New-York tribune., 1902-05-19
To the Editor of The Tribune.

Gently been raised by Bishop Satterlee IN d pun
lication in regard to the proposed Episcopal
cathedral here which IL would seem, from the
nature of the case. should be capable of definite
settlement. He states positively and without
qualification that George Washington was
communicate of the Episcopal Church. No facts
given authorities cited TO substantiate
the claim In a sermon preached by DR.. Nc
Kim before the Sons of the Revolution a short
time since, he also said that Washington was a
cOmmunicant. No record of confirmation was
given any evidence brought forward to prove
the fact. beyond a vague statement that there
were letters Of officers in existence in which 1t
was stated that they had seen him at COM
munion Neither the whereabouts of the letters
nor the names Of the writers-bOth presumably
easily ascertainabIe if they exist-were given.
The only other evidence to bear out the claim
which l have been able to find is a statement TO
the following effect in a letter from Mrs. Wash
ington's granddaughter. Nellie Custis to the his
torian Sparks. She says that she had heard her
mother say that General Washington always
received the sacrament with my grandmother
before the Revolution" In the same letter, re-
ferring TO her life at Mount Vernon at
later period. she says: Communion Sundays he
left the church with after the blessing and
returned home and sent the carriage back
for my grandmother" There is also tradition
that he communed at a Presbyterian church at
MorrstOwn In course of the Revolution.
Now, let us see what the evidence is against
the claim. and first. as affecting the probabili-
ties of the case, will try to get at Washing
toms general religious views.
Jefferson in his Memoirs writes:
February /. 1900. Doctor Rush tells me that
he had it from Asa Green. that when the clergy
addressed Gen. Washington his departure
from the government. 1T observed in their
consultation that he had never on any occasion
S,E,e T{.F
in the Christian religion. and they thought they
should pen their address as 10 force him at
length to declare publicly whether he was
Christian or not. They did so. However, he
observed, the old fox was too cunning for them.
He answered every article Of their address par
ucularly except that. which he passed over
without notice. Rush observes he never did say
a word on the subject in any of his public pa
pers except In his vaedictOry letter To the
Governors OF the States. when he resigned his
commission in the army. wherein he speaks OF
the benign influence of the Christian religion"
know that Gouverneur Morris. who pretended
TO be In his secrets. and believed himself 10 be
so. has often told me that Gen. Washington be-
lieved no more of that system than he himself
did
Bishop White, whose church in Philadelphia
Washington attended part OF the time while
there. in writing to the Rev. Il. C. c. Parker
says:
Within a few days OF his leaving the Presi-
Dental chair our vestry waited on him with
address prepared and delivered ny me In his
answer ne was pledStu 10 cypress nlIIlStiI BTdIl-
fed by what ne had heard from our pulpit; but
there was nothing that committed him rela-
lively to religious theory.
I do not believe that any degree of recollection
will bring to my mind any fact which would
prove General Washington TO have been a be-
lever in the Christian revelation further than
as may be hoped from his constant attendance
upon Christian worship in connection with the
general reserve of his character.-(Memoirs Of
Bishop White.
Never an expression 20 the Clergymen with
whom he was most intimate which would prove
him TO have been "a believer In the Christian
revelation"
The Rev DR. Wilson. OF Albany in 1881 pub
lished a sermon in THE Daily Advertiser"
the religion Of our Presidents in which he stated
that Washington was man OF valor and wis
dom. but ne was not protesting Christian"
Robert Dale owen. then young man. called on
DR.. Wilson with reference to this statement
TO Washington, and saws in letter to Amos
Gilbert, dated November r. 1881:
read to him from copy Of The Daily Ad-
vertiser" the paragraph which regards Wash
ington. beginning Washington was man,
etc. and ending "absented himself altogether
from the church" Il indorse." said DR. Wilson.
with emphasis every word of that. Nay. | do
not wish to conceal from you any part of the
truth even what I have not given to the public.
Dr. AberCromhie said more than l have repeat
ed. Al the close OF our conversation on the sub
feet his emphatic expression was-for | we'll re-
member the very words-'Sir. Washington was
a Deist
In concluding the interview. Dr. Wilson said
Il have diligently perused every line that
Washington ever gave To the pubic. ana | do
not ind expression in which he pledges him
self as a believer In Christianity. | think any
one who will canddly do as l have done. Will
come TO the conclusion that he was Deist and
nothing more"
Washington attended DIR. Abercrombie's
church in Philadelphia when not an attendant
at Bishop Whites.
hfgI LIT. -.,fn nyyap 4 Tfrnl
ford. Of Pennsylvania, long Presbyterian
clergyman and consul In China under Presi-
dent Lincoln. writing to r. F. Underwood. says;
knew DR. Wilson personally, and have
tertained him at my house. on which occasion
he said in my hearing what my relative. the
Rev. DR. Ashbel Green, OF PHILADELPHIA. fire.
Quenty told In his study, viz, that during
the time that Congress sat In that city the
clergy. suspecting from good evidence that
Washington was not a believer in the Bible as
a revelation from heaven. laid plan to eNtort
from him a confession. either pro or con. but that
the plan failed. Or. Green was chaplain TO Con
gress during all the time OF its sitting in Phila
delphia; dined with the President ON special in
vtation nearly every week; was well acquaint-
ed with him. and after he had been dead and
gone many years. often said In nv hearing,
though very sorrowfullY. of course. that while
Washington was very deferential To religion and
its ceremonies. like nearly all the founders of
the republic. he was not Christian, but a Delst.
He says further speaking Of Dr. Green;
1 recollect well that during one of these in
terviews in his study inquired of him what
were the real opinions Washington entertained
the subject of religion. He promptly an
swered pretty nearly in the language which
jefferson says DR.. Rush used. He explained
more at length the plan laid by the clergy of
Philadelphia at the close of Washington's ad-
ministratIon President to get his views of re-
ligion for the sake of the good influence they
supposed they would have In counteracting the
inhdeity of Paine and the rest of the Revolu-
tiOnary patriots, military and civil But well
remember the smile on his face and the twinkle