Remember Man, that the Reproofs of Christ
For Sin in the Conscience, is the way
That leads to Life Eternal, if obeyed,
The everlasting blessed Day.
“The Primer for Children,” incorporated into the Young Man’s Companion, gives about four examples per letter, several of which are important biblical or theological words, including: Chri-sti-a-ni-ty for C, Fel-low-ship for F, “Im-ma-nu-el” for I, and Pro-vidence for P. When Washington learned his ABCs, it was with biblical truths. He learned about “The Book of the Ge-ne-ra-ti-on of Je-sus Christ, the Son of Da-vid, the Son of A-bra-ham” as delineated in this textbook. On pages 11-19 there are “Hard Names in the Bible, and some others divided.”
With this spiritual message, there are numerous mathematical problems with solutions and hints for solving various types of practical problems. Washington’s childhood text also offers hints on measuring things, recommended cures for illnesses, astronomical observations, biblical teachings, insights on the meaning of parts of the Book Of Common Prayer, etc. Ultimately, Mathers summarizes his purpose:
Now Reader, if thy desire is to be truly led to build upon no other Foundation besides the (Rock) Christ Jesus, mark well these Scriptures following, and the Lord give thee an obedient Heart, viz. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. . . .But unto every one of us is given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God....”49
To fulfill his spiritual purpose, Mathers’ Young Man’s Companion incorporated:
The Translation of the Holy Scriptures; The Prophesies of Christ in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the New; The Messiahs Types, Titles, Etc. the Education of Children: The duties of Families; The Mourner comforted for the Death of Friends, together with many other things, to encourage Young Men to the Love of Virtue, with a Table to find the Chiefest Matters herein; Written in a Plain and Easie stile, that a Young man (that lives in the Fear of the LORD) may Attain the same without a Tutor.50
Toward the end of his “Loving Epistle to the Young Man, my Reader” in this fifth edition, Mathers declares:
The Instruction of Words is not so Powerful as the Exhortation of Works, for if they Teach well and neglect to do well, they shall hardly profit their hearers. . . . Let us declare and profess what we will, Men will judge of us after all by our Works. . . .So that it is a Dishonour to God, a Scandal to Religion, and a cause why many become atheists that men are permitted to Preach and Teach the People, who are unsound in Morals, yea, guilty of some of the Evil above-mentioned.51
Mathers’ emphasis clearly imparted one of the important principles of Washington’s life—that deeds were more important than words.
The point to be seen in the review of Washington’s childhood school texts is twofold. First, Washington’s schoolbooks were designed to teach practical knowledge to be used in an active Christian life. Second, the theme made here by Mathers of the greater importance of conduct in comparison to words, particularly in leaders, was a theme that marked Washington’s own life. His own declaration was “deeds not words.”
The Young Man’s Companion made it to America and was printed in New York in 1710, and in Philadelphia in 1718, with many other editions in the following years. Some of these versions of the classic text, such as the 1710 New York edition published by William and Andrew Bradford at the publishing house Bible in New York, added a section that contained “a choice collection of acquittances, bills, bonds, wills, indentures, deeds of sale, deeds of gift, letter of attorney, assignments, leases and releases....”
A portion of George’s extant collected and existing school papers includes the copying of such documents that would be needed by a young man who would often have to do business without the benefit of an attorney at hand.52 Even these reveal the essentially Christian context of George’s early education. One of the documents that George copied was the “Form of a Short Will.” In his fine youthful hand, one finds these words written by twelve year old George Washington:
In the Name of God, Amen. The Sixth Day of Oct. In the year of our Lord, 1744, I, A.B. being Sick and Weak of Body but of Sound Judgment and Memory (thanks to God Therefore) Remembering the mortality of my body knowing that it is Determined for all men once to die, Doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, That is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my Soul to God Who gave it hoping for salvation in and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, and my body to have buried in a decent manner at the [illegible]
Hoping at [illegible]
Power of God [illegible]53
A copied will in Washington’s hand from one of his manuscript books
.
An often overlooked instance of Washington having written the name of Jesus Christ
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ADVICE TO SONS
One of the books that was apparently part of the Washington family training was entitled Advice to a Son54 There is evidence that Martha Washington’s first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, used this text. Thus, it is possible that this textbook may have been used by Jack Custis, George Washington’s stepson, after Washington married Martha. In fact, there is written an historical note in it of a late-night, secret wedding in the wealthy, Anglican Custis family.55 That event alone gave reason for the powerful “advice” needed for a young son! Its purpose was to give guidance for “conduct through the various and most important Encounters of this Life.” This practical handbook addressed the issues of studies, love and marriage, travel, government and religion.56 The book is relevant in understanding Washington’s religion in that it reflects the spiritual values and educational tradition that Martha Custis sought to impart to her children during her marriage with young Colonel Washington. The book, Advice to a Son, notes this:
Of Religion: Read the Book of God with Reverence and in things doubtful take fixation from the authority of the Church, which cannot be arraigned of a damnable error without questioning that truth, which hath proclaimed her proof against the gates of Hell.57
The religion advocated by Advice to a Son is Protestant, with an emphasis upon a reasonable, biblical faith that respects the established churches and their clergy.
You will find the Reformation most conformable to the duty we owe to God, and the Magistrate; if not too phlegmatic, in passing by decent Ceremonies, or too choleric and rigid, in obtruding upon weak and tender Consciences. And yet it was no unhappy ran counter in him that said, A good Religion might be composed out of the Papists Charity, the Puritans words, and the Protestants Faith.58
It also notes:
Keep then your Conscience tender, but not so raw, as to wince and kick at all you understand not; Nor let it baffle your wit out of the bounds of Discretion, as such do that suffer themselves to be moped by it: to prevent which, keep Reason always in your eye; whose light ought never to be lost in any worldly action, and but eclipsed in what relates to Heaven.59
Faith and reason were allies in the father’s advice to the young English sons of Britain. In the chapter on “Washington and the Enlightenment,” we will see that George Washington agreed.
A book used by Washington’s mother, Mary as a part of Washington’s Christian education
CONTEMPLATIONS MORAL AND DIVINE
As important as the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer may have been for Mary Washington, she also used another historic text in the home education of her children, Sir Matthew Hale’s Contemplations, Moral & Divine.60 This is one of the volumes that George Washington had in his library, in fact bearing his bookplate. According to Joseph D. Sawyer and Benson J. Lossing, it had the signatures of both of Augustine Washington’s wives, Jane Washington and Mary Washington. This implies that the book was part of the family training of both Lawrence and Augustine even before George was born.61
Author James K. Paulding describes this significant text that Mary Washington used in the education of her family.
I have now before me a venerable volume, printed in the year 1685, entitled, Contemplations, Moral and Divine, by Sir Matthew Hale, late Chief-justice of the Court of King’s Bench, in which is written, with her own hand, the name of “Mary Washington.” It bears the appearance of frequent use, and particular chapters are designated by marks of reference. It is the volume from which the mother of Washington was accustomed to read daily lessons of piety, morality, and wisdom to her children.62
Paulding had received Hale’s volume on loan from descendents of Washington who still occupied Mount Vernon in the mid-1850’s, along with this correspondence:
I beg it may be carefully preserved and returned, as one of the family heirlooms which better feelings than pride would retain for future generations to look on, even should they not study it. There is something in a reverence for religion favourable to a virtuous character; and that reverence is in some measure kept alive by looking on a family Bible, and solid works of divinity, which have descended from past generations. We associate with them recollections of ancestral virtues, and when family tradition assures us they were the counselors of past days, there is a feeling of the heart which turns to them in time of trial, and makes it good, I think, to leave them an honourable station, as friends to those that have gone before, and those who shall come after us, to speak in the cause of truth when we shall sleep in the grave.63
Paulding proceeds to quote from Hale for several pages basing his citations in part on the apparent high use of the pages and how they reflect Washington himself.
