The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-02-22
THE RELIGIOUS SIDE OF WASH
INGTON.

i am not surprised at what George
has done, for he was always a good
boy. Thus Mary Washington re-
piled to Lafayette when he congrat-
ulated her on the achievements of her
son. Just as the full-blown flower
shows what was EMBODIED in the bud,
so the religious life of the man Wash
ington shows what lay dormant in
the good boy Good men are not
always great, but great men have al
ways been men of character
On April 5, 1882, according to the
record in the Washington family BIZ
Bile, George Washington, Son o
Augustine and Mary his Wife," living
at Wakefield, Washington Parish,
Westmoreland County, Virginia, was
| baptized according to the rites of the
established church of the colony. The
| ott1ciating minister enjoined upon the
child's "sureties" that they should
see that this infant be taught, so
soon as he shall be able to learn,
what solemn vow, promise, and pro-
fession he hath here made,' that he
should learn all the things which
Christian ought to know and believe
to his souls health" and should be
trained ito lead godly and a Chris
tian life
There is reason to believe that the
religious training of the boy was in
accordance with the solemn VOWS
made at his christening. The story
goes that one day George, in passing
through his fathers garden, came to
bed in which he saw the plants ar
ranged to spell in letters of green the
words, George Washington. He
sought an explanation from his faith
er, who confessed that he had traced
his sons name on the ground with a
stick, sowed seed in the furrow, and
covered it up, with the result which
was before their eyes. He used this
opportunity to teach the boy to look
for cause back of an effect, to see
God behind the wonderful works of
nature.
After Washington's marriage, he
resided at Mount Vernon, which was
Included in Truro Parish. The parish
church was called Pohick Church.
and was seven miles from Mount Yer
non. George Washington Parke Gus
tbs, Mrs. Washington grandson.
who lived at Mount Vernon several
years, says: Washington was
member and in full communion of
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and
was for many years, before and after
the Revolution, vestryman in Truro
Parish" Rev. Lee Massey, one of
Washington's pastors, gives this testi-
mony; Il never knew so constant
an attendant on church as Washing
ton. And his behavior in the house
of God was ever so deeply reveren-
tial that it produced the happiest eff
feet on my congregation. This min
lister further states: NO company
ever withheld him from church.
nave often been at Mount Vernon on
Sabbath mornings, when his break
fast table was filled with guests; but
to him they furnished no pretext for
neglecting his God, and losing the
satisfaction of setting a good exam
pie. For instead of staying at home.
out of false complaisance to them. he
used continually to invite them to
accompany him."
That Washington was strict Sab
bath-keeper is established by good
evidence. In the establishment of
mis- presidential household" says Ban
croft, The reserved RI h;rnso1f ~
sabbath, free from the interruption
or private visits or public business"
In the morning, with his wife, he
went to church. While in Philadel-
phia he attended Christ Church, and
the pew he occupied there is now pre-
served in the National Museum at
washington. In the evening he read
to Mrs. Washington in her room q
sermon or some portion of Scripture.