4e. G Tha9 in Of a fo sae
note, on the same page. is this statement:
Washington was a member in full COM
the Revolution a vestryman in Truro
parish, whose church, Pohick, built under
before me-" he continues. Sthe original
drawing of the ground plan and elevation
of that church, made by Washington him
the Revolution, in Fairfax, parish, whose
church, wherein he frequently worshiped,. is
yet yS5,i standing nrns;ggh in the ,s city y7ni Of A stsfan snd
Paurs church: in Philadelphia, Christ
church, 81 mars,v -" Amen member M,H in f. fun ds communion =
communicate. And this statement is un-
qualifiedly made by one of ,Washington's
GUSTS, himself a churchman, died in 1857.
To this weighty testimony cited by Mr..
Hooker may be added a passage almost
pr. Bolles calls attention in his Washing
ton, a Centennial DISCOURSE" In the
twelfth volume of the writings. of Wash
follows: L shall here insert a letter writ
ten me by a lazy who lived twenty years
ago in Wastington's family. and who was
daughter of Mrs. Washington. The writer
of this letter married Lawrence Lewis, the
ne p h Ee Of Washi as' 'sas' It It is d aae 1on Mof for
reproduction in these notes: l give some
extracts from it, namely: My mother re-
n maeqia sw we years ba2 az h M9addt b eet saH t iauet G enr
eral Washington always received the sacra-
Pent With my grandmother before the
Major Popham, a Revolutionary officer
much with Washington, ~testifies that. 'he
attended the same church with Washing
dent often communed, and that he had the
privilege of kneeling and communing with
him."
Of the orators at the laying of the corner
stone of Washington's monument, and also
at its dedication. gives the following test
country and to himself; fearing God. be-
lieving in Christ. no stranger to private de-
votion or to the hottest offices Of the church
to which he belonged; but ever gratefully
acknowledging a Divine art and direction
in everything he attempted. What
epithet, wha attribute could be added to
that consummate character, to commend it
is an example above all other characters In
human history"
The learned histriographer of the Amerl-
can Episcopal church says: THAT wash
ington was a communicate of the church
previous to the war of the Revolution adj
mits of no doubt, If n regard is to be paid
to the testimony of numerous witnesses
who could not nave been deceived. That
he was not a frequent or regular communi-
can't after the war and while in public Of
flee is equally certain, but the testimony
adduced by the celebrated DR.. Chapman
a distinguished clergyman of the church.
is conclusive as to his occasional reception.
DIR. Chapman's words are as follows:
"From the lips of a lady Of ~undoubted
veracity, yet living, and a worthy. COM
municant Of the church, I received the In
teresting fact that soon after the close OF
the Revolutionary war she saw him par
take of the consecrated symbols OF the
body and blood of Christ, in Trinity church.
in the city of New York"
major Popham's testimony that they
both, President and Lady Washington, re-
ceived the holy communion at st. FauIs,
New York. comes from one who had every
possible opportunity to know whereof he
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