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Author: Religious Freedom Archive

Letter from George Washington to John Rogers, June 11, 1783

Letter from George Washington to John Rogers, June 11, 1783

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George Washington June 11, 1783 Washington supports the distribution of Bibles to the troops. Head Quarters, June 11, 1783. Dear Sir: I accept, with much pleasure your kind Congratulations on the happy Event of Peace, with the Establishment of our Liberties and Independence. Glorious indeed has been our Contest: glorious, if we consider the Prize for which we have contended, and glorious in its Issue; but in the midst of our Joys, I hope we shall not forget that, to…

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Letter from George Washington to George Washington Snyder

Letter from George Washington to George Washington Snyder

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George Washington October 24, 1798 Mount Vernon, October 24, 1798. Revd Sir: I have your favor of the 17th. instant before me; and my only motive to trouble you with the receipt of this letter, is to explain, and correct a mistake which I perceive the hurry in which I am obliged, often, to write letters, have led you into. It was not my intention to doubt that, the Doctrines of the Illuminati, and principles of Jacobinism had not spread…

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Letter from George Washington to Benedict Arnold, September 17, 1775

Letter from George Washington to Benedict Arnold, September 17, 1775

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George Washington September 17, 1775 George Washington had dispatched Arnold on an important mission to secure support from Canadians. Under the Quebec Act, Great Britain had granted Catholics in Canada tremendous religious freedom. At first, the Continental Congress attacked the Quebec Act, but Washington pointed out that attacking Catholics would undermine their efforts to secure the support of the Catholic Canadians. Here he orders Arnold to get his troops to behave honorably toward the Catholic Canadians Camp at Cambridge, September…

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George Washington’s Resignation Address to the Continental Congress, December 20, 1783

George Washington’s Resignation Address to the Continental Congress, December 20, 1783

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George Washington December 20, 1783 Mr President The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place; I have now the honor of offering my sincere Congratulations to Congress & of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the Service of my Country. Happy in the confirmation of our Independence and Sovereignty, and pleased with the oppertunity afforded the United States of…

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George Washington’s Circular Letter of Farewell to the Army, June 8, 1783

George Washington’s Circular Letter of Farewell to the Army, June 8, 1783

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George Washington June 8, 1783 The reference in the final paragraph to the “Divine Author of our blessed Religion” is sometimes thought to be an indication that Washington believed America to be a Christian nation Head Quarters, Newburgh, June 8, 1783. Sir: The great object for which I had the honor to hold an appointment in the Service of my Country, being accomplished, I am now preparing to resign it into the hands of Congress, and to return to that…

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George Washington, Proclamation: A National Thanksgiving, October 3, 1789

George Washington, Proclamation: A National Thanksgiving, October 3, 1789

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George Washington October 3, 1789 Washington went much farther than modern politicians in leading the country in prayer and praise of God. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of…

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George Washington, General Orders, October 18, 1777

George Washington, General Orders, October 18, 1777

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George Washington October 18, 1777 In celebrating victory, Washington always gives credit to God’s intervention. Head Quarters, at Wentz’s, Worcester Township, October 18, 1777. Parole Reading. Countersigns Rochester, Ridgefield. The General has his happiness completed relative to the successes of our northern Army. On the 14th. instant, General Burgoyne, and his whole Army, surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Let every face brighten, and every heart expand with grateful Joy and praise to the supreme disposer of all events, who has…

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George Washington, General Orders, November 05, 1775

George Washington, General Orders, November 05, 1775

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George Washington November 5, 1775 As part of Guy Falkes Day celebrations, Colonial soldiers had taken to burning effigies of the Pope. Washington was appalled and believed such behavior would undermine their ability to attract support from Catholics in Canada. He banned the practice. Head Quarters, Cambridge, November 5, 1775. Parole Montgomery. Countersign Chamblee. Samuel Huntington, and John Englis, soldiers in the 34th Regt. of foot, tried at a late General Court Martial for ” Mutiny“–The Court upon mature consideration, are…

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George Washington, General Orders, May 15, 1776

George Washington, General Orders, May 15, 1776

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George Washington May 15, 1776 Washington implements Congress order for a day of Thanksgiving and prayer. Head Quarters, New York, May 15, 1776. Parole Barre. Countersign Dublin. The Continental Congress having ordered, Friday the 17th. Instant to be observed as a day of “fasting, humiliation and prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the Arms of the United Colonies, and finally, establish…

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George Washington, General Orders, May 05, 1778

George Washington, General Orders, May 05, 1778

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George Washington May 5, 1778 Washington called for prayers of thanks after France formally allied with the Colonists. Earlier, Washington had clamped down on anti-Catholic bigotry in the Continental Army in part because he knew the new nation would need support from France, a Catholic nation. Head Quarters, V. Forge, Tuesday, May 5, 1778. AFTER ORDERS It having pleased the Almighty ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the Cause of the United American-States and finally by raising us up…

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