Presidents and Faith: George Washington
This month's theme is inspired by a recent series of lectures from the Great Courses series given by Professor Robert Oden of Carleton College, entitled God and Mankind: Comparative Religions. In the final lecture entitled "Bringing it All Back Home", Professor Oden noted how many Presidents have viewed their election to the office as some sort of divine calling.For example, he quotes George Washington, who said that he felt that America was part of God’s plan, or how Abraham Lincoln saw the Civil War as a test of some covenant with God for the United States to be an example to the world.
Most Presidents have taken their oath of office on a bible, and have injected a quote from the bible into their inaugural addresses. Professor Odin noted how these inaugural addresses frequently use the theme of the providential destiny of the nation. In some cases, Presidents have experienced changes of heart regarding their religious beliefs, or at least in the public expression of those beliefs, leading many to speculate on whether these changes are motivated by divine inspiration or political pragmatism. With this in mind, this topic seems like a worthwhile one. With this in mind, let us begin with the first president.
Washington's religious beliefs have been the subject of debate among historians for centuries. He was baptized as a child into the Church of England, which, until 1776, was the established church of Virginia. For his entire life he was affiliated with the Anglican Church, later called the Episcopal Church. Washington served as a vestryman and as church warden for both Fairfax Parish in Alexandria and Truro Parish. At the time, these types of positions required the office holders to swear they would not speak or act in a way that did not conform to the tenets of the Church.
In his correspondence, Washington often used words such as "God" and "Providence". He rarely if ever publicly referred to "Jesus" or to "Christ." Historian Gregg Frazer has argued that Washington was what Gregg calls a "theistic rationalist", meaning that he was someone who rejected core beliefs of Christianity, such as the divinity of Christ, the Trinity and original sin, but who believed in the value of prayer to God. A contrary view is that of Historian Peter A. Lillback, who maintains that Washington was a Christian who believed in the core beliefs of Christianity.
When he was the commander of the army, and later as president, Washington was a vigorous supporter of tolerance for all religious denominations. As the highest ranking general in his army, he expressed the belief that religion was an important support for public order, morality and virtue. He often attended services of different denominations and suppressed anti-Catholic celebrations in the Army.
Washington frequently accompanied his wife to church services. There are conflicting reports about whether or not he took communion. According to the written recordings of ministers from four of the churches he attended, Washington would regularly leave services before communion. When he was admonished by the Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia for this, Washington ceased attending that church on communion Sundays.
Ron Chernow, one of Washington's leading biographers, said of Washington's religious views:
"There has been a huge controversy, to put it mildly, about Washington's religious beliefs. Before the Revolutionary War he was Anglican—Church of England—which meant after the war, he was Episcopalian. So, he was clearly Christian. He was quite intensely religious, because even though he uses the word Providence, he constantly sees Providence as an active force in life, particularly in American life. I mean, every single victory in war he credits to Providence. The miracle of the Constitutional Convention he credits to Providence. The creation of the federal government and the prosperity of the early republic, he credits to Providence. I was struck at how frequently in his letters he's referring to Providence, and it's Providence where there's a sense of design and purpose, which sounds to me very much like religion. Unfortunately, this particular issue has become very very politicized."
The extent of Washington's religious beliefs remain unresolved, in part due to the fact that Washington did not reveal his belief or nonbelief in his diaries. This is in keeping with his practice of keeping his personal life strictly private.
Washington did speak publicly about the link between religion and morality. In his Farewell Address, Washington said:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. 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."
An article in Time magazine for September 5, 1932, suggested that Washington had been baptized by the Baptist chaplain to the Continental Army John Gano at Valley Forge. Subsequent historians question this assertion. Gano served with another army, not with Washington's and there is nothing in Gano's own correspondence or his biography to suggest that the event took place.
Washington acknowledged a divine hand in the formation of his nation in his first inaugural address, given on April 30, 1789. In the speech he said:
Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station; it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States, a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes: and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency."
In her 2015 book Lafayette in the Somewhat United States (soon to be reviewed in this community), author Sarah Vowell writes at page 197 of an exchange of letters between Washington and the Rabbi of a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, asking if the Bill of Rights would be good for members of the Jewish faith. Washington responded with a letter addressed to the entire congregation, in which, as Vowell put it, Washington explained how the First Amendment "exposed tolerance as a sham, because tolerance implies one superior group of people deigning to put up with their inferiors." Washington wrote:
"It is now no more that tolerance is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily, the government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."
On his death bed, Washington did not summon a minister or priest. After his death, he was buried according to the rite of the Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Thomas Davis, rector of Christ Church, Alexandria, officiating.
Most Presidents have taken their oath of office on a bible, and have injected a quote from the bible into their inaugural addresses. Professor Odin noted how these inaugural addresses frequently use the theme of the providential destiny of the nation. In some cases, Presidents have experienced changes of heart regarding their religious beliefs, or at least in the public expression of those beliefs, leading many to speculate on whether these changes are motivated by divine inspiration or political pragmatism. With this in mind, this topic seems like a worthwhile one. With this in mind, let us begin with the first president.
Washington's religious beliefs have been the subject of debate among historians for centuries. He was baptized as a child into the Church of England, which, until 1776, was the established church of Virginia. For his entire life he was affiliated with the Anglican Church, later called the Episcopal Church. Washington served as a vestryman and as church warden for both Fairfax Parish in Alexandria and Truro Parish. At the time, these types of positions required the office holders to swear they would not speak or act in a way that did not conform to the tenets of the Church.
In his correspondence, Washington often used words such as "God" and "Providence". He rarely if ever publicly referred to "Jesus" or to "Christ." Historian Gregg Frazer has argued that Washington was what Gregg calls a "theistic rationalist", meaning that he was someone who rejected core beliefs of Christianity, such as the divinity of Christ, the Trinity and original sin, but who believed in the value of prayer to God. A contrary view is that of Historian Peter A. Lillback, who maintains that Washington was a Christian who believed in the core beliefs of Christianity.
When he was the commander of the army, and later as president, Washington was a vigorous supporter of tolerance for all religious denominations. As the highest ranking general in his army, he expressed the belief that religion was an important support for public order, morality and virtue. He often attended services of different denominations and suppressed anti-Catholic celebrations in the Army.
Washington frequently accompanied his wife to church services. There are conflicting reports about whether or not he took communion. According to the written recordings of ministers from four of the churches he attended, Washington would regularly leave services before communion. When he was admonished by the Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia for this, Washington ceased attending that church on communion Sundays.
Ron Chernow, one of Washington's leading biographers, said of Washington's religious views:
"There has been a huge controversy, to put it mildly, about Washington's religious beliefs. Before the Revolutionary War he was Anglican—Church of England—which meant after the war, he was Episcopalian. So, he was clearly Christian. He was quite intensely religious, because even though he uses the word Providence, he constantly sees Providence as an active force in life, particularly in American life. I mean, every single victory in war he credits to Providence. The miracle of the Constitutional Convention he credits to Providence. The creation of the federal government and the prosperity of the early republic, he credits to Providence. I was struck at how frequently in his letters he's referring to Providence, and it's Providence where there's a sense of design and purpose, which sounds to me very much like religion. Unfortunately, this particular issue has become very very politicized."
The extent of Washington's religious beliefs remain unresolved, in part due to the fact that Washington did not reveal his belief or nonbelief in his diaries. This is in keeping with his practice of keeping his personal life strictly private.
Washington did speak publicly about the link between religion and morality. In his Farewell Address, Washington said:
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. 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."
An article in Time magazine for September 5, 1932, suggested that Washington had been baptized by the Baptist chaplain to the Continental Army John Gano at Valley Forge. Subsequent historians question this assertion. Gano served with another army, not with Washington's and there is nothing in Gano's own correspondence or his biography to suggest that the event took place.
Washington acknowledged a divine hand in the formation of his nation in his first inaugural address, given on April 30, 1789. In the speech he said:
Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station; it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States, a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes: and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency."
In her 2015 book Lafayette in the Somewhat United States (soon to be reviewed in this community), author Sarah Vowell writes at page 197 of an exchange of letters between Washington and the Rabbi of a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, asking if the Bill of Rights would be good for members of the Jewish faith. Washington responded with a letter addressed to the entire congregation, in which, as Vowell put it, Washington explained how the First Amendment "exposed tolerance as a sham, because tolerance implies one superior group of people deigning to put up with their inferiors." Washington wrote:
"It is now no more that tolerance is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily, the government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."
On his death bed, Washington did not summon a minister or priest. After his death, he was buried according to the rite of the Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Thomas Davis, rector of Christ Church, Alexandria, officiating.