Evening star., 1952-04-21

impressions Of Washington cree
churches offended BY Presidents Of the
United Stotes.
perity, religion and morality arr
indispensable supports. In vail
would that man claim the tribute
Of patriotism, who should labou
to subvert these great pillars O
human happiness, these flrmes
props Of the duties of men ant
citizens. The mere politician
equally with the pious man, ought
to respect and to cherish them
Let it simply be asked where i
the security for property. for rep,
utation, for life, If the sense o
religious obligation desert tn,
oaths, which are the instrument.
of investigation in courts of JUS
tice? And let us with caution in
dulge the Supposition, that mo-
rality can be maintained without
religion. Whatever may be con.
ceded to the influence Of refined
education on minds Of peculiar
structure; reason and experience
both forbid us to expect that ma
tional morality can prevail in
exclusion of religious principle. =.
80. I hold the maxim no less
applicable to public than to pri-
vate affairs, that honesty is always
the best policy"
The first President wrote those
words in his Farewell Address
In 1896.
On a recent Sunday morning,
the choir at Christ Church
George WaShington'S Church
sang with cordial note. the old
song, Welcome, Happy Morning !
Age to Age Shall Say"
Age to age? There seemed two
meanings that morning: Youth,
and maturity, which made up the
choir of children and adults, and
the congregation of all ages. And
"age to age" meaning from gen.
Grafton to generation. So George
Washington, from his generation
of pioneering, speaks to our gen.
Grafton and to those to come, call
ing religion and morality great
pillars of human happiness and
'firmest props of the duties Of men
and citizens"
Thousands Visit Church.
Literally thousands upon thou
sands of people from all over the
country, all over the world, come
to visit Christ Church in Alex
Andria. Many are young people
from our schools and colleges. II
seems in keeping that the hostess
before any group Of visitors leave
this sanctuary, says to them:
II think it will be very nice il
you will all bow your heads ano
say a little silent prayer for the
protection of this wonderful coun-
try of ours, its armed forces
throughout the world; and that q
just and lasting peace may be
secured"
In it's earliest years. Christ
Church was sometimes called ''the
church in the woods" which was
true: for what there was Of Alex
andria then nestled along the
Potomac Rivera port of entry
without much spreading inland.
The church indeed was built
among the trees. real distance
from the Potomac in those walk
ing, Notwithstanding days.
The building, still standing al
the corner Of Columbus anc
Cameron streets, was begun il
1857, and completed six years
later. It's original cost was ap-
proximately 800 pounds. 1t ha!
been in continuous use since those
Colonials days. But the congrega.
ton dates back to as early as IT'S.
200 years ago-when the grouI
worshiped in an older part O.
Alexandra.
Pew No. so in Christ Church
was owned by George Washington
from the time the church wa!
opened for service until his death
He paid the highest price brought
for any pew sold-36 pounds, II
shillingS.
President Washington's pew i
marked with a silver plate bearins
o facsimile of the signature. &C
Washington" He was a member
even when the church was a par
of the Church of England, and ont
of the first vestrymen. Following
the Revolutionary War. tn
Church of England in the Ameri
can Colonies took the new nam'
of the Protestant Episcopa
Church in the United States o
America.
Tablet HOnors Washington.
AS one sits in a pew in Chris
Church. facing the pulpit. he see
on a white marble tablet to tn
left of the pulpit. the words. III
memory Of George Washington.
On a large panel nearby
bold and beautiful lettering, blac
on q white background turne
rather golden by years-are
"Our Father which art in HEAVIER
Hallowed be thy name. Fo
thine is the kingdom, and tn
power, and the glory, for ever an
ever, Amen"
Following the complete Lord
Prayer. are The Apostles Creet
and then. The Golden Rule.
The lettering was done 1s