New-York tribune., 1902-05-26


behavior was so reverentiaI as to greatly aid me
IN my labors" Bishop Meade a careful in
vestgator adds strong testimony to the same
effect.
To all this add the following specimens Of en-
tries in Washington memoranda In reading
them il is well to remember that he had to ride
from six to twelve miles 20 church:
1858. May Sth, Went to Church from Colonel
Bassetts."
"176s. May 22nd, Went to Church at Nomn"
-'176s. May 29th, Church at st. Paul's.'
"176s. June 9Th, To Church at Alexandria"
"176s, June 18th At Pohick Church."
.'176s. July 11th. Pohick Church."
'176s. August. Nomini Church, in Westmore-
land"
"176s. September 4th, Nomini CChurch) in
Westmoreland."
"176S. November 18th, at Pohick Church."
His journal also shows that when in attend
znce the fst Congress- in Philadelphia. he
went 10 church six times the first three Sundays.
The Rev. DR.. Slaughter. who has carefully
Amined the entries in Washington's memoranda.
saws: The records OF his churchgoing in Phil
adelphia and New-York are much more full
Mr. Paul Leicester Ford. quoted the passage
cited is enormously attributed to his brother
by Mr Hopkins is evidently Inaccurate in this
matter. President Madison, whom Ford quotes.
says: Washington was constant in his observ-
ar ces Of worship according TO the received
forms Of the Episcopal Church
But l pass from this question TO a more i'm
portant one still Was Washington a Christian
Dr Deist in his belief? l affirm that the testi-
mony 10 his Christian faith is overwhelming.
Bancroft Sparks Irving Losing. Chief Justice
Marshall. President Madison. Bishop Meade. DR.
Mcclure and Robert c. Winthrop agree in this
conclusion
Chief Justice Marshall his fellow soldier and
his biographer. says: He a sincere be-
lever in the Christian faith and truly devout
man"
Robert c. Winthrop. acknowledging the receipt
Of the Rev DR.. Philip Slaughters Grafton on
this subject. says: 1t confirms all my opinions
II the character Of washington. and leaves no
loop 10 hang doubt upon that Christianity
was the key 10 that character"
To those who reflect upon the great reserve
OF washington's nature. il will not seem strange
that he did not indulge in the pious cant which
we frequently meet in the utterances Of Oliver
Cromwell. or that he refused TO allow himself
10 be drawn into a statement of his religious
beliefs by the clergy of Philadelphia upon the
occasion referred 10 By AR. Hopkins
Mr.. Hopkins would persuade us that Wash
fngton WAS Deist Was il the habit Of Deists
at that period 10 fast all day strictly. as Wash
ingtons diary shows that be did on more than
one occasion when a public fast proclaimed;
CT 20 attend regularly upon the services Of the
Christian church. and 10 insist upon his officers
and men in the army doing the same; or to
practise the habit Of secret prayer, as there is
overwhelming testimony that he did-for ex-
ample, that Of his aids. Colonel Temple and
General Knox. and General Porterfield and his
nephew and private secretary. Robert Lewis?
Truly, Washington. if Deist. Of unique
III i
diligently read the Bible is attested by his wife,
by Mr. G. ". P. Custis and others. In his
early career as soldier he had sharp corre
spondence with Governor Dinwiddie because
Of the latter's delay IN sending chaplain to the
regiment; and, in the absence Of one he himself
conducted prayers in camp in ~ least three diff
ferent camping grounds He read the burial ser
vice over General Braddock. and ascrbed his
own marvellous escape from death 10 the spe-
cial providence Of Almighty God. Between his
marriage in 1TJ9, and the outbreak Of The
Revolutionary War this peculiar Deist was en-
gagged very zealously Cas the old Truro Vestry
Book shows in planning for and building and
furnishing churches providing for sending a
young man 70 England TO take orders, and in
ways too numerous 10 mention acting just as if
he was a Christian believer,
And when the storm OF war broke. and Wash
ington was called to command the armies of the
patriots. he continued 10 mask his Deism, and in
numerous public orders and private letters to
express the sentiments which usually indicate
Christian belief
Thus in IT76 he commanded a strict observ-
ance OF the day of fasting appointed 10y Con-
gress. that by unfeigned nd pure observance
Of their religious duties they might incline the
Lord and giver Of victory TO prosper our arms"
Again: We can have but little hope Of the
blessing Of God if we insult Him by our bias
phemies." Again. he refers to that divine
Providence which has manifestly appeared in
our behalf during our whole struggle" And
N a private letter to General Nelson he SAYS:
The hand Of Providence has been cOnspcu-
that he must be than infdel that
lacks faith. and more than wicked that has not
gratitude enough 10 acknowledge his obga-
Iions."
Similar utterances OF his are too numerous for
quotation But may add that when peace was
proclaimed, in April, 1873, he issued order
commanding the chaplains with the army Ito
render thanks to God for His overruling the
wrath OF man TO His own glory, and causing the
rage Of war TO cease"
This allegation Of Mr.. Hopkins echoing Mon
cure D. Conway. the Unitarian, and Robert Dale
owen, the Spiritualist. that Washington was in
reality Deist, constitutes a very serious as
saut upon the honesty and integrity of that
greatest Of American patriots; for he is on
record in words OF his own as a believer in the
Shrlstian religion. and in the divine nature of
It's Author; and therefore if he was not
Christian. but a Deist, az the time he wrote the
words to which refer then he was a hypocrite |
ana deceiver Of his countrymen. The words al
Iooed 70 occur in his address 10 the Governors of
ne iiidhes reference 10 the many
dressings enjoyed by America above all the
pure and benign light Of revelation" and exhorts
20 the practice Of that charity humility and
pacific temper which were the characteristics of
me Divine Author Of our blessed religion"
Mr.. Editor / submit that until writer's of the
class Of Moncure Conway and Robert Dale owen
and our own Archibald Hopkins can prove that
n Sc words are not the words Of Washington
tney may as well abandon their effort to prove
that he was not q believer in the Christian
revelation or in the divine character of Jesus
christ All their fine spun differences from his