When the doctors had him sit up, he said, “I feel myself going, I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me, let me go off quietly, I can not last long.” Lear then heard his last words, “I am just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the Vault in less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand me?” When Lear said he did, Washington spoke his last words, “Tis well.” Martha Washington had been seated by his bed the whole time with her Bible.87 Lear’s narrative concludes, “He expired without a struggle or a sigh! While we were fixed in silent grief, Mrs. Washington (who was sitting at the foot of the bed) asked with a firm & collected voice, ’Is he gone?’ I could not speak, but held up my hand as a signal that he was not more. ‘Tis well,’ said she in the same voice, ‘All is now over I shall soon follow him! I have no more trials to pass through!’”88
Lear’s account concluded on Christmas Day, 1799: “I this day sent to Alexa. for the Plumber to come down & close the leaden Coffin containing the General’s Body, as Judge Washington [Bushrod Washington, Washington’s nephew and future U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and heir of Mount Vernon] had arrived, and did not incline to see the remains. The Plumbers [those who soldered the coffin shut] came. I went with them to the Tomb—I took a last look—a last farewell of that face, which still appeared unaltered. I attended the Closing of the Coffin—and beheld for the last time that face which shall be seen no more here; but which I hope to meet in Heaven.”89 (emphasis in the original)
Washington’s death was faced with a confident acceptance of the decrees of God, as a debt that all must pay, to be looked upon with perfect resignation.90 Thus he could say to his dear friend, Dr. Craik, “I die hard; but I am not afraid to go” and “I pray you to take no more trouble about me, let me go off quietly, I can not last long.” So he could address his burial and conclude his life with the last words of “’Tis well.” These were expressions of a confident faith.
THE LETTERS OF CONSOLATION TO MRS. WASHINGTON
As we conclude our discussion of Washington’s view of immortality, it is significant to note that he not only wrote of his belief in immortality, but those who wrote to Martha and to whom Martha then answered all affirmed their belief in Washington’s salvation and entrance into eternal life.
Martha, grieving at the passing of her illustrious husband, was ministered to with words of encouragement such as the following from Theodore Foster, a Rhode Island political figure,
...For he was so universally belovd that his Eulogy is now and will continue to be a delightful Theme, for the good, the Sentimental and the ingenious in all future Time. That Almighty God may preserve you, in Health, console you by the Supporting Influence of his Spirit, and bestow on you all possible Happiness is the sincere Prayer...91
On behalf of Martha, family secretary Tobias Lear wrote him back:
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.92
Meanwhile, Martha herself replied to acquaintance Catherine Garreston with the following,
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 gives 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.93
CONCLUSION
Washington lived his life with a hope for the approval of heaven.94 Those who corresponded with him became convinced that he wrote as a Christian.95 In the minds of Washington’s family and friends, George Washington died as he had lived—as a Christian with the hope of eternal life. It only stands to reason that those who knew him personally are better qualified to testify as to his faith and attitude toward life and death than modern scholars two hundred years later, some of whom seem to have a point to make: that Washington was a Deist.
So, note what Washington’s own contemporaries said about him after his death. The Earl of Buchan wrote,
I have this day received from my brother, at London, the afflicting tidings of the death of your admirable husband, my revered kinsman and friend.....He was one of those whom the Almighty, in successive ages, has chosen and raised up to promote the ultimate designs of his goodness and mercy, in the gradual melioration of his creatures and the coming of his kingdom, which is in heaven.... His course is finished...in the hopes afforded by the Gospel of pardon and peace! He therefore, Madam, to continue my parallel, may be accounted singularly happy, since by dying according to his own Christian and humble wish expressed on many occasions, while his credit was nowise impaired, his fame in all it splendor, his relations and friends not only in a state of comfort and security, but of honor, he was probably to escape many evils incident to declining years. Moreover, he saw the government of his country in hands conformable to our joint wishes and to the safety of the nation, and a contingent succession opening, not less favorable to the liberties and happiness of the people.96
Washington’s close confidant, David Humphreys (Washington’s only chosen biographer), wrote,
I know you were ever exposed to listen to the voice of friendship, reason, and religion....he has gone before us from these mutable scenes of trouble to the mansions of eternal rest. We too, are hastening to follow him “to that undiscovered country from whose Bourne no traveller returns.”
...and may you not derive some rational comfort from the recollection that the great and good man whom we now mourn as having been subject to the lot of mortality, has faithfully discharged every duty in life; from a belief that he has now entered upon a glorious immortality; and from a conviction that, after having rendered to his country more important services than any other human character ever performed, his example will continue to be a blessing to mankind so long as the globe shall exist as a theater for human action?97
Humphreys again wrote,
...It seems not unreasonable to suppose (from the wonderful change of sentiments which has since taken place in France) that his death was ordained by Providence to happen exactly at the point of time, when the salutary influence of his example would be more extensively felt than it would have been at any other period....
In either extremity of life so immediately does the lot of Genl Washington appear to have been the charge of Heaven. Since the mortal as well as the natal hour if unchangeably fixed, it becomes our duty to acquiesce in the wise dispensation of the Deity. The illustrious father of his Country was long since prepared for that event. You will remember, when his life was despaired of at New York, he addressed these words to me: “I know it is very doubtful whether ever I shall arise from this bed and God knows it is perfectly indifferent to me whether I do or not.”—Amidst all the successes & all the honours of the world he knew “that no man is to be accounted happy until after death. Happy is it that the seal of immortality is set on the character of his, whose counsels, as well as his actions were calculated to increase the sum of human happiness.98
Jonathan Trumbull, the son of one of Washington’s closest political allies, Connecticut Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, wrote to Martha:
A second Father, as he has been, in many respects to me, -his Death has opened afresh the deeply impressed Wound, which the Loss of my first venerable parent had formerly occasioned. But he is gone and our Duty, however hard it may be at the first instance, is to Bow submissive to the Divine Will—His own words, written to me on a similar occasion (the Death of my Father) are so peculiarly consolatory at the moment, and are also so particularly applicable to my subject as well as to himself that I am impelled to give them to you without apology, etc99
This is the letter where Washington wrote of Governor Trumbull, “All these combining have secured to this memory universal respect and love here, and no doubt immeasurable happiness hereafter.”100 The point is that young Jonathan Trumbull is declaring that Washington’s words of his father’s immortality applied equally well to Washington. Martha Washington agreed. She wrote in return,
...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. Dear Sir, your sincere and afflicted friend, Martha Washington...101
It is clear that Martha believed her husband was a Christian and had entered into the immortality of heaven. Her faith was “I shall be again united with the partner of my life.” Martha and her friends believed that Washington had lived and died as a Christian.
Scholars today may not accept that Washington believed in immortality, but it is clear that those who knew him were sure he was a true Christian.102
Washington clearly expressed a belief in everlasting life by the mercies of God’s grace. When scholars reject Washington’s belief in immortality, they do so in spite of the ample record of Washington’s faith in eternal life. A scholar’s unbelief in immortality, should that be the case, does not permit this conclusive evidence to be dismissed. There is indisputable evidence that Washington, as well as the Washington family as a whole, had a sincere belief in the hope of eternal life.
THIRTY FIVE
The Revenge of Parson Weems:
Washington’s Unparalleled Praise for an Unexpected Person
“For your kind compliment—‘The Immortal Mentor,’ I beg you to accept my best thanks. I have perused it with singular satisfaction; and hesitate not to say that it is in my opinion at least, an invaluable compilation. I cannot but hope that a book whose contents do such credit to its title, will meet a very generous patronage.”
George Washington to Parson Weems
1
The story of the Reverend Mason Locke Weems (1759 - 1825), or Parson Weems as he is usually titled, is a fascinating topic for Washington studies. The reason is evident: Weems’ biography of Washington was the first bestseller on Washington’s life. We have intentionally developed our study of the religious ideas of George Washington without dependence on Weems’ biography. Nevertheless, neither Weems’ life nor his writings can be entirely ignored. And once again, as in other aspects of Washington and religion, a deeper look at the existing evidence argues for the authenticity of our first president’s Christianity.
Born in Maryland, Mason Weems was the youngest of nineteen children. He first studied medicine. Later he pursued theology, and in 1784 he was one of the first two Americans to be ordained in the Church of England after the Revolutionary War. He preached for several years in Maryland churches and eventually added to his ministry the publishing and sales of religious books. He wrote several books, including such fascinating titles as: Hymen’s Recruiting Sargeant, or The New Matrimonial Tat-too for Old Bachelors; The Philanthropist, or a Good Twenty-Five Cents Worth of Political Love-Powder; God’s Revenge Against Dueling; God’s Revenge Against Gambling; God’s Revenge Against Adultery. He wrote a biography of Francis Marion—the famous “swamp fox,” (who was the chief inspiration for Mel Gibson’s The Patriot) as well as publishing other books aimed at producing good morals or answering the deistic views of Thomas Paine.
WEEMS’ LIFE OF WASHINGTON
But far beyond these titles, we must recognize the sheer impact Parson Weems’ The Life of Washington has had on the American historical consciousness of Washington. His biography became wildly successful and went through many printings. First published in 1800, it was so popular that some fifty-nine editions had appeared before 1850. Weems’ bestseller even made a significant impact on the youthful Abraham Lincoln. Weems’ masterwork is still in print as an important historical work.2
The first edition was being written while Washington was alive and began with Weems’ inscription:
Go thy way old George. Die when thou wilt,
We shall not look upon thy like again.
But Washington died on December 14, 1799, and accordingly, these opening lines were deleted. The most famous of all of his stories is the “cherry tree” incident. Weems’ version of the alleged historic anecdote follows:
When George was about 6 years old, he was made the wealthy owner of a hatchet, of which, like most little boys, he was immoderately fond; and was constantly going about chopping every thing which came in his way. One day, in the garden, where he often amused himself by hacking his mother’s pea-sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on the body of a beautiful young English cherry tree, which he barked so terribly, that I don’t believe the tree ever got the better of it. The next morning, the old gentleman, finding out what had befallen his tree, which, by the by, was a great favourite, came into the house; and with much warmth asked for the mischievous author, declaring at the same time, that he would not have taken 5 guineas for his tree. Nobody would tell him anything about it. Presently George and his hatchet made their appearance. “George,” said his father, “do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden?”
