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George Washington, Christian

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by LadyEagle, Aug 7, 2005.

  1. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html


    http://www.ycsi.net/users/reversespins/mysticalwashington.html

    http://www.night.net/thanksgiving/kwash-11.html

    George Washington, Christian - before history was revised by those who rewrite history, used to be known as the "Father of our Country."
     
  2. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    On Washington's Birthday:

    By any standard, George Washington is the premier American hero truly worthy of his own national holiday. His birthday was celebrated as early as 1778, and Congress made it a national holiday in 1870. He held that honor until a peculiar mishap deprived him of it in 1971.

    In 1968, Congress enacted the Monday Holiday Law (Public Law 90-363, 82 Stat. 250) to go into effect in 1971. Its sole purpose was to give Americans five guaranteed three-day weekends. The law provided that George Washington's Birthday, which had always been celebrated on February 22, should henceforth be observed with a holiday on the third Monday in February. The law did not change the name of the holiday.

    In 1971, President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation calling the third Monday in February Presidents Day. His unauthorized proclamation has no legal effect. Neither his proclamation nor any subsequent action by any President or Congress has ever changed the name of the holiday. But somehow the name Presidents Day stuck and many calendars began to use it. This switch coincided with the period when it became popular to debunk our heroes and deemphasize the history of the American Revolution. You can do your part to maintain George Washington's standing as our greatest American hero by refusing to buy calendars that identify the third Monday of February as Presidents Day instead of by its proper legal name, George Washington's Birthday. The calendar companies should not be allowed to force us to honor all Presidents when there are many of them who don't deserve to be honored.

    Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) has introduced a bill to require the federal bureaucracy to obey the law and use the term George Washington's Birthday to identify the holiday we observe on the third Monday of February.

    However, it's up to the free market to let calendar producers know that we want George Washington restored to his proper day in the year, and that requires action by citizens and organizations

    http://www.eagleforum.org/psr/2002/may02/psrmay02.shtml
     
  3. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    I am not doubting the fact he was a Christian, but acknowledging the role of God in as nation's affairs did not make him saved.
     
  4. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    I understand, from many Baptist historians, that he was baptized, by a Baptist preacher, in the Potomac River.

    I have, so far, been unable to substantiate OR refute this fact.
     
  5. Ps104_33

    Ps104_33 New Member

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    I agree wth C4K. I dont see the name of Jesus Christ mentioned anywhere in these speeches. He might have been a religious man but he was a Deist and a Freemason.
     
  6. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    George Washington kept a personal prayer book, written in his own handwriting, for each day of the week. Here are some excerpts, which provide insight into the depth of his Christian faith:

    SUNDAY MORNING...Almighty God, and most merciful Father, who didst command the children of Israel to offer a daily sacrifice to Thee, that thereby they might glorify and praise Thee for Thy protection both night and day, receive O Lord, my morning sacrifice which I now offer up to Thee;

    I yield Thee humble and hearty thanks, that Thou has preserved me from the dangers of the night past and brought me to the light of this day, and the comfort thereof, a day which is consecrated to Thine own service and for Thine own honor.

    Let my heart therefore gracious God be so affected with the glory and majesty of it, that I may not do mine own works but wait on Thee, and discharge those weighty duties Thou required of me:

    And since Thou art a God of pure eyes, and will be sanctified in all who draw nearer to Thee, who dost not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in Thy courts, pardon I beseech Thee, my sins, remove them from Thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of Thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into Thy temple and compass Thine altar, my prayer may come before Thee as incense, and as I desire Thou wouldst hear me calling upon Thee in my prayers, so give me peace to hear the calling on me in Thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus.

    Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me gracious God, the good work for which Thou hast sent it.

    Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and forever for His sake, who lay down in the grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


    From: One Nation Under God
    America's Christian Heritage
     
  7. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    George Washington was a decitated member of he Masonic Lodge. I'm sure if I were to post this info on a thread about freemasonery, people would be coming out in droves saying that Washington was not a Christian.

    In his early years, he was a strict follwer of the Church of England, even serving for a time, as a vestryman in his home parish. But, in his later adult life, he was not affiliated or connected with any church or religious body whatsoever.

    Washington in his role as statesman was inclined to keep his own religious views to himself, which was a common practice of the time (unlike now, where we berate someone if theyr testimony wasn't good enough for us). His desire to be so reticent leaves us with little general knowledge of his real inner beliefs.

    Washington's writings contain relatively few references to the prevailing religion of his day. However, there are no instances where has he expresses a disbelief in Christianity. The few references to faith definitely qualify him as a deist, but are inadequate to say beyond doubt that he was a Christian.

    We do know that he was a deist for the duration of his life. In his early years as plantation farmer, he likely was adherent to the Christian faith. In his later statesman years, we simply do not know. I myself am comfortable believing that he likely was a man of Christian faith to at least some degree. Whether he was saved, or whether any man is saved, is not my privilege to speculate upon.

    TexasSky, the reference to Washington's prayer book is blatantly false (one of many errors made by David Barton). The prayer book was indeed found among Washington's possessions, namely, in a trunk containing several books. However, it was not written by him. It was likely given to him by a family member of acquaintence.
     
  8. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    I never doubted his salvation, it was just not seen in the OP quotes by any means.

    I too have heard of the Baptist baptism, but never seen any documentation and suspect it to the word of any overzealous Baptist.

    His affiliation, such as it was, was Congregational for at least part of his life.

    I would like to see evidence of GW being a Deist. I had not heard that much before.
     
  9. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Excellent observation. Washingtonian references to God exist in numerus places, though, when weighing the whole body of his writings, they're relatively few and far between.

    It appears to be an urban legend, like the cutting down of the cherry tree.

    Minor correction. His affiliation was Anglican in his early years. He had no affiliation in his later years. The only Congregationalist president was Calvin Coolidge. (for those keeping score, the four Baptist presidents were Harding, Truman, Carter, and Clinton; though Lincoln was raised Baptist but had no religious affiliation as an adult).
    His own words reasonably qualify him as a deist. Whether he was a Christian or not is not as clear. As I said earlier, I'm comfortable believing he was likely a man of Christian faith.
     
  10. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Good points. I do believe, without digging back into old research, that he regularly attended a Congregational church while president.

    Of course, that research was done WAY too long ago ;) .

    In other words, I may very well stand corrected.

    [ August 10, 2005, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: C4K ]
     
  11. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    AGAIN, and again, and again - You people who are so determined to say Washington was not Christian ALWAYS assume any reference to Washington AS Christian is made by David Barton and you assume inccorectly.

    As to "Free Masons." I've known Free Masons who were Christian, and I've known Free Masons who were NOT.

    Historically, the Free Masons were a builders' guild, not a religious organization. A professional organization. According to a history book on Free Masonry, the very name comes from "Sons of Noah," and there were specific instructions writtin in the 1700's regarding how "Christian Free Masons" should behave, including instructions that "whatever religion they profess, they should "adhere to with dignity, honor and honesty," and that he "never be a stupid athiest."

    SO much for modern "he can't be Christian he was a mason," nonsense.
     
  12. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    He may have attended a Congregational church from time to time, so you may well be right. It's certainly possible, just as many of ther recent Presidents have attended the National Cathedral, even though those presidents are not Anglican.

    I know only that he did not attend any church regularly. He was not a member of any church, nor was he a member of any particular denomination in his years as a statesman. He was, however, a faithful member of an Anglican church in his younger years, when he was a plantation farmer.

    I did no such thing. I simply pointed out that your previous post about Washington's prayerbook is in error.

    So have I, and I personally have no problem with freemasonery. I was perely pointing out that if you say 'a person can be a Christian and a Mason' on a thread about freemasonery, many will respond that freemasonery is inconsistent with Christianity, and will do so without evern mentioning Washington.

    TS, you fail to acknowlege the fact that I do indeed think that Washington was probably a Christian. But it is a fact that hard evidence for Washington being a Christian is lacking.
     
  13. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    John,

    His adopted daughter, when asked about his religion wrote the following in 1833.

    General Washington had a pew in Pohick Church, and one in Christ Church at Alexandria. He was very instrumental in establishing Pohick Church, and I believe subscribed largely. His pew was near the pulpit. I have a perfect recollection of being there, before his election to the presidency, with him and my grandmother. It was a beautiful church, and had a large, respectable, and wealthy congregation, who were regular attendants.

    He attended the church at Alexandria when the weather and roads permitted a ride of ten miles. In New York and Philadelphia he never omitted attendance at church in the morning, unless detained by indisposition. The afternoon was spent in his own room at home; the evening with his family, and without company. Sometimes an old and intimate friend called to see us for an hour or two; but visiting and visitors were prohibited for that day. No one in church attended to the services with more reverential respect. My grandmother, who was eminently pious, never deviated from her early habits. She always knelt. The General, as was then the custom, stood during the devotional parts of the service. On communion Sundays, he left the church with me, after the blessing, and returned home, and we sent the carriage back for my grandmother.

    It was his custom to retire to his library at nine or ten o'clock where he remained an hour before he went to his chamber. He always rose before the sunand remained in his library until called to breakfast. I never witnessed his private devotions. I never inquired about them. 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." He communed with his God in secret.


    (But, I suppose, you would know more than his daughter.)
     
  14. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    Still TS, to have to "have a firm belief in Christianity" and to truly be a Christian may very well be two different things.

    I have yet to see a post here claiming that GW was not a Christian, only that the quotes provided do not sufficiently back up such a claim.
     
  15. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    TS - Are you even remotely listening to what I've said?

    I've already noted that he was an active Anglican in his younger years (Pohick Church is where he served as vestryman as a younger man). I've already said that he was a strict follower of the Church of England in his younger years, but in his later adult life, he was not affiliated or connected with any church or religious body whatsoever.

    As you are probably aware, the letter you cite was writtenby Nelly Custis-Lewis, who was Washington's granddaughter. She is recalling her young childhood memories when Washington managed his plantation, prior to assuming the Presidency. Custis-Lewis's writings affirm that we simply don't know for a fact that Washington was a Christian in his later years. When dealing with the question directly, she only goes so far as to say that, from wht she remembered about her grandparents, "he must have been a Christian".

    TS, this confirms what I've been saying all along. That I do indeed think that Washington was probably a Christian. But it is a fact that hard evidence for Washington being a Christian is lacking.

    Notably, you are refusing to acknowlege that your previous statement about Washington's prayer book is in error.
     
  16. PASTOR MHG

    PASTOR MHG New Member

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    When you post such information can you please provide a source?

    Thanks,
    Max
     
  17. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    C4K,

    I've been in this discussion before with some of these same people, and my frustration is at the point of wanting to scream.

    From PS104: "I dont see the name of Jesus Christ mentioned anywhere in these speeches. He might have been a religious man but he was a Deist and a Freemason. "

    I provided evidence that he made a profession of faith in his prayer book. WHICH the history book says, "Was written in his own handwriting," JohnV comes back and says, "It wasn't Washington's book."

    Johnv stated: "George Washington was a decitated member of he Masonic Lodge. I'm sure if I were to post this info on a thread about freemasonery, people would be coming out in droves saying that Washington was not a Christian."

    I provided evidence that in the 1700's there were Christians who were Free Masons.

    Johnv syas "I know only that he did not attend any church regularly."

    Washington's daughter says differently.

    This kind of thing really gets on my nerves.
    It is like people on Christian boards struggle, and dig and strive to paint certain men as non-Christians, and in the process, they ALSO strive to discredit Christians who DO credit the men with Christianity.

    Its getting OLD.

    I see the SAME statements about men like Washington on athiests boards all the time.

    Several on this thread have said that Washington's comments don't mean he is saved.

    Well, folks, neither do YOUR comments mean YOU are saved.

    Washington, per his daughter, professed a love of Christ. That should be enough.
     
  18. Bro. James Reed

    Bro. James Reed New Member

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    Johnv,

    With all of that said, it is impossible to truly know if any dead individual was a Christian.

    None of us knows what was in his heart, nor anyone elses, so it is really impossible to say one way or another.

    In fact, because none of you can see inside my heart, I may very well not be a Christian. The same can be said about all the rest of you on here.

    Quite frankly, I don't care for speculating about dead people whether or not they were Christian because they can not defend themselves.

    Washington may have been a Christian or may not have been. Billy Graham may or may not be a Christian.

    For the sake of argument, and from his writings, we can assume only that he believed and worshipped God, and that he didn't care for people to know how or in what manner he worshipped Him, else he would have left more written evidence.

    How many people will know from our writings, in 200 years, whether we were Christians or not?
     
  19. NaasPreacher (C4K)

    NaasPreacher (C4K) Well-Known Member

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    For BB protection please provide a source for such quoted material.

    Thanks


    The point all along is that we don't have a clear testimony of GW's salvation. John, at least has never questioned that. We just don't have the source materials to make such a definitive claim. Nothing in the OP could be taken to indicate that he was truly born again.
     
  20. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    You might want to check with the National Archives and the Library of Congress. The Smithsonian Institute has publicly refused to accept it as a genuine Washington relic, adn this was back in the early 1900's. According to them, book in question was not in Washington's handwriting, but the handrwiting belongs to a completely different person. Also, Washington was a rather poor speller. The spelling in the book is impeccable, not resembling Washington's at all. Further, a newspaper correspondent of "The Capital", a Dr. W.A. Croffutt, discovered that some of the prayers were from an old prayer brook in the Congressional Library, printed in the reign of King James I of England.

    I don't doubt that. I in fact agree with that. I'm simply pointing out that many here on this board will say that freemasonery compromises Christian beliefs. This has been debated without even mentioning Washington. Implying that people who say this are somehow trying to discredit Washington is simply ludicrous.

    The letter was not written by his daughter. It was written by his granddaughter. And she only attests to his church attendence and affiliation during his years as a plantation farmer. This, as I've already said, is not in dispute.

    Dude, you're inventing stuff or puffing stuff up to claim that Washington's Christianity was beyond reproach. Why is this necessary? What's wrong with looking at the facts? The facts are that his own writings qualify him at least as a Deist (a believer in God). However, his writings fail to establish his Christian affiliation. His actions firmly establish that he was an active Anglicah churchgoer in his early years. However, he had no church or denimninational affiliation in his later years. as I've already said, I believe he likely was a man of Christian faith in his later years. But the facts supporting that are somewhat lacking. If you consider this somehow discrediting to Washington, I question your objectivity.

    Washington never made or wrote a profession of faith in Christ. Several of us have, so in that respect, we ARE different. However, no one but God knows if we're saved. I believe that I am saved, and I believe Washington was probably saved, but just because there is little in Washington's personal writings t support that doesn't mean you should wave your finger at everyone. Sheesh!!!
    It wasn't his daughter. It was his Granddaughter. His granddaughter DID NOT LIVE WITH HIM when he was PROTUS. She lived with him when he was a plantation farmer. Further, if you read the whole letter, you'll see that she does not say without a doubt that her grandfather professed a love of Christ. She only says she suspects that he was a Christian.
    I agree with your comments 100%. His writings, while supporting the idea that he was a believer in God, lack support for him being unequivocably a Christian. Despite that, I personally believe that Washington was a man of Christian faith. If another poster thinks that this in some way discredits the man, I'm simply at a loss for words.
     
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