New-York tribune., 1902-05-19
Washington ReliSious Beliefs.
Evidence in Regard No
Was


fortune and estates.
Dr. McKim stated in his sermon. which he en-
titled Washington Christian and a Church.
man." that he was a constant attendant at
church and a strict observer of the Sabbath
Worthington C. Ford. in his The True George
Washington" from a careful study of his diary.
which can hardly be impeached, finds that from
1850 to 11T3 he averaged going to church about
fifteen times year, and that on Sundays he
wrote business letters and invoices, closed land
purchases sold wheat entertained visitors and
went fox hunting. all of which would seem to
indicate that the reverend gentleman made his
assertion without much investigation
Moncure D. Conway writes in article on
WashingtOn's religion:
In editing a volume of WashingtOn's private
letters for the Long Island Historical Society,
l have been much impressed by Indications tnat
this great historic personality represented the
liberal religious tendency of his time Ihat ten-
dency to respect religious organizations as
part of the social order. which required some
minister to visit tine sick. bury the dead and
perform marriages 1t was considered IN no wise
inconsistent with disbelief of the clergyman's
doctrines to contribute to his support, OF even
TO be a vestryman in his church.
In his many letters TO his adopted nephew
their manners and morals. but in no case have
| been able to discover any suggestion that they
should read the Bible. keep the Sabbath. go 10
church. any warning against lnhdenty-
Washington had in his library the writings OF
Paine Priestley. VOltaire Frederick the Great'
and other heretical works.
Augustine Washington. like most scholarly
Virginians of his time, a Deist- Con-
temporary evidence shows that in mature life
Washington Dest. and did not com
mune which is quite consistent with his being
a vestryman. In England, where vestries have
secular functions, II is not unusual for Unl-
tarians to be vestrymen. there being no doc
trinal subscription required FOR that ONCE
Washington's letters during the Revolution oc-
casionalIy indicate his recognition of the hand
of Provide in notable public events but IN
the thousands of his letters l have never been
able TO find the name of Christ or any reference
10 Him.
We have here the testimony of the two Epis-
copaI clergymen and one Presbyterian clergy
man most intimately connected with Washing
ton during his public life. and his near friends.
Jefferson and Morris, TO his beliefs.
Most conclusive of all seems his attitude when
dying. Moncure d. Conway writes:
When the end was near. Washington said to
a physician present-an ancestor OF the writer
of these notes; I am not afraid 10 go VITA
his right fingers on his left wrist. he counted
his own pulses. which beat his funeral march
TO the grave. His bore his distress, so next
day wrote one present. with astonishing fOrtl-
tude. and conscious. as he declared several hours
before his death. of his approaching dissolution.
he resigned his breath with the greatest COM
pOsure. having the full possession OF his rea-
son to the last moment Mrs. Washington
kueIt beside his bed. but word passed on re-
ligious matters. With the sublime tacituTnity
which had marked his life. he passed out Of eX-
turned 10 the service of superstition. cant or
bigOtry.
In his discussion with Bachelor. Robert Dale
Owen says:
When / spoke Of Washineton's deathhed, I
had the account of eyewitness lying before
me- And most strongly does that corrobOrate
my opinion that Washington's religion was OF
the most liberal stamp No clergyman around
his deathbed No protestatious that in the dy-
Ing hour religion afforded him aid No Pray ms
No repeating OF texts. No asking for a Bible 70
read a chapter Not syllable about The re-
deeming blood Of Christ the saving efficacy
OF divine grace. Not even a straw for the orthO-
@Tbe diving testimony OF that DISTINGUISHED
Christian. George Washington" True, the
Father Of His Country died the death Of a
patriot: he died he had lived. in dignity and
peace; but he left behind him not one word %
warrant the belief that he was other than
sincere Deist
II has been confidently stated TO me that he
actually refused spiritual aid when IL was pro-
posed 10 send for clergyman
The Rev. DR.. Miller. Of Birmingham. Ensland.
who devoted much time TO an investigation OF
this subject. In London Notes and queries
says:
My researches do not enable me 10 affirm that
Washington, on his deathhed save evidence
OF Christian belief
In the last hour of the day. on the last day
of the week. in the last month of the year, in
the last year of the century. at the end OF lonS
and nlustrious career. with the simple words.
Il am not afraid to GO the hero or a dozen
battletelds surrendered
Can there be any doubt that Washington
shared the beliefs of Franklin jefferson, Mar
shall. Adams and Liucolne
We turn now 10 the evidence on the specific
question. Was he a communicate Of the Epis-
copal Church? Where is the record Of his con-
rmation?
have already given all the affirmative evi-
dence I have been able to ind. What is there on
the other side?
In response to an inquiry addressed 70 him
on the subject. Bishop White writes follows:
Philadelphia. August l., 1880
Dear Sir. III regard 70 the subject of your in
qury. truth requires 70 say that General
Washington never received the communion
in the churches Of which I the paro-
chial minister. Mrs. Washington was an
hahitual communcaut, nave been VIII
ten 10 by many on that point, and have been
obliged To answer them I now do YOU am
respectfully your humble servant.
WILLIAM WHITE
In a biographical sketch of the Rev James
Abercrombie. by the Rev. William e. SPrague.
occurs the following;
One incident in DR.. Abercrombie's experience
as a clergyman, in connection with the Father
of His Country. is specially worthy of record:
and the following account Of IL given by
the doctor himself in a letter 10 q friend il
1871, shortly after there had been some public
auuStOn to tt. With respect To the inquiry yuu
make / can only state the following facts that
as pastor OF the Episcopal church, observing
that on saCramental sundays General WASH
ingtOn, Immediately after the desk ana pulpit
services. went out with the greater part Of the
congreSatiOn-alWay leaving Mrs. WASHINGTON
with the other communicates. she invariably
being one-I considered IL my duty in sermon
on public Worship to state the unhappy ten
denCy Of example. particularly Of those in el-
evated stations. who uniformly turned the-r