Washington’s lavish endorsement of Weems’ compilation requires us to take a close look at this book “whose contents do such credit to its title.”
THE MESSAGE OF THE IMMORTAL MENTOR: HOW TO BE HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE
The Immortal Mentor is a compilation of three different authors. The first section is by an Italian author named Luigi Cornaro, entitled, “Man’s Unerring Guide to a Long and Healthy Life.” Cornaro explains how, by replacing luxury and gluttony with frugality and temperance, even an ill person, as he himself once was, can attain a long and healthy life.
The second section is by Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His two short pieces are “The Way to Wealth” and “Advice to a Young Tradesman.” These are intended to instruct a young person on how hard work and thrift will result in the accumulation of wealth.
And the third and final section is by Dr. Thomas Scott.30 His is the longest selection, comprising more than half the book, and is entitled, “A Sure Guide To Happiness.” It is composed of two sections. The first is intended to teach love for God, and the second is to teach “social love,” or love for one’s neighbor. These two items, often considered the first and second great commandments in the Judeo-Christian tradition, are in Dr. Scott’s mind, the sure guide to happiness.
TEMPERANCE AND HEALTH
The Immortal Mentor is designed to explain how a person could be healthy, wealthy, and happy. What makes this book significant for our discussion of Washington’s religion is that it demonstrates that Washington truly enjoyed and appreciated a Christian perspective on these foundational questions of health, wealth, and happiness, for The Immortal Mentor underscores Christian principles. The first piece by Cornaro explains how temperance helps one to have a long life on earth and to seek forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven.
Cornaro writes,
...I must confess, it was not without great reluctance that I abandoned my luxurious way of living. I began with praying to God, that he would grant me the gift of Temperance, well knowing that he always hears our prayers with delight.
...that when he shakes hands with his vices, he is no longer a slave to the devil, and finds himself in a better condition of providing for the salvation of his soul: that God, whose goodness is infinite, has ordained that the man who comes to the end of his race, should end his life without any distemper, and so pass by a sweet and easy death, to a life of immortality and glory, which I expect. I hope (said I to him) to die singing the praises of my Creator. The sad reflection, that we must one day cease to live, is no disturbance to me, though I easily perceive, that at my age, that day cannot be far off; nor am I afraid of the terrors of hell, because, blessed be God, I have long ago shaken hands with my sins, and put my trust in the mercy and merits of the blood of Jesus Christ.31
ATTAINING WEALTH
The second section by Benjamin Franklin shows that when one works hard and exercises thrift and industry, he is able to accumulate wealth. In this regard he offers many practical hints from Franklin’s well-known Poor Richard’s Almanack such as:
Away, then with your expensive follies, and you will not then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for
Women and wine, game and deceit,
Makes the wealth small, and the want great.
And farther, “What maintains one vice, would bring up two children.” . . . Beware of little expences; “A small leak will sink a great ship,” as Poor Richard says.”32
The practical advice given to the “Young Tradesman” also helps make a man wealthy:
Remember that time is money....Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it during that time....Remember that money is of a prolific generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on...33
Finally, in Franklin’s mind, this accumulated wealth has a spiritual context. Under the Providence of God, wealth enables the diligent worker to become a useful neighbor to others.
This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom: but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blasted, without the blessing of Heaven; and therefore, ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember, Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous....34
In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them every thing. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he gets, (necessary expenses excepted) will certainly become rich; if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on their honest endeavors, doth not, in his wise providence, otherwise determine.35
TRUE WISDOM
The third section of the Immortal Mentor explains how a person can be truly happy. Dr. Thomas Scott an Anglican clergyman and biblical commentator begins this selection from his vast writings with an affirmation of revelation:
If there be any truth fully ascertained by reason and revelation, it is this, That “Man is not but to be happy.” ...Wherein consists the happiness of man?36
Dr. Scott teaches that happiness cannot be found in the body. To make this point he offers a graphic depiction of an old man dying:
Nature now sinks apace; his heart labours; his breast heaves; his breathing becomes short and quick; his eyes are hollow and sunk; his voice grows hoarse; he rattles in the throat; his limbs wax cold; his teeth turn black; he foams at the mouth; a feeble convulsion shakes his frame and, with a deep groan, his unwilling spirit takes her leave. Immediately putrefaction and worms begin their loathsome office; and in a little time, this pampered, idolized flesh, returns to the dust of which it was formed.37
From this painful image of death, Dr. Scott draws this spiritual lesson:
Who can contemplate this picture, and not bewail with tears of blood, the madness of those who expect their only happiness from such a vile body! O how infinitely superior to these miserable delusions is the Heaven descended philosophy of Jesus Christ! In that divine religion, the body, instead of being exalted as the seat of our happiness, is depreciated as the principal cause of our misery, being, as the poet expresses it, not only a nest of pain and bag of corruption, but the most fruitful source of our sins and sorrows. Christ seldom mentions the body....38
Just as happiness cannot be found in the body, nor can it be found in the wealth of this world. Dr. Scott writes,
But the vanity of seeking happiness from riches, honors and pleasures, is yet more convincingly felt when death comes to put a final close to this mortal scene. Ah! my friends, this is the awful hour that strips off the tinsel coverings of folly, stamps vanity on all beneath the sun, and shews that “too low they build, who build beneath the stars.”
In that day of terror and despair, what can a vain world offer its poor deluded followers... The remembrance of a life misspent in vain or in guilty pleasures, will fill the soul with pangs of remorse, with agonies of horror, of which none but the wretched sufferers can form any idea. . . . “I have neglected God, and sold my birth-right to heaven! Me, miserable! Whether am I going? My golden sands are all run out! The sun of my life is about to set, and, utterly unprepared, I am going to appear before God.” . . . then, when earth, and only earth, hath been the pursuit, what wretchedness to be torn from all that was counted happiness; to leave this dear world behind them forever, to go—Ah! Whither? Not to treasures laid up for them in heaven; not to the place where they have made themselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; but where that rich man went who lift up his eyes in torment, because, though rich in this world, he was not rich towards God.39
Instead of finding happiness in the pleasures of the body or in the pursuit of wealth, Dr. Scott argues that happiness can only be found in love, a love that is aimed toward God and toward one’s neighbor.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,” says the divine Teacher. ... “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; for where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.”—What treasures? Why love,—Love to God and to our neighbour.40
The man who loves God, says Dr. Scott, is the only truly wise man. He is the one following the words of “the divine Teacher”—Jesus Christ.
He who loves God is the alone wise, dignified and happy man. For he loves the only good that is worthy the affections of an immortal mind. He loves a friend who alone possesses almighty power to protect him, unerring wisdom to counsel him, and infinite love to bless him. He loves an immortal friend who can never die and forsake him, and an unchangeable friend who will never requite his love with neglect.41
And finally, Dr. Scott’s teaching of love is much closer to the religion of Paul than that of Mr. Thomas Paine,
But love not only thus marshals an army with banners around us for our safety; it also pours a sweet sunshine of peace and harmony over our days. St. Paul, who was a much safer guide in matters of religion, than Mr. Paine, advises us to walk in love with our neighbours, if we would lead a quiet and peaceable life. For as men naturally perceive a fragrance in the rose, and a sweetness in the honey-comb; so naturally do they discern a heavenly charm and beauty in love.42
How does the explicitly Christian content of the Reverend Weems’ Immortal Mentor impact the question of Washington’s views of Christianity?
We believe that it directly impacts the question of Washington’s Christianity. Consider again Washington’s assessment of Weems’ work. Washington wrote to Reverend Weems declaring that he had “perused” (read carefully) his book with “singular satisfaction.” In short, he found the book to have been deeply satisfying to his soul. The significance of this statement is that only on one other occasion did Washington ever write such a declaration of approval to a published work. This second instance of Washington’s “singular satisfaction” was expressed to the Reverend John Lathrop in regard to the Humane Society’s dramatic and successful efforts to save lives from near death situations. He wrote to Reverend Lathrop,
Reverend and respected Sir: Your very acceptable favour of the 16th. of May, covering a recent publication of the proceedings of the Humane Society [of Massachusetts] have, within a few days past, been put into my hands. I observe, with singular satisfaction, the cases in which your benevolent Institution has been instrumental in recalling some of our Fellow creatures (as it were) from beyond the gates of Eternity, and has given occasion for the hearts of parents and friends to leap for joy. The provision made for the preservation of ship-wrecked Mariners is also highly estimable in the view of every philanthropic mind and greatly consolatory to that suffering part of the Community. These things will draw upon you the blessings of those, who were nigh to perish. These works of charity and good-will towards men reflect, in my estimation, great lustre upon the authors and presage an æra of still father improvements. How pitiful, in the eye of reason and religion, is that false ambition which desolates the world with fire and sword for the purposes of conquest and fame; when compared to the milder virtues of making our neighbours and our fellow men as happy as their frail conditions and perishable natures will permit them to be!43
Thus, Washington greeted Weems’ book with the same “singular satisfaction” that he afforded to the Reverend Dr. Lathrop’s gift of the report of the Humane Society. The point to be seen here is that the Christian ethic of saving mankind’s physical life and the Christian message of saving mankind’s spiritual life both brought “singular satisfaction” to Washington’s soul.
Washington further declared that he hoped that Weems’ book would receive an “extensive patronage,” or a broad audience. In his opinion, it was an extremely well-named book, given the selections that were offered. Thus, Washington could delight in and encourage Christian ideas, even though these Christian concepts were circulated by the much maligned Parson Weems.
CONCLUSION: THE REVENGE OF PARSON WEEMS
Whether one agrees or not with Weems’ historical writings, it is clear that Washington embraced Weems’ theological perspective and had had substantial historical encounters with Weems and his Christian beliefs. This may come as a surprise to many, since no historian who has written on Washington in the last century has even commented on it, let alone considered this evidence of Washington’s advocacy of the theology of the consistently ridiculed Reverend Mason Weems. Ironically, Washington here stands as an advocate of Reverend Weems and his theology.
What is the conclusion here? Only a Christian could have taken the views expressed by Washington to a preacher publishing a book with such explicit Christian themes. Washington could not have done so as a Deist.
Scholars know they can’t rely on Parson Weems’ biography of Washington. Nevertheless, they must trust Washington’s own words concerning the Christian book compiled by Parson Weems. With “singular satisfaction,” or distinct pleasure, we declare that the only legitimate conclusion that can be drawn from this evidence is that Washington was an advocate of and a believer in the Christian faith.
THIRTY SIX
George Washington’s Sacred Fire
“We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”
