• Unless Deists are those that abhor the “black and detestable sin” of ingratitude, that devoutly hope, that devoutly wish, that devoutly pray and find their feelings wounded by those who do not honor the name of the divine source of every blessing in life.
• Unless Deists are those who long from the first wish of their hearts to help Christian clergymen in their “pious endeavors to inculcate a due sense of the dependence we ought to place in that all wise and powerful Being on whom alone our success depends.”
If that is what a “warm Deist” is, then such should come and worship at a Christian church, for they will be most welcome indeed.
EIGHTEEN
George Washington and Prayer
“...That the God of Armies may Incline the Hearts of my American Brethren to support, and bestow sufficient abilities on me to bring the present contest to a speedy and happy conclusion,…is the first wish, and most fervent prayer of my Soul.
”
George Washington, April 15, 1777
1
One night during the Revolutionary War, a kindly couple who lived near the woods close to the Hudson River took in a stranger. He sought shelter at the home of this farm couple because of a severe thunderstorm. During the night, the man came to check on his guest’s room and overheard him in audible prayer. The next day, when the stranger was to leave, he revealed his identity. It was General George Washington himself.2 This story that Washington was found in prayer was told over and over by different sources and in different places. Are these accounts true, or are they, as Paul Boller and others hold, mere pietistic legends?
Clearly, Washington did not wear his religion on his sleeve in the midst of his life of action and leadership. Was he a man of prayer? We believe the evidence demonstrates that George Washington was a man of prayer. It also appears clear to us that he followed the historic Christian practice of secret prayer, as taught in such texts as Matthew 6:5,6. Edward M’Guire, who wrote a biography of George Washington in 1836, attempting to highlight his Christian faith, makes the following pointed remark: “He who prays habitually in secret, furnishes the best possible evidence of his sincerity. Such a one cannot be a dissembler. He has regard to no eye, but that of his Maker.”3
But this means we have an interesting challenge in our investigation of Washington’s religion. How can one establish the reality of a man’s prayer life if it was largely done in secret? Alleged secret prayers, since they are unobserved, could be no prayers at all. To start our discussion, it is relevant to note one fairly credible written record that evidences the prayer life of Washington. Bishop William Meade printed a letter from General Lewis, of Augusta County, Virginia, to the Reverend Mr. Dana, of Alexandria, dated December 14, 1855.
Reverend and Dear Sir: - When (some week ago) I had the pleasure of seeing you in Alexandria, and in our conversation the subject of the religious opinions and character of General Washington was spoken of, I repeated to you the substance of what I had heard from the late General Robert Porterfield, of Augusta, and which at your request I promised to reduce to writing at some leisure moment and send to you. I proceed now to redeem the promise. Some short time before the death of General Porterfield, I made him a visit and spent a night at his house. He related many interesting facts that had occurred within his own observation in the war of the Revolution, particularly in the Jersey campaign and the encampment of the army at Valley Forge. He said that his official duty (being brigade-inspector) frequently brought him in contact with General Washington. Upon one occasion, some emergency (which he mentioned) induced him to dispense with the usual formality, and he went directly to General Washington’s apartment, where he found him on his knees, engaged in his morning devotions. He said that he mentioned the circumstance to General Hamilton, who replied that such was his constant habit.4
Is there evidence in the writings of Washington to substantiate his alleged prayer life?
THE DAILY SACRIFICE
In the 1890s, a small book of handwritten prayers was found among some of George Washington’s effects. Some scholars purported that these were in Washington’s own handwriting. Some proposed that he had authored them. Others claimed he merely copied them. Regardless of the confusion over their authorship, they were considered by many to be authentic. This seemed to advance the argument over Washington’s faith in the Christian direction, especially since these prayers were marked by a deep Christian piety. But are they authentic? Evangelicals today often quote these prayers with the assertion that they are his. The reality, however, is that we cannot prove that at this juncture.
Meanwhile, we can prove within reason a host of other points related to the prayer life of Washington, including his use of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. And note well, the alleged Washington prayer book, known as The Daily Sacrifice, contains prayers which in tone, theology, and piety are quite similar to the 1662 Church of England’s Book of Common Prayer.
Again, we take the minimalist facts approach here. Since it can be demonstrated that Washington used that liturgical guide, we prefer to promote that book rather than The Daily Sacrifice, which cannot be proven to be authentically his. There is no doubt, however, that this handwritten prayer guide was in his possession, since it was found among his effects. There is doubt as to whether it was in his handwriting. Boller diminishes the significance of these prayers being in Washington’s effects by arguing that while such a “book” was found among his papers, writings by Deist Thomas Paine were also found in his library. Moreover, how do we know he even read them?
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.
