Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-05

WHERE THE PRESIDENTS WENT TO CHURCH


Church congregation in its first meeting place.
q remodeled tobacco barn on New jersey ave-
nue., near the Capitol.
James Madison, like John Adams, in his
youth prepared for the ministry, studying
theology and Hebrew. He lived to take modest
pride in the fact that he was responsible for
the act Of federation in the Virginia Constitu-
ton. That he was well qualified to espouse
freedom Of conscience is demonstrated by his
biographer, William c. Rivers, who says: HE
explored the whole history and evidences of
Christianity on every side, through clouds of
witnesses and champions for and against, from
the fathers and schoolmen down to the infdeI
philosophers Of the eighteenth century"
loyal communicate of the Episcopal
Church, Madison was the first of the Chief
Magistrates to attend st. Johns Church,
across Lafayette Park from the White House.
Built in 1916, the work Of Benjamin Latrobe,
architect of the Capitol the structure has been
amended and embellshed but not greatly al
tered since its dedication. when Madison
graciousy accepted the use of the place which
ever since has been called "the Presidents
pew" He also sometimes went to Christ
Church.
Mrs. Madison, the former Mrs. Dorothy
Payne Todd was brought up Quaker She
has position of her own, as Dolly Madison, in
the story of her country. Beautiful, talented
and gentle, she was an ideal hostess, an Ameri-
can queen. As mistress Of the White House she
was renowned for her charities; certain morn
ings of each week were set aside for visits to
the poor of the city. She remained Quaker,
though married according to Episcopal rites.
until long after the close Of her husbands
second term; then she was confirmed at st.
Johns. Her public life spanned nearly half q
century, and included the administrations Of
nine Presidents" Her funeral from St. Johns.
July Is, 1848 marked the end of q social epoch
I,o-
name
James Monroe came of Scotch Presbyterian
stock. His ancestors had participated in the
religious wars of the Old World His first
American progenitor, Andrew Monroe had fed
from Maryland after the so-called Claiborne
and Ingle troubles There were at least two
clergymen who were members of the family.
The future Presidents parents almost certainly
we're loyal Presbyterians but Monroe was reared
in an Episcopal atmosphere and eventually be-
>ame q communicant of that church. Still later
he was influenced by George Wythe and
Thomas Jefferson, and adopted some of their
liberal views. In Paris he opened his home to
Thomas Paine, the Deist, when the author Of
1.-THE Age of Reason" was ILL., But he did not
cease to worship according to the Episcopal
ritual Perhaps he was not particularly inter-
ested in theological controversy. In any case.
he followed his predecessors example and was
regular attendant at st. Johns and at Christ
Church while President. man of singular
purity Of character, Jefferson said of him.
James Monroe is so perfectly honest that If
his soul were turned inside out. there would not
be found spo. on it
~ father, was a Unitarian. Perhaps the best
educated man ever to attain the presidency
he was as deeply interested in mathematics as
in theology, but nothing took precedence in
his mind over practical social ethics. keen
Bible student, he was particularly concerned
about the Scriptures as guide to conduct In
his journals he writes of the affairs of his soul
"in as detailed a manner as the affairs of
state"
The sixth Chief Executive was one of the
founders Of All Souls Church. on Sixteenth
street. built during his administration. Pre-
viously he had attended Unitarian chapel
which occupied the site of the present WASH
ingtOn Police Court An habitual churchgoer."
he also freQuented ST. Johns and the Second,
0vic Christ Church, in Alexandra. where
he first President attended services.
II