Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1932-02-11
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE
RELIGIOUS LIFE.

George Washington provides an In.
teresting study. It Is evident in nearly
everything the man did, but especially
Is 1t striking in his military service
during the Revolution and In his pub.
lie communications during his admin.
istration as the First President of this
country.
In his youth George Washington
was probably as thoughtlessly con-
cerned over religion as are most young
naoDle. Nothing has been recorded Of
any particular church service he rem
dered during his young manhood
However, as commanding officer OF
the Virginia militia on the frontie,
during the Indian troubles OF that sec
ton, Washington evinced a pro-
nounced appreciation for religion. He
wrote many insistent letters to Gov
ernor Dinwiddie requesting chap
lain for his troops.
Troops Ordered to Prayer.
AT Fort Loudoun, Winchester, vir-
ginia, when he was twenty-four years
old, the young Colonel ordered that
1.-THE men parade tomorrow morning
at beating the long roll, with their
arms and ammunition clean and in
good order, and to be marched by the
sergeants of the respective companies
to the Fort, there to remain until
prayers are over" When some of his
officers appeared negligent in this
matter he issued still more emphatic
orders to the same effect. Thereafter,
Sunday services among these frontier
troops was a standing order.
Perhaps after his marriage Wash
ington was influenced to some extent
in his church attendance by Mrs.
Washington. While no positive state
ment can be made to this effect, 1t
nevertheless appears likely from a
study of the records, that Washing
tons attendance. 1T church became a
bit more consistent after his marriage.
In those of his diaries which have
been preserved covering the time he
was at Mount Vernon, there is a
record of washington's attendance at
church, either at Pohick or Christ
Church in Alexandria on an average
of once a month. From this time for
ward, Washington attended church
wherever possible. AS vestryman of
both Pohick and Christ Church, he
was concerned in administrative af-
fairs of the church.
TASTED All lay
An interesting incident with regard
to Washington's religious life is the
fact that on June !, 1774, the day the
Boston Port Bill became effective,
Washington recorded in his diary that
he went to church and tasted all
day" This was, in accordance with
the proclamation issued by the House
of Rurgesses.
Throughout the Revolution, even
when hope ebbed to the depths, Wash
ington believed that Providence was
directing the affairs Of America. He
knew better than any other man the
great difficulties which stood in the
way Of success. Better than any one
else he knew that the cause had been
saved from ruin by some event totally
unexpected when 1t appeared that no
human effort could rescue 1t.
No finer attitude of tolerance for
other mems faiths and beliefs has ever
been given than that Of George Wash
ingtons. Always he opposed persecu-
ton of any nature, and insisted that
it was mems right to worship God as
he saw fit. The true worth of George
Washingtons religion is expressed In
his last words which he breathed with
the greatest of difficulty, II felt from
the first, that the disorder would
prove fatal /. but 1 am not afraid
to CO."