Evening star., 1922-07-08
FIRST. PRESIDENTS
VIEW OF RELIGION.
Letter Quoted Showing His
Firm Belief in Doctrine
of Christianity.

That George Washington had q firm
belief in the Christian doctrine seems
shown in a letter written by him, re-
Gently discovered.
In 1889, Washington. having just
been elected President. the general
convention of the Episcopal Church
then in session. adopted resolutions
congratulating him. which were for
warded to Washington at 1ndepend- :
ence Hall. Philadelphia, from Old
Christ Church. where the church con-
vention was sitting. Washington re-
piled under date of August 1s: 1883,
in a communication in which the re-
igiouS note is clear
Text of the Letter.
This letter, which has just been
found in the records OF the Episcopal
Church. is as follows:
ITO the Bishops. Clergy and Laity
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the States of New York. New Jersey.
Pennsylvania. Delaware. Maryland,
Virginia and South Carolina, in Gen
eral Convention Assembled:
Gentlemen: I sincerely thank you
for your affectiorate congratulations
on my election to the chief magistracy
of the United States
After having received from my fell
low citizens in general the most lib
eral treatment-after having found
them disposed to contemplate in the
most flattering point Of view the per,
formance of my military services. and
the manner of my retirement at the
close of the war-1 feel that I have d
right to console myself. in my pres
ent arduouS undertaking, with the
hope that they will still be inclined to
put the most favorable construction
on the motives which may influence
me in my future public transactions.
Guide for Future Conduct.
"The satisfaction arising from the
indulgent opinion entertained by the
American people of my conduct will,
/ trust, be some security for pre-
venting me from doing anything
which might justly incur the for
feiture of that opinion. And the con-
sideration that human happiness and
moral duty are inseparably connect
ed will always continue to prompt
me to promote the progress of the
former, by inculcating the purities.
''On this occasion it would Ill be-
come mo to conceal the Joy l have
felt in perceiving the fraternal at
fection which appears to increase
every day among the friends OF
genuine religion. 1t affords edifying
prospects, indeed, to see Christians
gether in more charity and conduct
themselves, in respect to each other.
with more Christianlike spirit than
ever they have done in any former
age, OK in any nation.
Extension Of Genuine Religion.
Il receive. with the greatest sat-
fsfaction. your congratulations on
the esta blishment of the new con-
stitution of government, because I
believe its mild. yet efficient, opera
1ions will tend to remove every re-
manning apprehension of those with
whose opinions I may not entirely
coincide. as we'll as to confirm the
hopes of its numerous friends, and
because the moderation. patriotism
and wisdom of the present federal
Legislature seem to promise the
restoration of order and our ancient
virtues-the extension of genuine re-
ligion-and the consequent advance
ment of our respectability abroad
and of our substantial happiness at
home.
i request. most reverend and REL
spectacle gentlemen. that you will
accept my cordial thanks for your
devout supplications to the Supreme
Ruler of the universe in behalf OF
me- May you. and the people whom
you represent, be happy subjects Of
Divine benediction both here and
hereafter. G. WASHINGTON"