The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17

1cW many Americans young mid
dlc-hgnd. or even elderly, have
an accurate knowledge Of the
various religious views held by the
twcntyslN men who, since the inuu.
guration of George Washington In
1889 have served their turn M
President or the nation? How many
arc there who know anything about
tho religious side Of half or even u
third of them?
Yet every one of these men was at
some period of his life identified more
or less Intimately with some IciiBlous
denomination. Andrew johnson comes
hcarcs, to being an exception to THIS
sweeping statement. for he never en-
tered into full connection with the
Methodist church, although lie was y
regular attendant AT It's services and
contributed literally tn it's suppo>t
There Is even Il tradition in the family
that he was once received on proba-
tion. about 1927. the year OF his mar
rage, but there Is no record to su0-
stantiatc It, Ills wife was a dcvout
Methodist and her husbands religious
preferences were in agreement with
hers.
Tho seven Virginia born Presidents
were EDscopalians. Originally, SIX OF
Observation-Disclosures Jefferson. Madison.
Monroe, the elder Harrison ana Taylor
were members OF tho Church Of Eng
land. the only form or religions ea-
preston known practically 10 the
founders OF. the Virginia settlements.
Lord Baltimore had started out. with
religious liberation in Maryland but
the virginia folk were not inclined TO
DC so liberal; II was either Church Of
England or nothing with them
At the beginning Or the. War of the
RESOLUTION the English oaurch was
the only form OF worship that had oh :
tanned foothold IN the Southern part
OF the country. Maryland had repudi-
atcd It's early libcrality and the other
Southern colonies had been Anglican
from the start. The church In the
colonies was under the nominal juris-
dlction of the Bishop Of London. but
that prelatc didn't worry a great deal
over the spiritual condition OF his far.
away children. ana with no bishon to
look after them they had lapscd into
more Or less apathy as TO the actual
Importance OF Episcopal m!nistratlon.
They made application TO the home
government now and then for an
American bishop. bu; were by no
means disconsoiatc when their petition
was pigconholcd
Such was the state OF religious ar
fairs III Virginia when tive OF these
men who became President OF the
thitcd states were born and for a
long time afterward. In those days re-
l!Sion and responsibility, in their per-
sonal application, were synonymous:
one could not lay claim TO the latter
without accepting the former
II was perfectly natural that the
Declaration OF Independence should
work change. and II did The South
crn colonies were intensely patriotic
ana they didn't let church stand in the
way when II came to the separation
They knew that the church would
suffer not the slightest Inconvenience
aud II didn't, Eight years after the
war was ended. when they had time
10 attend to the business. representa-
ttvcs OF the orphaned church met in
l'hilnd"lphia--in the very hall in which
tho framing Of the Constitution Of the
United states had been done t;rJ years
nrcNiously--and Transformed uhc trans
planted oGshoot OF the parent stem
into the Episcopal church. That is
how Nashngton--who was already
PrcSidcnt-and i'll; four fcllow-virgi.
rihns--who became Presidents otter
wnrd--"er" turned into r:pscopalian.
without the sliEhtes; effort or ohjcc-
ton on their part.
There has never becn any disposl-
'i"n on the part Of any|oody to cues.
ton IN" fact that George Washing
ton was q man who accepted the teach.
Ing OF his church in it's entirety and
foll0wcd lis rule of conduct with un-
sweFvinS iidclity. it came naturally