Evening star., 1955-02-22
An Important Book in Woshington's Life
By 0Iaa Jones

PURPOSES. All UdIlkS 4OOk ike LIldC a6
MONDAY.
But at Virginiais "Oldest National
Bank" in Alexandra. on this particular
day, the visit of two persons to the in
stitution was different. One was Epis-
copal Rector B. B. Conner Lille of Christ
Church: the other was this writer. We
had no money to deposit; no checks to
cash. We went directly to the banks
secluded vault.
There a common looking bundle
wrapped in old brown paper and tied
with string was lifted from a shelf. A
bank official carried the somewhat
dusty parcel to table and left it with
the two visitors.
The rector carefully unwrapped the
package and revealed Bible. 1t was
worn and irreplaceable book that was
a gift at the turn of the 10th cen
tury to Christ Church. Few people ever
see this Bible. know its whereabouts or
even know of its existence. It can be
viewed only by sort of special dispen-
sation.
This good book kept in the vault for
more than quarter of century was
George Washington's family Bible at
Mount Vernon.
In the upper righthand corner of the
first blank page. written in the gen.
erals handwriting, is the following:
George Washington,
Mount Vernon,
Virginia.
On the same page is an inscription
written by another hand, that Of
George Washington's adopted son, the
grandson of Mrs Washington.
Presented to the Parish of Fairfax
by George Washington Parke Gusts Of
Mount Washington. 18th of April, 1904,
The Family Bible Of Genl. Washington
used at Mt Vernon"
At that time the Parish of Fairfax"
was Christ Church in Alexandria. This
Episcopal church. now often called
George Washington's church." was
built during the years 1767-73. Just
five years after George Washingtons
death. Christ Church received that
family Bible used at Mount Vernon.
The gift is kept in the First and Citi-
zens National Bank vault in Alexan-
dria.
1t took General Washington a long
time to get his family Bible. He seems
to have ordered it one year. and re-
ceived it the next. Among items found
on an invoice for Mount Vernon. July
Is. 1772," is: "A large Family Bible
bound in Morocco with Cuts"
But on the Bibles title page in what
appears to- be Washington's handwrit-
ing is this notation, 18th 1773." In any
case in those days it would have taken a
lot of time to print and bind Bible;
get it safely across the ocean, and up
the Potomac to Mount Vernon. Orig
inal papers indicate that Washington
sent to his London agents only twice
a year the lists of items he wanted
imported.
In cautiously turning the now fragile
pages of this priceless volume, one feels
that there must be f1ngerprints Of the
first President all about. There are
many dog-eared pages, a fading pur-
plish ribbon marker and pencil-marked
passages are generously scattered
throughout the big volume.
For example, on page headed, ''Be-
fore Christ 2348 Genesis" is the first
pencil-marked passage. It reads:
These are the three sons of Noah:
and of them was the whole earth over
spread"
Two bold pencil lines are there. What
prompted them we shall never know.
but it seems nice to think that we may
all claim kinship not only with the
three sons of Noah, but through them,
with the Father of His Country.
The Gospel of St. Luke contains a
number of marked passages, including
Chapter 4, Verse 32 "And they were
astonished at his doctrine: for his word
was with power" Also, Chapter 6, Verse
20, And he lifted up his eyes on his
disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor:
for yours is the kingdom of God" And
thus throughout the Old and New
Testaments this Bible bears witness to
its quarter century of service at Wash
ington's Mount Vernon.
The hard covers of this big book
measure approximately II by 18 inches.
They are of purplish red color with
dainty, lacy, gold decorations. Type
faces are large and sharp. Fascinating
lines and flourishes adorn the title
page, which carries these words: "The
HOLY BIBLE containing the OLD
TESTAMENT and THE NEW with the
APOCRYPHA: Translated out Of the
ORIGINAL TONGUES with Annota-
tions."
There are dramatic illustrations Of
Biblical events. Adam and Eve driven
out of Paradise" says the caption un-
der one of the drawings. Two others
give the artists conception of the cru
cifixion of Christ
This quaint old Bible. printed by
John Baskerville. in Birmingham. Eng
land, is not to be confused with two
other Bibles which played roles in
Washington's life. One was his mothers
Bible. In this book is hand-written
entry which records:
George Washington. son Of Angus
tine and Mary his wife was born on