|
Letter
from George Washington to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in the United States of America of 1789.
In
1789, Bishop Asbury and several other Methodist leaders
conveyed a message of congratulation and of assurance
of their support to President Washington. The letter
that follows contains his response. This letter is significant
because it very clearly demonstrates two of George Washington's
characteristics — his deep interest in religion and
his broad and tolerant attitude of all religions. Finally,
this letter conveys Washington's impartial attitude
towards "genuine, vital religion."
RJ&L
Religious Institutions Group
Gentlemen:
I return to you individually, and through you to your Society
collectively in the United States, my thanks for the demonstration
of affection, and the expressions of joy offered, in their
behalf, on my late appointment. It shall be my endeavor
to manifest the purity of my inclinations for promoting
the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of my
desires to contribute whatever may be in my power toward
the civil and religious liberties of the American people.
In pursuing this line of conduct, I hope, by the assistance
of divine Providence, not altogether to disappoint the confidence
which you have been pleased to repose in me.
It
always affords me satisfaction when I find a concurrence
of sentiment and practice between all conscientious men,
in acknowledgements of homage to the great Governor of the
universe, and in professions of support to a just civil
government. After mentioning that I trust the people of
every denomination who demean themselves as good citizens
will have occasion to be convinced that I shall always strive
to prove a faithful and impartial patron of genuine, vital
religion, I must assure you in particular that I take in
the kindest part the promise you make of presenting your
prayers at the throne of grace for me, and that I likewise
implore the divine benediction on yourselves and your religious
community.
Letter
from George Washington to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church (1789), in History of Methodists in the United
States, at 266-67 (J.M. Buckley).
| 
