Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-07
Faith of Our Presidents

Edgar c. Snyder -

States thus tar all but two Will go INTO bograpni-
| cal annals as Christian church members, The
exceptions are Thomas Jefferson and AndEew
| Johnson. Jefferson, thought by many 10 be IN
different to churches, being known as a liberal
in his views, while not connected as COM
mupicant with any denomination, is set down
by his most intimate friends as believer in the
Christian religion. He was a believer, but any
thing but sectarian Andrew Johnson called
himself Methodist, but he was not a member
OF the church. He attended that church some
times with his wife, who was devoted member.
Washington, Madison, Monroe, William H.
Harrison. Tyler, and Taylor all of whom were
born in Virginia, where the Episcopal church
was the leading denomination in the early days
of the republic, we're members of that church;
two other presidents Franklin Pierce and Arthur,
were also Episcopaans John Adams and his
son, John Quincy Adams Fillmore, and Taft
are aligned as Unitsrians The first Of the Pres
byterian presidents was Jackson, followed by
Polk, Buchanan Lincoln, Cleveland, Benjamin
Harrison and Wilson Grant, Hayes, and Nc
Kinley were Methodists. Van Buren, and Roose-
church. Garfield belonged 10 the Disciples sect,
commonly known as the Campbellte church.
That the presidents were believers in the
goodness and omnpotence of God is testified in
the public uterances of nearly every one of them.
Jefferson, who account of the established
church" the CHURCH of England now known as
the Protestant Episcopal church. being pre-
dominant in Virginia affairs and threatening, as
in the mother country, to rule the state, intro
duced and had passed by the Virginia legislature
the freedom-of-worship act. He regarded that
as one thing he would. be willing to have in
cluded in his epitaph for it enabled people to
be freed from constrant to observe religion
not theirs, religion, as he regarded the EpisA
oopal church, of the aristocracy Just about
a year before his death, Jefferson, in letter to
a Young namesake, admonished him: adore
God. Reverence and cherish your parents. Be
just. Be true. Love your neghbor as yourself.
Murmur not at the ways of Providence. So
shall the life into which you have entered be
the portal to one of eternal and neffable bliss"
The fathers of our country were, as whole,
a deeply religious group of men. The makers
and signers of the Declaration of Independence,
concluding that immortal document appealed to
the Supreme Judge of the World" for the recti-
tude Of their intentions. John Jay, afterward the
first chief justice of the United States supreme
court, was an exemplar Of the pious state of
| mind in which the first American patriots ap-
preached the solution of the problems which
brought liberty and independence to the colonies.
convention Of New York. patriots and in an ap-
peal which throughout breathed conservation
of heart to God and country, said in conclusion:
We believe and are persuaded that you will
do your duty like men, and cheerfully refer your
cause to the great and righteous. Judge. If sue.
cess crowns your efforts, all the blessings Of
free men will be your reward. If you fall in
the contest, You will be happy with God in
heaven" :
Two OF the presidents, Cleveland, and Will
son, had fathers who were Presbyterian minis
tiers, and they, too, were of the faith of their
fathers. The republican candidate for president
is also the son Of minister. His father, David
Hughes was for many years pastor Of the Baptist
church at Glenn Falls N ~, and there his son.,
Charles Evans Hughes, when a boy, joined the
church. When young Hughes went to Brown
university II was with the expectation of his
parents and himself that he would fit himself
for the ministry But his mind was of a different
mould His aspirations and reading and observa-
ton led him to choose ahe law for profession.
Ardently fond Of his profession, he chung to the
church of his family and throughout his career
has been an active worker and a prominent lay
man, teaching, in Sunday schools and working
actively with the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. In New York. Mr.. Hughes was member
of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, of which
while he was a member the pastor, former
cassmate at Brown university, was Rev DR.. Viii
liam H. P. Faunce, now president of the univer-,
sty There Mr.. Hughes taught Bible class of
young men, and when. be relinquished it for his
duties as governor Of New York. he was sue
ceeded by JohneD, Rockefeller, jr. Six years
ago, when he came to Washington to take his
place as member Of the United States supreme
court, he transferred his connection from the
New York church to Calvary Baptist church in
Washington Justice Hughes became almost
as active member of the Washington church as
he was in his home church. He presided over the
Baptist convention in Washington of the north
ern churches two years ago and made notable
address. He also made memorable address two
years ago at the celebration of the thirty
anniversary OF the founding of Calvary church
The venerable Rev. DR.. Samuel H. Greene, who
has been thirty years the pastor of that
church, deprecating the idea Of being quoted, said
to your correspondent Eyes, Mr.. Hughes has
always been an active Baptist. He has attended
our church regularly He has worked for the
church ardent1y. But with all his sectarian pre-
disposition you will find in his speeches and
addresses having to do with church work a
broad and liberal spirit toward other peoples and
denominations" ~
lust ten years ago. Mr.. Hughes was nomi-
mated by the republicans for governor of New
York. Just ten yeats ,ago this week, he des
livered an address to the Young Men's Christian
Association OF New York City at the Fifth Ave-
nue. church. The address had been booked for
him before he was nominated for office. 1t
showed perhaps better than anything else he
has had to say OF Christian duty what manner
of piety was his. He was then candidate for
office for the first time in his life The exordium
OF his speech was to dismiss all political sug-
geston, He talked in simple heart-to-heart,
conversational way with the thousands Of young
men gathered to hear him. He spoke of the
glittering opportunities for success in life prof
fered young men in New York. and urged them
in striving for prizes to lead clean, honest,
manly lives. t&a
There is one thing more important than any
thing else" he said, "and that is, that within you
shN he tad t uh can