31 WGW, vol. 29, 2-22-1788. To Reverend John Lathrop.
32 Ellis, His Excellency, p. 269.
33 Craik’s account of Washington’s death was published as an appendix to a sermon entitled, “A Sermon Occasioned by the Death of Gen. George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United Sates of America. Who departed this life, on Saturday the 14th December, 1799, after an illness of about 24 hours. Preached December 29, 1799. by the Reverend Hezekiah N. Woodruff A.M. Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Stamington. To which is Added, An Appendix Giving a particular account of the behaviour of Gen. Washington, during his distressing illness, also of the nature of the complaint of which he died, By Doctors James Craik and Elisha C. Dick, attending Physicians. Printed by Samuel Trumbull, For Messsrs. Edward & Nathan Smith, Stonington Prot, January, 1800. p. 16.
34 Meade, Old Churches and Families of Virginia, 1857, II, pp. 254-55.
35 WGW, vol. 37 Last Will and Testament. In his will he wrote: “The family Vault at Mount Vernon requiring repairs, and being improperly situated besides, I desire that a new one of Brick, and upon a larger Scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the Vineyard Inclosure, on the ground which is marked out. In which my remains, with those of my deceased relatives (now in the old Vault) and such others of my family as may chuse to be entombed there, may be deposited. And it is my express desire that my Corpse may be Interred in a private manner, without parade, or funeral Oration. [Note: The new vault (the present one) was built in 1830-31 by Lawrence Lewis and George Washington Parke Custis.]
36 WGW, vol. 32, 2-24-1793. To Frances Bassett Washington. There are several other examples of Washington’s strong calls for a religious and philosophical Christian-stoicism. Consider the following: WGW, vol. 36 To WILLIAM AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON, February 27, 1798.
My dear Sir: Mr. Rice called here in his way to Alexandria, and delivered me your letter of the 15th. instant. Of the recent afflicting event, which was related therein, we had received previous accounts; and on that as on former occasions of a similar nature, sympathised sincerely in your sorrows. But these are the decrees of an Allwise Providence, against whose dictates the skill, or foresight of man can be of no avail; it is incumbent upon him therefore, to submit with as little repining as the sensibility of his nature will admit. This will have its course, but may be greatly ameliorated by philosophical reflection and resignation. As you have three children left, I trust they will be spared to you, and sincerely hope that in them you will find consolation and comfort.
vol. 33, 5-25-1794 To WILLIAM PEARCE
“Mr. Pearce: I learn with concern from your letter of the 18th. instant, that your crops were still labouring under a drought, and most of them very much injured. At disappointments and losses which are the effects of Providential acts, I never repine; because I am sure the alwise disposer of events knows better than we do, what is best for us, or what we deserve.”
vol. 3, 4-25-1773 To BURWELL BASSETT
“Dear Sir: The interruption of the post for several weeks, prevented our receiving the melancholy account of your loss until within these few days. That we sympathize in the misfortune, and lament the decree which has deprived you of so dutiful a child, and the world of so promising a young lady, stands in no need, I hope, of argument to prove; but the ways of Providence being inscrutable, and the justice of it not to be scanned by the shallow eye of humanity, nor to be counteracted by the utmost efforts of human power or wisdom, resignation, and as far as the strength of our reason and religion can carry us, a cheerful acquiescence to the Divine Will, is what we are to aim; and I am persuaded that your own good sense will arm you with fortitude to withstand the stroke, great as k is, and enable you to console Mrs. Bassett, whose loss and feelings are much to be pitied.”
vol. 9, 8-11777 To SAMUEL WASHINGTON
“Dear Brothr: Your letter by Capt. Rice, without date came to my hand last night. Where my last was dated, or from whence, I cannot at this time recollect; but with truth can assure, that it is not owing to a want of Inclination that you do not hear from me oftener, nor is it altogether to be ascribed to the hurry of business in which I am immerc’d: but to your living out of the Post Road, and my want of knowledge of accidental or Casual Conveyance. I most sincerely condole with you on your late loss; and doubt not your feeling it in the most sensible manner; nor do I expect that human Fortitude, and reason, can so far overcome natural affection, as to enable us to look with calmness upon losses wh. distress us altho they are acts of Providence, and in themselves unavoidable, yet acquiescence to the divine will is not only a duty, but is to be aided by every manly exertion to forget the causes of such uneasiness.”
vol. 35, 6-8-1796 To HENRY KNOX
“My dear Sir: I wou’d not let Mr. Bingham (who says he is about to Visit you) depart without acknowledging the receipt of several letters from you; and offering Mrs. Knox and yourself, my sincere condolence on your late heavy loss. Great and trying, as it must be to your sensibility, I am persuaded after the first severe pangs are over you both possess fortitude enough to view the event, as the dispensation of providence, and will submit to its decrees, with philosophical resignation.”
vol. 35, 3-2-1797 To HENRY KNOX
“From the friendship I have always borne you, and from the interest I have ever taken in whatever relates to your prosperity and happiness, I participated in the sorrows which I know you must have felt for your late heavy losses. [The death of three children.] But is not for man to scan the wisdom of Providence. The best he can do, is to submit to its decrees. Reason, religion and Philosophy, teaches us to do this, but ‘tis time alone that can ameliorate the pangs of humanity, and soften its woes.”
37 Fields, Worthy Partner, p. 371. For Martha Washington’s commitment to faith in divine providence and its connection to Christian and spiritual strength in the context of the lives of her family and friends, consider the following. All of these are from Fields, Worthy Partner, as noted.
p. 3 From Robert Carter Nicholas, Williamsburg, 7th August, 1757
“...how great Christian patience and resignation you submitted to your late misfortune;...”
p. 152, From John Parke Custis Kings-College July 5th (1773).
“I generally get up about Six or a little after, dress myself & go to chappel, by the time that Prayers are over Joe has me a little Breakfast to which I sit down very contended after eating heartyly. I thank God, and go to my Studys, with which I am employed till twelve then I take a walk and return about one dine with the professors, & after dinner study till Six at which time the Bell always rings for Prayers they being over college is broak up, and then we take what Amusement we please.
“Things My dear Mother were going on in this agreeable Manner, till last Thursday, the day I receiv’d Pappa’s melancholy Letter, giveing an account of my dear & only Sister’s Death. I myself met the Post, & brought the sad Epistle to Doctor Cooper who I beg’d to open his Letter immediately, the Direction I did not know, but the Seal I knew too well to be deceived. My confusion & uneasiness on this occasion is better conceiv’d that expresst. Her case is more to be envied than pitied, for if we mortals can distinguish between those who are deserveing of grace & who are not, I am confident she enjoys that Bliss prepar’d only for the good & virtuous, let these consideration, My dear Mother have their due weight with you and comfort yourself with reflecting that she now enjoys in substance what we in this world enjoy in imagination & that there is no real Happiness on this side of the grave. I must allow that to sustain a shock of this kind requires more Philosophy than we in general are (possest) off, my Nature could not bear the shock. (illegible) sunk under the load of oppression, and hindered me from administering any consolation to my dear and nearest relation, this Letter is the first thing I’ve done since I received the melancholy News, & could I think my Presence wou’d be condusive to the Restoration of your Tranquility neither the distance nor the Fatigue of traveling could detain me a moment here. I put myself & Joe into deep Mourning & shall do (all) Honour in my power to the Memory of a deceas’d & well belov’d Sister, I will no longer detain you on a subject which is painful to us both but conclude with beging you to remember you are a Christian and that we ought to submit with Patience to the divine Will and that to render you happy shall be the constant care of your effectionate and dutiful son.
John Parke Custis”
p.159 From George Washington, Philadelphia June 18, 1775.
“I shall rely therefore, confidently, on that Providence which has heretofore preservd, & been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall...”
p. 161 From George Washington, Phila. June 23rd. 1775.
“... I go fully trusting in that Providence, which has been more bountiful to me than I deserve, & in full confidence of happy Meeting with you sometime in the Fall-“
p. 175 To Burwell Bassett, My Dear Sir, Mount Vernon December 22d 1777.
“... she has I hope a happy exchange – and only gone a little before us the time draws near when I hope we shall meet never more to part-if to meet our departed Friends and know them was scertain we could have very little reason to desire to stay in this world where if we are at ease one hour we are in affliction days...
“... my dear sister in her life time often mentioned my taking my dear Fanny if should be taken away before she grew up- If you will lett her come to live with me, I will with the greatest pleasure take her and be a parent and mother to her as long as I live—and will come down for her as soon as I come from the northward, ...”
p.223-224 To Mercy Otis Warren, New York December the 26th 1789
“...for you know me well enough to do me the justice to believe that I am only fond of what comes from the heart....
.... it is owing to this kindness of our numerous friends in all quarters that my new and unwished for situation is not indeed a burden to me. ...With respect to myself, I sometimes think the arrangement is not quite as it ought to have been, that I, who had much rather be at home should occupy a place with which a great many younger and gayer women would be prodigiously pleased.—As my grand children and domestic connections made a great portion of felicity which I looked indemnify me for the Loss of a part of such endearing society. I do not say this because I feel dissatisfied with my present station—no, God forbid:—for everybody and everything conspire to make me as contented as possable in it; yet I have too much of the vanity of human affairs to expect felicity from the splendid scenes of public life. – I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from experianence that the greater part of our happiness or misary depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances; we carry the seeds of the one, or the other about with us, in our minds, wherever we go.”
p.339 To Jonathan Trumball Mount Vernon January 15, 1800
“...the good Christian will submit without repining to the Dispensations on Divine Providence and look for consolation to that Being who alone can pour balm into the bleeding Heart and who has promised to be the widows god -... your kind letter of condolence of the 30th of December was greatfull to my feeling....
...the loss is ours the gain is his....
“For myself I have only to bow with humble submission to the will of that God who giveth and who taketh away looking forward with faith and hope to the moment when I shall be again united with the Partner of my life But while I continue on Earth my prayers will be offered up for the welfare and Happiness of my Friends among who you will always be numbered being.”
p.364 To Catherine Livingston Garretson Mount Vernon, March 15t, 1800
“The kind sympathy which you expressed for my affictive loss – and your fervent prayers for my present comfort and future happiness, impress my mind with gratitude. The precepts of our holy Religion have long since taught me, that in the severe and trying scenes of life, our only sure Rock of comfort and consolation is the Divine Being who orders and directs all things for our good.
“Bowing with humble submission, to the dispensations of his Providence, and relying upon that support which he has promised to those who put their trust in him, I hope I have borne my late irreparable loss with Christian fortitude. – To a feeling heart, the sympathy of friends, and the evidences of universal respect paid to the memory of the deceased, - are truly grateful. – But while these aleviate our grief, we find that the only sense of comfort is from above.
“It give me great pleasure to hear that your good Mother yet retains her health and faculties unimpaired, - and that you experience those comforts which the Scriptures promise to those who obey the Laws of God. – That you may continue to enjoy the blessings of this life – and receive hereafter the portion of the Just is the prayer of your sincere friend & obt Serv.”
p.368 To Theodore Foster Mount Vernon, March 28, 1800
“While these evidences of respect and veneration paid to the memory of our illustrious Chief, make the most grateful impression on the heart of Mrs. Washington, she finds that the only source of Consolation is from that Divine Being who sends Comfort to the Afflicted, and has promised to be the Widow’s God. Your prayers for her health and happiness are received with gratitude, and reciprocates with sincerity.”
p. 371 To Janet Livingston Montgomery Mount Vernon, April 5th
“... your affliction I have often marked and as often have keenly felt for you but my own experience has taught me that griefs like these can not be removed by the condolence of friends however sincere – If the mingling tears of numerous friends – if the sympathy of a Nation and every testimony of respect of veneration paid to the memory of the partners of our hearts could afford consolation you and myself would experience it in the highest degree but we know that there is but one source from whence comfort can be derived under afflictions life ours To this we must look with pious resignation and with that pure confidence which our holy religion inspires.
...but as you justly observe it is certainly a consolation and flattering to poor mortality to believe that we shall meet here after in a better place.”
38 Sparks, The Writings of George Washington, vol. XII, pp. 405-407. See John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987), p. 140-141.
39 Lathrop, Discourse Before the Humane Society in Boston, p. 5. A summary of the sermon is provided here:
Lathrop begins by asserting that “Publick institutions, founded on the general principles of benevolence, and calculated either to promote the happiness or to alleviate the sufferings of human life, are honoured and encouraged among all the civilized nations of the world.” The establishment of the Humane Societies was based on the insight “That the total suspension of the vital functions of the animal body, is by no means incompatible with life....the success which has attended the exertions of societies formed for the recovery of persons visibly dead, particularly such as were drowned, has far exceeded expectation.” But the Humane Society, although medical in focus, decided to “be introduced with a Religious Exercise, and that the first Discourse be rather on the general object of the society, than confined to the Medical Science.” In other words, these were Christian physicians and Christian leaders coming together to do this good work in the very spirit of Christ Himself: “the words of our LORD, placed at the head of the Discourse, naturally lead us to consider the value of human life, and the duty of preserving it by every method in our power. The holy Evangelists who have faithfully recorded the life of JESUS CHRIST, abundantly testify that his actions perfectly corresponded with he declaration it the text: He constantly went about doing good.” [Emphasis is in the original.] Lathrop’s continuing explanation points out Jesus’ resurrections of the widow’s daughter, Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus. He points to the man as the highest creature of God who bears the image of God and so is to rule over all creation, including in areas of science and medicine. Useful knowledge and knowledge of the heavenly regions are all to be part of man’s scientific enterprise. In so doing, man is only being “the head of the creatures which dwell on the face of the earth...he longs to converse with superiour beings, and feels the highest pleasure in contemplating the perfections of his Creator, in the boundless Universe.”
