[Vision2020] George Washington and Christian Reconstructionism

[Nick Gier]

Greetings:

Is Pat Kraut implying, in her most recent post, that George Washington 
would have approved of the Christian Reconstructionist program?  Not by a 
light year!

One of Wilson's guests for the Trinity Festival in August appears to have 
this mind, but he is one of those Wilsonian scholars who don't care for the 
facts.  Here is the section on Washington from my essay "Religious 
Liberalism and the Founding Fathers" at 
www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/305/foundfathers.htm.  You can check the link 
for the references.

  GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732-1799)

     More myths have been created about our first president than about any 
other American. Mason Locke Weems, an Anglican minister, was the inventor 
of the notorious cherry tree story and many of the tales pertaining to 
Washington's religiosity. Professor Paul Boller of the University of 
Massachusetts has laid to rest all of these fabrications in his excellent 
book, George Washington and Religion. I am indebted to his thorough 
research for some of the major points of this section.

     Washington was not an intellectual but a man of action. He was not 
naturally given to deep reflection or detailed analysis of thought or 
belief. While Adams and Jefferson spent their last years reading philosophy 
and theology, and frequently writing to each other about it, Washington 
retired to the country and occupied himself with strictly non-intellectual 
pursuits. It was James Madison's opinion that Washington never "attended to 
the arguments for Christianity, and for the different systems of religion, 
[n]or in fact ... [had he] formed definite opinions on the subject."(24)

     There is virtually no evidence in Washington's writings to indicate a 
firm commitment to the Christian religion. He always I has something 
positive to say about religion in general. But there are a few remarks in 
his private correspondence and diaries, which have a touch of cynicism. He 
once wrote in his diary that he would have liked to have collected his 
rents on Sundays, but he declined because the people living on his land 
were "apparently very religious."(25) Writing to Lafayette with regard to 
religious toleration, he states: "Being no bigot myself, I am disposed to 
indulge the professors of Christianity in the church with that road to 
Heaven, which to them shall seem the most direct, plainest, easiest, and 
least liable to exception."(26)

     It seems that the only deep interest Washington had in the direction 
of religion was an enthusiasm for freemasonry. He was a nominal 
Episcopalian who attended church irregularly (ceasing after his retirement) 
and who never participated in Communion. While president he was once openly 
criticized from the pulpit by his pastor, James Abercrombie, for setting a 
poor example by not celebrating the Lord's Supper.(27) Although Washington 
never refers to any specific readings in philosophy or theology, his 
religious liberalism is clearly apparent in numerous references made to the 
deity in his writings and speeches. In all of his voluminous writing only 
once does he speak of Jesus Christ and this single incident, a speech to 
the Delaware Indians, was most likely penned by an aide more orthodox than 
Washington. On the manuscript of another speech to Indian leaders, we can 
clearly see the word God crossed out and the phrase "the Great Spirit 
above" in Washington's handwriting.(28)

     Washington never refers to a personal God, the most frequent 
appellation being "Providence," one of the most impersonal terms for the 
divine. The doctrine of general providence, outlined in the introduction, 
is clearly implied in many of the passages interpreting historical events 
as divinely ordained. It is always the patriots in general, not specific 
individuals, who are guided by God's providence. There is a certain amount 
of fatalism also embodied in much of this writing on God's actions in the 
world. A God that gave specific responses to all human petitioners would 
not be the God of reason or the creator of nature's inexorable laws. The 
general plan is somehow set and it would be irrational for God to change 
it. This view does not appear to change throughout Washington's life. In 
1776 he stated: "I will not lament or repine at any acts of Providence, 
because I am in great measure a convert to Mr. Pope's opinion that whatever 
is, is right. . . ."(29); and in 1797 he still agreed: "But [it] is not for 
man to scan the wisdom of providence. The best he can do is to submit to 
its decrees. Reason, Religion, and Philosophy teaches us to do this. . . . 
"(30) Dr. Benjamin Rush, medical scientist and friend of Franklin, reported 
to Thomas Jefferson that upon leaving office Washington met with a group of 
clergy who submitted a number of questions for Washington to answer. Since 
he had never made any public affirmation of Christianity, one of their 
questions was whether or not he was a Christian. Washington very kindly 
answered all of the questions except that crucial one.(31)

     The tolerance that Washington showed for all Christian denominations 
was another sign of his religious liberalism. There is the famous incident 
when Washington prevented his soldiers from burning the pope in effigy on 
Guy Fawkes Day. When once looking for new servants, Washington emphasized 
that any good workmen would be acceptable, be they "Mohametans, Jews, 
Christians of any sect, or. . . atheists."(32)

     Washington firmly believed in the separation of church and state. 
Probably the most striking and controversial expression of this principle, 
in which Washington played a part, appears in the Treaty of Tripoli. 
Article Eleven of this treaty begins: "As the government of the United 
States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion. . . ." (33) 
Later on, in times of religious emotionalism, this article raised many 
eyebrows among the orthodox. But in 1796, a time of religious rationalism, 
President Washington approved it and the treaty was ratified by the Senate 
in 1797 with no recorded debate, and signed by President John Adams.(34)

         In a recent biography of Washington Joseph J. Ellis describes the 
scene at Washington's death: "There were no ministers in the room, no 
prayers uttered, no Christian rituals offering the solace of everlasting 
life. . . . The historical evidence suggests that Washington did not think 
much about heaven or angels; the only place he knew his body was going was 
into the ground, and as for his soul, its ultimate location was 
unknowable.  He died as a Roman Stoic rather than a Christian saint." (34a)

     All in all, the evidence shows that George Washington was a religious 
liberal who believed in God as impersonal Providence. He probably did not 
believe in any of the doctrines of Christian orthodoxy. As Paul Boller 
concludes, "If Washington was a Christian, he was surely a Protestant of 
the most liberal per suasion."(35) In a famous sermon delivered in 1831, 
Bird Wilson declared that Washington was no more than a Unitarian.(36)

     During the early 1950's, definitely an era of religious emotionalism, 
Congress passed without debate a bill authorizing the construction of a 
"Capital Prayer Room." One of the religious relics of this edifice is a 
stained-glass window portraying George Washington kneeling in prayer at 
Valley Forge. Paul Boller has shown conclusively that the prayer incident 
at Valley Forge is "utterly without foundation in fact."(37) Furthermore, 
many people witnessed the fact that Washington, in contrast to most 
American worshippers of the time (including Martha Washington), did not 
kneel for prayer in church.(38)

         Worthington C. Ford and Rupert Hughes have conclusively proved 
that Washington's so-called "Prayer Book" is a forgery.  Washington's 
handwriting and spelling was known to be atrocious, but this particular 
hand is elegant and spell perfect.  The prayers also have a very strong 
resemblance to the Episcopalian Book of Prayer.  As final proof of the hoax 
the Smithsonian Institution rejected the book as genuine Washingtonian 
memorabilia.

     It is clear from what we know of his character and philosophy that 
this Congressional gesture, although made with the best of intentions, 
would have been a great embarrassment to Washington. (The cherry tree story 
was bad enough.) He was a very private person, especially in matters of 
religion, and he would have been scandalized at the prospect of a 
state-supported prayer room with his supplicating figure as the main 
attraction. There is an observation by Washington's adopted daughter which 
makes for a very appropriate conclusion: "He was not one of those who act 
or pray 'that they may be seen of men.' He communed with his God in 
secret."(39)

Yours for liberal religion,

Nick Gier
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