New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-02
GEORGE WASHINGTON: CHRISTIAN,
Much Testimony Cited to Prove Him Bs,
Believer and Commitment
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


SIR: In The Tribune OF to-day, January "A
under the heading. THE Founders and Chr,
tianity,' you publish a letter by H.C.E
which he endeayors 70 prove that WasbiD.
ton was in no sense a Christian. his ehu,..
connections notwithstanding. Let me cal
your attention to the book entitled, "GeOrs.
Washington; Christian one OF the serie, ~
"Stories Of Cross and Flag by the Rev
John Stockton Littell, d. d.. author Of 9Th.
Historians and the English Reformstion.7
In refutaton Of II. c. Els statement ,h,,
Washington twas in no sense Christians
etc, ! submit few extracts from tho m.
merous quotations given in DR.. Littelps book
I'm the General Orders for May ms
Washington wrote: While we are zealou,l,
performing the duties Of citizens and So.
diers, we certainly ought not 70 be matte,
tive TO the higher duties Of religion. To "a,
character Of patriot IL should
be our highest glory to add the more dis,n.
gushed character of Christian
an a letter to the Governors OF the STATE,
in 1888 he says: u make 70 my earnest prave.
that God would have YOU and the state owe,
which you preside in his holy protection"
In the course of the above letter Washirg
ton makes reference 10 "the Divine Author q.
our blessed religion, without an humble I'M.
tation Of Whose example in these thing,
charity. humility ard pacific temper Of mind
we can never hope TO be a happy nation"
"'Washngton left in the library Of Mount
Vernon a manuscript book Of private prayer.
for daily use, which he entitled "Tbc Dsir
Sacrifice" II is entirely IN hs own hard
writing. and the occasional intcrlneatiom
and cancellations indicate that 10 was his cg,
composition and prepared for his own usel'
Prom these daily prayers .a.s is an e..
tract:
"'Mark not, ! bescoch Thee what have
done amiss; remember I am but dust, and re.
NIT my transgressions. negligeHccs and IL.
noranccs, and cover them all with the abso.
Lutte obedience of Thy Dear SON"
Dr.. Littell says: 1--WE have it ON the les.
timony of his lWashingtons) political and
military associates and members Of his IAN.
lily that for many years he was accustomed
70 make his commuuious The witnesses 90
the fact are General Porterield. his aid. and
Major Popham and some others Of n sec
ondary value. Mrs. Washingtons Crsnddaugh-
ter. who lived for twenty years in the Wash,
ington family, wrote: y have heard my,
mother say General Washington always rel
ceived the Sacrament with my graHdmother
before the Revolution The superin.
teudent at Mount Vernon has done my read.
ers the kindness Of copying from the manu-.
script the following interesting letter from
Major Popham to Mrs. j. Washington:
"'Ncw York March -. 1892
"Ny dear Madame: ... 70 was ny
great good fortune 10 have attended ST. Pau'i
Church, in this city. with the General during
the whole period Of his residence In New
York. as President Of the United States. The
pew Of Chief Justice Morris was situated
west to that Of the President close TO whom
I sat in Judge Morris's pew, and am conf.
dent as a memory, now laborlug under the
pressure Of fourscore years and seven. cen
make me that the President bad morc thr
once. ! believe may say often. attended r.
the sacramental table. "a. which 4 bad The
privilege and happiness 20 knee. with him
And am aided in my assertion by my cIdeS
dauchtcr. who distinctly recollects hearing
her grandmamma, Mrs Morris, often mention
that fact with great pleasure. Indeed an
further confirmed in my assurance by tae|
perfect recollection of the Presidents un'
form department during divine service ~
church. The steady seriousness Of manner
the solemn. audible but subducd tone OF voice
with which he read and repeated The re-
sponses. the Christian humility which OYER
spread and adorned the native dignity Of n,
"Savior of His Country" at once exhibited
him a pattcrn 20 all who viewed him. ne
pride and delight Of all who had access 70
him.
cit was my good fortune. my dear MADAME
TO have had frequent intercourse with hu
1t is my pride and boast 10 have seen him p
various situations I'm The flush OF victory
the hour Of defeat, In the field and DO Pc
tent. i'm the church and az the altar aiH'N
himself ever the same.
always your most obcdient
"'W. p0Dram
"oTo Mrs. J. Washington, Mount Vernon
NJ G.. DT BOS
New York. Jan. 30. 1917.