The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-01

| liberty of conscience insecure. !
beg you will be persuaded that no
one would be more Jealous than
myself to establish effectual bar
riers against the horrors OF spirit
ual tyranny and every species Of
religious persecution"
In December, 1889, President
Washington wrote letter to the
Roman Catholics in the United
states in which he said "As man
kind becomes more liberal, they
will be more apt to allow, that all
those. who conduct themselves as
worthy members OF the commun-
ity. are equally entitled to the pro.
lection OF civil government. I hope
ever to see America among the
foremost nations In examples Of
Justice and liberality. And pre-
sumo, that your fellow. citizens
will not forget the patriotic part.
which you took In the accomplish.
ment OF their revolution and the
esta blishment Of their government.
they received from q nation in
which the Roman Catholic religion
is professed."
Recognized Ouakers
The first president In q com.
munication to the Religious So
ciety Called Quakers" at the year.
ly meeting In 1889 said, 1.-THE lib.
erty enjoyed by the people Of these
states; of worshipping Almighty
God agreeably to their consciences.
In not only among the choicest OF
their blessings, but also Of their
rights"
TO the Hebrew Congregation Of
the City Of Savannah Washington
wrote, II rejoice that q spirit Of
liberslity and philanthropy is
much more prevalent than It form
erly was among the enlightened
nations Of the earth, and that
your brethren will benefit thereby
In proportion as II shall become
still more extensive"
Dated 1880 q letter to the con-
vention Of the Universal church
expressed Washington's hope that
"all members OF every association
or community, throughout the
United States, may make such
use OF the suspicious years Of
peace, liberty. and free inquiry.
with which they are now favored,
as they shall hereafter find occas..
ion to rejoice for having done"
The following year he wrote a let
ter to the Congregational church
and Society of Midway In the
state of George asserting that vir-
tue insures free and equal gov
eminent. Piety, philanthropy,
honesty, industry and economy are
"for advancing and confirming the
ha Al "A aoo Af n,,r cAMnt ,-v'p In let
ter to the general assembly Of the
Presbyterian church In the United
States. dated 1889.
To Episcopal Church
President Washington in 1888
wrote to the bishops. clergy and
laity of the Protestant Episcopal
church ut affords edifying pros
poets, to see Christians of different
denominations dwell together in
more charity, and conduct them
selves in respect to each other
with a more Christian-like spirit,
than ever they have done In any
former age, or in any other ma
ton" To the Synod Of the Re-
formed Dutch church In North
America he wrote praising their
exertions "to preserve that har-
mony and good will towards men.
which must be the basis OF every
political establishment"
Other letters in the group show
washington's opinion of "the ex-
cellent character Of the Germans
In general; his belief In Christian
precepts and their Importance 10
the welfare of the nation; his OPP
position ito any kind Of restraint
upon religious principles; and his
hope. expressed in letter to the
Marquis de Lafayette. that plan
Of federation in religious matters
might meet success In France.