Passing on the Reformed Church’s religion to posterity in a pure and unde filed form. (15.3)
The reciprocated prayer to “enter triumphantly thro’ the Blood of the Lamb, into the Regions of Bliss there to take possession of that Crown of Glory, the Reward of the Virtuous and which fadeth not away.” (21.8)
The reciprocated prayer that “When removed from this earthly scene you may, through the merits of the Redeemer, receive a crown of glory in heaven.” (21.10)
A benediction for justice and heaven’s favor here and hereafter. (6.7)
This summary is an unanswerable critique of the Deist claim that Washington was not a Christian.
CONCLUSION
Normally, Deists rarely pray. But a Deist would never pray in such Christian terms. The prayers summarized in this chapter demonstrate that Washington was a practicing Christian. No Deist whose ethic may have permitted him to misrepresent his faith for political advantage could have simultaneously prayed so Christian-like, so extensively, and yet so falsely. Having established the unassailable evidence of Washington’s prayer life, we will next turn our attention to the question, “Did Washington really pray at Valley Forge?”
NINETEEN
Valley Forge:
The Crucible of Washington’s “Sacred Cause”
“The General … persuades himself, that the officers and soldiers, with one heart, and one mind, will resolve to surmount every difficulty, with a fortitude and patience, becoming their profession, and the sacred cause in which they are engaged.
”
George Washington, December 17, 1777
1
Washington led his patriot army to the wintry hills northwest of Philadelphia in late December 1777, after being defeated at Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and Germantown (October 4, 1777). In so doing, he did more than secure an outpost with a strategic advantage for the work of his army. He also forged the legacy and character of his nation.
The proximity and height of the hills of Valley Forge provided surveillance of the British Army enjoying a comfortable winter in captured and civilized Philadelphia. But the sheer barrenness of the woods and fields of Valley Forge, with its raw exposure to the inclement elements, created a daily and deadly enemy for Washington’s half-naked and undersupplied army. The frigid struggle for survival by the American Army in its “sacred cause” of liberty gave Valley Forge symbolic meaning, for the winter of 1777-78 would be the lowest “valley” of American hope and morale.
Yet the struggles and doubt endured were to “forge” the character of a nation. The anvil of perseverance struck by the unyielding blows of the hammer of suffering formed not just an army. When the hope of spring was buoyed with the commitment of aid by the King of France, Washington’s army left Valley Forge with a spring in its step and a character formed in the indelible likeness of General Washington. For it was his exemplary leadership and steadfast character that kept the beleaguered patriot army from disbanding in the face of deprivation, death, and despair.
WASHINGTON WAS PRESENT WHEN AMERICA OPENED IN PRAYER
Unaccustomed as most Americans have become to the beliefs of our founders, it may be a surprise to learn that America was begun in prayer. If that’s a surprise to us, it was not to Washington, because he was there. Remembering this fact helps to explain why Washington saw his Army as the champions of a “sacred cause.”
To set the stage for Valley Forge, we need to go back a little over three years and consider America’s first step toward independence begun in Philadelphia at Carpenter’s Hall. The First Continental Congress could not meet at the Pennsylvania State House, today called Independence Hall, because their discussions were viewed as too radical for the Pennsylvania legislature, which was loyal to the King. So the local carpenters’ guild shared their newly constructed building, Carpenter’s Hall.
When the American delegates gathered, they knew why they had come—to address the crisis that had begun in Boston. But how should they go about their work? The Congress decided that its first official act would be to open in prayer.
This was not a simple decision, as can be seen in John Adams’ letter to his wife Abigail, written from Philadelphia on September, 16, 1774:
…When the Congress first met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be opened with prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay, of New York, and Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina, because we were so divided in religious sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Anabaptists, some Presbyterians, and some Congregationalists, that we could not join in the same act of worship. Mr. Samuel Adams arose and said he was no bigot, and could hear a prayer from a gentleman of piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his country. He was a stranger in Philadelphia, but had heard that Mr. Duche (Dushay they pronounce it) deserved that character, and therefore he moved that Mr. Duche, an Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to read prayers to the Congress, tomorrow morning. The motion was seconded and passed in the affirmative. Mr. Randolph, our president, waited on Mr. Duche, and received for an answer that if his health would permit he certainly would. Accordingly, next morning he appeared with his clerk and in his pontificals, and read several prayers in the established form; and then read the Collect for the seventh day of September, which was the thirty-fifth Psalm. You must remember this was the next morning after we heard the horrible rumor of the cannonade of Boston. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning.
…After this Mr. Duche, unexpected to everybody, struck out into an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced. Episcopalian as he is, Dr. Cooper himself (Dr. Samuel Cooper, well known as a zealous patriot and pastor of the church in Brattle Square, Boston) never prayed with such fervor, such earnestness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime— for America, for the Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially the town of Boston. It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here...2
Dr. Jacob Duché’s prayer in Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia given at the first meeting of the First Continental Congress in September, 1774 says,
Our Lord, our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of Kings, Lord of Lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth, and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all kingdoms, empires, and governments, look down in mercy, we beseech thee, upon these American States who have fled to Thee from the rod of the Oppressor, and thrown themselves upon Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only upon Thee.
To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause. To Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care. Give them wisdom in council and valor in the field. Defeat the malicious design of our cruel adversaries. Convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause, and if they still persist in their sanguinary purpose, O let the voice of Thine own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop their weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle. Be Thou present, O Lord of Wisdom, and direct the Council of the honorable Assembly. Enable them to settle things upon the best and surest foundation, that the scene of blood may speedily be closed; that order, harmony, and peace may effectually be restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst Thy people.
Preserve the health of their bodies, the vigor of their minds. Shower down upon them, and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seeist expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Savior. Amen.3
Washington was part of this Congressional prayer meeting. In 1875, the Library of Congress produced a placard that summarized various reports from the founders on the impact that this first prayer had on the Continental Congress. It reads,
Washington was kneeling there, and Henry, Randolph, Rutledge, Lee, and Jay, and by their side there stood, bowed in reverence, the Puritan Patriots of New England, who at that moment had reason to believe that an armed soldiery was wasting their humble households. It was believed that Boston had been bombarded and destroyed.
They prayed fervently ‘for America, for Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for the town of Boston,’ and who can realize the emotion with which they turned imploringly to Heaven for Divine interposition and—‘It was enough’ says Mr. Adams, ‘to melt a heart of stone. I saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, Pacific Quakers of Philadelphia.”4
Washington reviewing the encampment at Valley Forge
The rumor of Boston’s destruction turned out to be false. But the next year, 1775, at the Second Continental Congress, Washington was commissioned by Congress as the commander in chief and sent to defend Boston.
VALLEY FORGE: THE CRUCIBLE OF THE “SACRED CAUSE”
And it was in Boston where Washington made his first written and public claim that the American cause was fired by a holy flame. In August 1775, a potent salvo from Washington penned to General Gage criticized the unjust treatment of American prisoners:5 “I purposely avoided all political Disquisition; nor shall I now avail myself of those Advantages, which the sacred Cause of my Country of Liberty, and human Nature, give me over you.”6 The “sacred Cause” was a theme Washington spoke of to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull7 and his officers,8 and to the president of the Congress. As General Washington wrote to the president, he concluded with a brief prayer that focused on the “sacredness of the cause”:
I trust through Divine Favor and our own Exertions they will be disappointed in their Views, and at all Events, any advantages they may gain will cost them very dear. If our Troops will behave well, which I hope will be the case, having every thing to contend for that Freemen hold dear, they will have to wade thro’ much Blood and Slaughter before they can carry any part of our Works, if they carry them at all; and at best be in possession of a Melancholly and Mournfull Victory. May the Sacredness of our cause inspire our Soldiery with Sentiments of Heroism, and lead them to the performance of the noblest Exploits.9
But it was at Valley Forge that the true cost of the sacrifice for such a holy cause would be measured. Washington wrote to John Banister, a Virginia delegate to Congress from Valley Forge on April 21, 1778.
