There are many things which can be said about George Washington. To claim that
he saw no connection between the establishment of our free government and the
Christian religion is not one of them.
George
Washington
(1732-1799)
It
never fails. Write a column in defense of the religious foundations of the
United States (my recent article "Paine's Prophetic Dream") and out of the
woodwork come all manner of denunciations.
One letter, typical of many others, told a whopper of a fib regarding George
Washington. The writer sent me a quote from the Father of Our Country that was
published online at an "Inspirational Quote Site" (I found the site). The
publisher failed to reveal the source — he had good cause — nevertheless, he
sent it out to his subscribers as the "inspirational quote of the day" and
directed its recipients to circulate the quote far and wide across the Internet.
I
suppose nonbelievers have no problem engaging in the same kind of missionary
labors they find so appalling in Christians — And they do a good job — Their
efforts reached right into this writer's home, in mass!
According to this unidentified source, George Washington once said: "The
government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian
religion."
The problem is, Washington never said it; and not only are these not
Washington's words, but never was there a statement more out of character for a
man than these ascribed to Washington. George Washington, perhaps more than any
other Founder, saw the hand of God everywhere: early on in his life, in the
French and Indian War, in the American Revolution, and in the establishment of
the American Government under the US Constitution. And, judging by the volume of
quotes he made on this subject, George Washington was not afraid to make his
feelings known.
From Washington's "Farewell Address," we read:
"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 labour to subvert these great Pillars of
human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The
mere Politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish
them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & 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 & experience both forbid
us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious
principle.
'Tis
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. "Promote
then as an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general
diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives
force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be
enlightened." 1
This is the real George Washington. Religion, said he, is a critical factor,
both in the establishment and perpetuation of our laws. The connections between
private and public felicity, and morality and religion are numberless. Religion
is a necessary spring from which popular government sprang; it is the foundation
of the fabric.
Thus, government — in Washington's view — should not stand neutral as regards
religion, nor embrace a secular approach (as did the French; his comment was
directed against the French), nor a communist approach (which would abolish
religion in private affairs as well); no, rather, he felt a proper understanding
of the nature of self-government requires that government ought to "promote,"
religious and moral principle as "an object of primary importance," especially
in institutions of learning, that public opinion in future generations might
continue to be enlightened.
Yes, "the Enlightenment" that Washington was firmly attached to was not the
European secularist model — And note this: promoting religion was not about
force, not about creating a national church, but about protecting free religious
expression in the schools for the sake of securing an enlightened electorate.
Without this security, free government would fall under the weight of its own
folly.
This was typical Washington.
Besides, the magnificent Farewell Address, at every turn, Washington fearlessly
spoke his mind about God's hand in securing our liberties and the need to humble
ourselves before him.
In
a letter dated, September 28, 1789, he wrote:
"The man must be
bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without
feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose
divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf. And it is
my earnest prayer that we may so conduct ourselves as to merit a continuance
of those blessings with which we have hitherto been favored." 2
Again he wrote:
"The hand of
Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than
an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude
enough to acknowledge his obligations." 3
That God's protecting hand was on the side of the American soldier, was no doubt
in part, because their leader was ever encouraging his soldiers to act like
Christians.
In
a general order dated, July 9, 1776, General Washington writes:
"The blessing and
protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times
of public distress and danger — The General hopes and trusts, that every
officer and man, will endeavour so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian
Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country."
To
help encourage such faith and fidelity to Christianity among the troops, General
Washington procured Chaplains "of good character and exemplary lives" over every
regiment.
It
was in the same order that he referred to "his Country" as being "under God."
4
On
a number of occasions, Washington requested that the troops refrain from
gambling and profanity. His reasons for these requests are noteworthy:
On, February 26, 1776, he writes:
"All Officers,
non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers are positively forbidden playing at
Cards, and other Games of Chance. At this time of public distress, men may
find enough to do in the service of their God, and their Country, without
abandoning themselves to vice and immorality." 5
And again on August 03, 1776 we read:
"The General is
sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing
and swearing, a vice heretofore little known in an American army, is growing
into fashion. He hopes the officers will, by example as well as influence,
endeavor to check it, and that both they and the men will reflect that we
can have little hope of the blessings of Heaven on our arms if we insult it
by our impiety and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low,
without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and
despises it." 6
Washington understood that men must meet God half way; that prayer was not
enough, that actions proved faith, that righteousness exalts a nation.
After the war was over and Independence won, Washington reflected on June 11,
1783, in a letter to John Hancock that America seemed "peculiarly designated by
Providence" for "a display of human greatness and success" and "a fairer
opportunity for political happiness than any other nation has ever been favored
with."
He
then listed the blessings of Heaven that combined in a manner never seen since
the world was:
"The Foundation
of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Superstition,
but at an Epocha when the rights of Mankind were better understood and more
clearly defined, than at any former period, the researches of the human mind
after social happiness have been carried to a great extent, the Treasures of
knowledge, acquired by the labours of Philosophers, Sages, and Legislators,
through a long succession [of] years, are laid open for our use, and their
collected wisdom may be happily applied in the Establishment of our Forms of
Government, the free cultivation of Letters, the unbounded extension of
Commerce, the progressive refinement of Manners, the growing liberality of
sentiment, and above all, the pure and benign light of Revelation, have
had a meliorating influence on Mankind and increased the blessings of
Society; At this auspicious period, the United States came into
existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely Free
and Happy, the fa[u]lt will be entirely their own." [my emphasis]
There are many things which can be said about George Washington. To claim that
he saw no connection between the establishment of our free government and the
Christian religion is not one of them. These few examples, among so many others,
establish the point.
Endnotes
Washington,
George. "Farewell Address."
Fitzpatrick, John
C., editor. "The Writings of George Washington from the
Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799," New York, Sept. 28, 1789.
Fitzpatrick, ed.,
Writings of George Washington, 12:343.
Fitzpatrick, "The
Writing of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources,
1745-1799," Headquarters, July 9, 1776.