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Category: Washington views on church and state

Washington’s Farewell Address 1796

Washington’s Farewell Address 1796

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George Washington January 1, 1796 In this famous address, he criticizes the spirit of faction that erupted among his colleagues. In terms of religion, the key paragraph is two thirds of the way down, starting, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” He declared that it would be literally unpatriotic to attack religion and suggested that the rule of law would disintegrate without religion because the legal system relies on…

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George Washington’s Letter To The Hebrew Congregations of Philadelphia, Newport, Charleston, and Richmond, January 1, 1790

George Washington’s Letter To The Hebrew Congregations of Philadelphia, Newport, Charleston, and Richmond, January 1, 1790

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George Washington January 1, 1790 The liberal sentiment towards each other which marks every political and religious denomination of men in this country stands unrivalled in the history of nations. The affection of such a people is a treasure beyond the reach of calculation; and the repeated proofs which my fellow citizens have given of their attachment to me, and approbation of my doings form the purest source of my temporal felicity. The affectionate expressions of your address again excite…

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Letter from George Washington to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May 10, 1789

Letter from George Washington to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May 10, 1789

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George Washington May 10, 1789 Washington is trying to reassure the Baptists that the new Constitution would provide sufficient guarantees of religious freedom, despite the absence of a Bill of Rights. Gentlemen: I request that you will accept my best acknowledgements for your congratulation on my appointment to the first office in the nation. The kind manner in which you mention my past conduct equally claims the expression of my gratitude. After we had, by the smiles of Heaven on…

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Letter from George Washington to the Roman Catholics in the United States, March 15, 1790

Letter from George Washington to the Roman Catholics in the United States, March 15, 1790

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George Washington March 15, 1790 One of Washington’s greatest contributions to religious freedom was his insistence, as Commander of the Continental Army, that Catholics be treated as equal American citizens. While I now receive with much satisfaction your congratulations on my being called, by an unanimous vote, to the first station in my country; I cannot but duly notice your politeness in offering an apology for the unavoidable delay. As that delay has given you an opportunity of realizing, instead…

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Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregations of the City of Savannah, Georgia

Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregations of the City of Savannah, Georgia

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George Washington thank you with great sincerity for your congratulations on my appointment to the office which I have the honor to hold by the unanimous choice of my fellow-citizens, and especially the expressions you are pleased to use in testifying the confidence that is reposed in me by your congregations. As the delay which has naturally intervened between my election and your address has afforded me an opportunity for appreciating the merits of the Federal Government and for communicating…

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Letter from George Washington to the Continental Congress, July 8, 1777

Letter from George Washington to the Continental Congress, July 8, 1777

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George Washington July 8, 1777 Washington opposed a proposal from the Continental Congress to appoint chaplains on a brigade level, instead of based on smaller regimental groups, a system that would have made it less likely that the chaplain would represent the denominations of the soldiers to which he was ministering. Such an approach, he explained, “would compel men to a mode of Worship which they do not profess.” Instead, having chaplains matched to local sensibilities was “founded on a…

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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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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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First Inaugural Address of George Washington, 1789

First Inaugural Address of George Washington, 1789

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George Washington April 30, 1789 He invokes the Almighty Being, the Great Author, and “benign Parent of the Human Race.”   Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives: Among the vicissitudes incident to life no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received on the 14th day of the present month. On the one hand, I was summoned by my Country, whose voice I…

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