New-York tribune., 1902-05-26
FAITH THEIR OF COUNTRY
ACCORDING TO SENATOR LODGE THERE
IS SUFFICIENT POSITIVE EVIDENCE
TO PROVE HIS BELIEF IN THE
DIVINITY OF CHRIST

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: l read with interest letter from CORONER
Hopkins which appeared in The tribune lor
Monday. May 10. in regard to Washington's re-
,igtor The nropostion which Colonel Hopkins
advances has been advanced before 1t is 10
the effect that Washington in his later years
was not communicate in the Episcopal ChurCh'
although generally believed to be So ana the
deduction is that he did not believe In the
divinity of Christ, and was as Mr.. Conway al
leges, Deist
II is not necessary to examine the evidence
upon which this proposition rests, because those
who sustain the proposition undertake TO prove
a universal negative which is always difficult
and frequently impossible. The points most re-
lied on are the we'll known story, attributed 10
Bishop White that Washington at one time was
in the habit of leaving the church before the
communion service and the we'll known fact
that he did not receive the communion wnen
upon his deathbed. Bishop Whites statement
simply proves that Washington did not COM
municate at a certain time-nothing more
The fact that he did not receive the COM
munion when he was dying proves nothing His
last illness was sudden. rapid in its progress
the closing Of the throat making speech very
difficult and extremely painful His last mo-
ments were fine, becoming in the highest de-
gree. and entirely characteristics of the man; but
the fact that he did not then make public con-
cept for the purpose of drawing negative In
ference. To dlsprove the proposition of Colonel
Hopkins and the writer's whom he cites, II IS
only necessary TO consider the affirmative testi-
mCny in regard to this matter.
Washington had profound belief in God and
in an overruling Providence. This is mani
tested throughout his letters in utterances so
numerous that II is not necessary TO cite them.
Even those who dispute his Christianity admit
nat,
He regular and constant attendant on
the Episcopal Church
He was a vestryman for many years OF his
parish church. and II is at least unlikely that
he would have held such position in that.
church unless he had been regularly admitted
to the communion and was in good and regular
standing.
He not only went TO the church regularly. but
he tasted appointed days. as is proved by
at least entry in his diary.
He believed in the efficacy OF prayer. for he
prayed regularly. and the proof Is abundant
that he would retire for prayer in times OF stress
and trial.
He was generally believed by his contem-
poraries with few exceptions to be Chris
tian. Chief Justice Marshall, who was an ac-
curate man. both In observation and statement.
explicitly says that Washington was Chris
tIan. and any who will take the trouble to
examine the orations and addresses at the time
OF Washingtons death will find that such was
the general opinion OF men who knew him.
But we are not left to the differences which
NAV be fairly drawn from the general evidence
which I have just stated In Volume ii OF
Bishop Meade's "Old Churches and Families Of
Virginia" in the appendix Page 400, there is
a letter given. written by Major POpham. who
was a Revolutionary soldier. He states that he
more than once saw washington communicate
at St PauTs Church New-YOrk, while he was
President. and received the communion with
HIM This is direct. Affirmative evidence, which
outweighs any negative inference. and. IL
cepted destroys universal negative. The only
possible objection which can be made to Major
Porham's testimony is that he a very old
man when he wrote the letter but there is
Indication OF failing memory in the letter. II
has never been disputed. and the circumstance
was one which the writer was most likely to
member accurately. General PorterfieId testi-
fed directly to the same effect but the report
OF what he said comes through a second person.
This evidence of eyewitness like Major
Popham. unless successfully overthrown, is con-
elusive.
But we have evidence which is absolutely con-
elusive as to washington's belief In the divinity
of Christ In his circular letter to the Governors
of the States. dated June g 1IS3. state paper
of the first Importance. and prepared with the
utmost care, Washington uses these words
Nol. Y OF FOrd's edition OF WaShington'S Writ
ings page 256): The pure and benign light
Of Revelation" and page 265 he uses this
phrase: The divine author OF our blessed re-
ligion" These last words as distinct dec
laratOn Of belief in the divinity of Christ as any
man could make, and they deliberately used
in a state paper of great moment.
One of two things. in view of this sentence
must be true: Washington either believed in
the divinity of Christ when he wrote those
words he deliberately stated something which
he did not believe. The second alternative to
any one who has studied the life and writings Of
Washington is impossible. The childish fable
of the cherry tree, pure invention of a later
time. like many other childish fables embOdies
a popular belief. and the popular belief that
Washington was pre-eminently n truthful man
is itself great truth Washington never tried
to deceive any one. and least of all himself. do
not believe that all history show a man of
greater veracity of mind than George Washing
ton. 1t was one of his greatest ii was one
of his noblest. qualities. He was utterly in
author of our blessed religion" unless he entirely
believed it. II is quite true that the eighteenth
century was an age of active and aggressive
skepticism. and that Franklin. Jefferson John
Adams and many others of the great men who
made the Revolution and founded the United
States were more or less imbued with or affect
ed by the spirit of the time but Washington
had cast OF mind totally different from these
men or from those OF like opinions in Europ.
His mind was neither restless nor speculative
He thought deeply but a conviction once at
tanned he rarely changed.
trust shall be pardoned if l quote what 7
wrote IN my biography of Washington pub
iished some years ago. This statement repre-
] fc of