But we should keep some things in mind as we respond to Boller’s claim here. First, George Washington did not have Paine’s Age of Reason in his library. Further, there is no parallel example of a written manuscript in George Washington’s possession that advocated a Deist viewpoint, which at least leads us to ask why Washington even bothered to have such spiritual writings in his possession at all?
The entire text of The Daily Sacrifice prayers is found in appendix 4. But there was another prayer book that Washington did in fact use for his daily sacrifice of prayer to his God. This was the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. The evidence clearly shows that this book he bought, he read, he shared with others, and used for his prayers.
THE 1662 BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
From a careful consideration of the evidence, it is clear that Washington was a regular user of the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church. The next major edition of the Book of Common Prayer did not occur until after the Revolutionary War and at the inauguration of the U.S. Constitution in 1789, when the Anglican Church in America became the Episcopal Church.
As we consider the 1662 Book of Common Prayer it is important to remember that it was a theologically orthodox book, teaching prayer and worship consistent with historic Christian doctrine. Throughout his lifelong pattern of worship in the Anglican Church, whenever Washington worshiped, the parish priest or lay-reader would use this liturgical guide. Furthermore, Washington’s papers show that he even ordered a pocket-sized edition of the prayer book, so he could carry it with him.
INVOICE OF GOODS TO BE SHIPD BY ROBERT CARY & CO.
FOR THE USE OF GEO. WASHINGTON, POTOMACK RIVER, VIRGINIA, VIZ.
July 18, 1771.
A Prayr. Book with the new Version of Psalms and good plain type, covd. with red Moroco., to be 7 Inchs. long 4 wide, and as thin as possible for the greatr. ease of caryg. in the Pocket. 5
Here’s an example of the morning prayers during a daily service, coming from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, with the scripture verses and prayers that Washington and fellow-worshipers would have recited:
The Order for Morning Prayer,
Daily Throughout the Year.
At the beginning of Morning Prayer the Minister shall read with a loud voice some one or more of these Sentences of the Scriptures that follow….
WHEN the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Ezek. 18:27.
I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:3.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Psalm 51:9.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17.
Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws which he set before us. Daniel 9:9, 10.
O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. Jer. 10:24. Psalm 6:1.
Repent ye; for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. St. Matt. 3:2.
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. St. Luke 15:18, 19.
Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Psalm 143:2.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 St. John 1:8, 9.6
These scriptures provide an outline of the historic Christian Gospel—we are sinners before a just God. We need to repent of our sins and turn to the Lord for forgiveness. After reading these convicting Bible verses, the worshipers would recite the following prayers of repentance and of forgiveness:
A general Confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister, all kneeling.
ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou them that are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
The Absolution, or Remission of sins, to be pronounced by the Priest alone, standing; the people still kneeling.
ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins : He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him, which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure, and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The people shall answer here, and at the end of all other prayers, Amen.7
Whatever may have been Washington’s personal faith, it is clear that the guide for worship used by his church, his family, his soldiers, and himself was unmistakably Christian.
WASHINGTON’S USE OF THE PRAYER BOOK AT BRADDOCK’S FUNERAL
During the French and Indian War, George Washington presided over the funeral of his British commanding officer, General Edward Braddock, shot in the massacre at Monongahela on July 9, 1755. For this funeral service, Washington again used the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and he did so by candlelight. They buried Braddock in the middle of the trail, so that Indians would not find and desecrate his grave.
The service he would have said that fateful night began with these three Bible verses. (Note that the first was put on Washington’s own tomb thirty years after he died):
The Order for the Burial of the Dead.
I AM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. St. John 11:25, 26.
I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shalt stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. Job 19:25, 26, 27.
WE brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord. 1 Tim. 6:7. Job 1:21.
Then, after reading a Psalm, the priest (on in this case, the lay-leader) was to read from the Resurrection chapter:
1 Cor. 15. 20
NOW is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive….Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, (for the trumpet shall sound,) and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality; then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
After other prayers (such as the Lord’s Prayer) are said and other scriptures are read, the leader closes with this prayer and the attached benediction
O MERCIFUL God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in him: We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our brother doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world: Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.
THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.8
Again, how could a Deist say all these words in good conscience? The point is simply this: George Washington was an eighteenth century Anglican, and we do injustice to his memory by ripping him out of that context, as many modern scholars consistently do.
WASHINGTON’S SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CALLS FOR PRAYER
As a military and political leader, George Washington called for prayer on a multitude of occasions or he received such requests from Congress and church leaders, and then passed them on to others with his blessing and commitment to participate. Excellent examples of the Congressional calls for prayer come from 17779 and 1779. On the second date, Washington, acting on Congress’ request, not only ordered his men to pray but in the process, mentioned “our gracious redeemer,” the “light of the gospel,” “the church,” “the light of Christian knowledge,” and “the Holy Spirit.” Washington proceded to command his chaplains to promulgate this message to the whole army.10
After the end of the War, General Washington explained how the surrender of the British would be proclaimed to the troops, making sure that he gave thanks to God first.
General Orders
Friday, April 18, 1783.
