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George Washington and religion

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George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799) commanded America's war for independence (1775–1783), and was the first President of the United States, from 1789 to 1797. Because of his central role in the founding of the United States, Washington is often called the "Father of his Country". His devotion to republicanism and civic virtue made him an exemplary figure among early American politicians. Historians and biographers continue to debate the degree to which he can be considered a follower of the Christian religion, and the degree to which he was a deist.

George Washington was baptized as an infant into the Church of England[2][3]. Until the American Revolution the Church of England was the state religion of Virginia[4], and as a young man he served as a member of the vestry (lay council) for his local parish. Throughout his life, he spoke of the value of righteousness, and of seeking and offering thanks for the "blessings of Heaven". In a letter to George Mason in 1785, he wrote that he was not among those alarmed by a bill "making people pay towards the support of that [religion] which they profess", but felt that it was "impolitic" to pass such a measure, and wished it had never been proposed, believing that it would disturb public tranquility.[5]

Washington was a firm believer in the importance of religion for republican government. While he declined suggested versions[6] of his 1796 Farewell Address that would have included statements that there could be no morality without religion, the final version remarked that most people do need religion for morality, that national morality is necessary for good government, and that politicians should cherish religion's support of national morality:

Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?

Washington sometimes accompanied his wife to Christian church services; however, there is no record of his ever becoming a communicant in any Christian church, and he would regularly leave services before communion—with the other non-communicants. When Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, mentioned in a weekly sermon that those in elevated stations set an unhappy example by leaving at communion, Washington ceased attending at all on communion Sundays. Long after Washington died, when asked about Washington's beliefs, Abercrombie replied: "Sir, Washington was a Deist!"[7] Though Washington often spoke of God and Providence, there is little if any reliable source material for quotes by him containing the words Jesus, Christ, or Christianity. Various prayers said to have been composed by him in his later life are highly edited.[7][8] An unfinished book of copied Christian prayers attributed to him (as a youth) by a collector (around 1891) was rejected by the Smithsonian Institution for lack of authenticity [9] although it has not been dismissed altogether by some in the Christian community. His adopted daughter, Nelly Custis-Lewis, in response to a request for evidence that Washington was a Christian, wrote, "I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief in Christianity. His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, that they may be seen of men." [10] He did not ask for any clergy on his deathbed, though one was available. His funeral services [11] were those of the Freemasons, an organization most branches of which require only that members believe in a Supreme Being, regardless of other religious membership[12].

Washington was an early supporter of religious pluralism. In 1775, he ordered that his troops not engage in the anti-Catholic demonstration of burning the pope in effigy on Guy Fawkes Night. When hiring workmen for Mount Vernon, he wrote to his agent that he cared not if the workers were Mohammedans, Jews, Christians of any sect, or Atheists, as long as they were good workers.[7] As president in 1790, he published a letter written to Jewish leaders in which he envisioned a country "which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance... May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid." [13]

Footnotes

1. ^ Valley Forge Prayer - Legend or Fact?
2. ^ Family Bible entry http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/26/hh26f.htm
3. ^ Image of page from family Bible http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/project/faq/bible.html
4. ^ Colonial Williamsburg website has 4 articles on religion in colonial Virginia
5. ^ Letter to George Mason regarding Memorial and Remonstrance
6. ^ Library of Congress - see Farewell Address section
7. ^ a b c The Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents by Franklin Steiner
8. ^ Six Historic Americans by John Remsburg
9. ^ http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/henriques/hist615/steiner.htm
10. ^ [1] Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis' letter written to Jared Sparks, 1833
11. ^ George Washington Papers
12. ^ Freemasonry and Religion
13. ^ Letter (in reply) to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, 1790 http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/hebrew/reply.html. This letter, penned by his personal secretary, Tobias Lear, was signed by Washington.