The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-13
WASHINGTON,y RELIGION.
May Have Been Q Deist, Net Communi
cant Or Frequent ChuPchgoer.

To THE EDITOR o. THE suN-StS: The
recent letter OF the Rev. Or. AcKim 81
Washington raised an interesting histUri-
cal question In regard to George WASH
ington. There are two sides to II.
have not seen the publication TO which
was deist, but take II for granted that
the assertion was based on Jeffersons
statement In his diary that Governor
Morris. washngton's closest friend, told
him that such was the case. No one will
claim that Jefferson invented this story
or that Morris did not believe what he
said TO be true. And II may be true.
without. as Or. McKim says. convictine
Washington OF either deceit or hypocrisy.
Washington was brought up an Episco-
palian, for only that sect was permitted
TO worship in Virginia. but he entered
public life at . time when tho ablest
men were changing both their political
and religious views. Franklin. Jefferson.
Marshall, Madison, John Adams. Morris
and others had discarded orthodox
theology and were deistio or Unitarian
In their beliefs.
II 10 not at all impossible that WASH
ington In his later years came to agree
with them. His attitude then toward
church observanccs tends strongly TO in
dictate that such was the case. and the
position taken by the Episcopal Church
tOWaru tno TevOlutiOn WeS NOT buCn es 10
commend II TO 90 ardent a patriot. Tho
Rev. DR., Mcconnell the distinguished
rector OF Trinity Church. Brooklyn. the
latest and ablest historian OF the Ameri-
can Episcopal Church says Il was solidly
Tory. that after the war Il was for some
time n question whether It would not be-
come extinct.
The evidence cited by DR.. McKim to
prove that Warrington was a communi-
cant OF the Episcopal Church Is Of the
weakest character. One old man Of 81,
who questions his own memory. thinks
he saw Washington partake In New
York, and a General Porterfeld says he
saw him do SO In Philadelphia but this
testimony is negatived by Bishop white.
a much moro competent and reliable
witness DIR. Mckim naturally fails to
give Whites testimony fully. lie not
only says positively that Washington
never went to communion but that he
rebuked him for II, and that after that
Washington never went to church on
communion Sunday. Furthermore, Nelly
Custis says that on communion Sunday
she and Mrs. Washington always went
alone, and washineton's diary as given
by Ford shows that he went to church
about once month.
This discussion began only about thirty
years after washington's death, and at
that time the rector Of Christ Church
Alexandria. where Washington had a
pew. asked to get evidence that
Washington was communicate. The
rector replied that no could find none
Urged to make further effort he said
that diligent inquiry among Washing
tons friends and neighbors had failed to
disclose a single one who had ever seen
him at the communion. That ought to
be conclusive. Throwing further light
on the subject Is the fact that he omitted
in his will the customary Trinitarian
formula. and that though he had ample
time and WAS aware of his approaching
end he asked for no rites OF the Church
and sent for no clergyman. Hardly what
would DO expected from the ardent church,
man he 10 represented to have been.
The late Moncure d. Conway. the able
virginian writer and historian. has dis.
cussed this question fully. and there Is
a good deal OF other published matter in
regard to It, STUDENT.
WAsHINGToN, March H.