Posted on 12/23/2013 1:48:31 PM PST by Pharmboy
He was one of the founders of the Powhick church; I will visit there some day for sure. I try and attend mass at the churches the General attended. So far, only three (Christ Church in Alexandria; Christ Church in Philadelphia; and St Paul’s Chapel in NYC). When he could, he attended with Martha and the family, but for reasons only known to him, he never took communion, but Martha always did.
What is your source for this?
While at church, Washington was "always serious and attentive," reported William White, the minister at Christ Church in Philadelphia during and after the revolution – but he never kneeled. More significant, Washington did not generally take communion, perhaps the most deeply spiritual act in the Anglican Church. In fact, he would generally leave services before his wife Martha, who often did take the sacrament. Dr. James Abercrombie, assistant rector of Christ Church acknowledged that Washington was "a professing Christian" who attended regularly but added, "I cannot consider any man as a real Christian who uniformly disregards an ordinance so solemnly enjoined by the divine Author of our holy religion, and considered as a channel of divine grace." So disappointed was Abercrombie that he made a not-so-veiled reference to Washington's behavior in a sermon.
When Washington learned of the sermon he dug in his heels. He explained that if he were to suddenly switch to taking communion, after years of not doing so, it would be viewed as "an ostentatious display of religious zeal." Significantly, Washington's solution, then, was not to start taking communion – but rather to avoid church on the Sundays when communion was being offered.
And please remember, sir, that the First Great Awakening had little effect on the Anglicans.
MAJOR BTTT!!
Thank you for a WONDERFUL post!
I don’t frequent this place much these days but very glad I did today! You have made this Christmas eve visit more than worthwhile!
Merry Christmas and God bless!
Merry Christmas! I had to make a few stops on the way home, and the retail clerks were saying Merry Christmas everywhere, it was *great*.
Thank you so much for posting this! I really enjoyed reading it. I am a big admirer of the General!
Merry Christmas to you and your family and all at FR!
Yes, it is wonderful to hear “Merry Christmas”.
But it is sad, also, isn’t it? Not too many years ago, you and I would not have found such a greeting remarkable.
Merry Christmas! Thanks for posting this. Congratulations on a job well done.
I get online email messages from Brooks Broothers. Today’s message was simply, “Merry Christmas” — I was pleasantly surprised to see this. I also got a email today from Wal-Mart but it was “Happy Holidays” — disappointing.
I hope you have the chance to let each establishment know of your reactions.
I am subscribed to emails from a gardening magazine because each weekday I receive photos from members’ home gardens. Gives me lots of pleasure and some good ideas. Was pleasantly surprised to see in the message from the editor who handles this a statement that said, “Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate Christmas. To everyone else, Happy December 25.”
Thank you for the ping!
I might have missed this most excellent thread.
Dear Pharmboy,
What a wonderful Christmas gift to us from you and your wife! I don’t forget her encouragement. Thank you for your research and hard work in bringing this special and long-ago Christmas to life!
This was a delectable historical feast, bringing the Father of our Country, and the Patriots who served under him and bade him farewell, into high relief. I almost felt as if I were in that 2nd-floor room at the tavern, on horseback riding along the snowy roads, on the bumpy passages in the boats, and watching George Washington rush into his home; finally to embrace his loving family, a truly free man at long last! What a Christmas that must have been! Thank you for bringing great portions of it to us, and of the rest, we can dream.
And wishing you, your wife, and our fellow FReepers the same: a warm and wonderful Christmas with grateful hearts, thankful in the knowledge that once, great giants like George Washington — by the power, grace and mercy of God — walked the earth of our fledgling nation.
May the Lord bless you, and may He bless and grant unto the brave and the true among us, the power through His grace to save the United States of America.
Thank you for drawing attention to this wonderful piece, dear friend! I would have been the poorer to have missed this wonderful gift from Mr. and Mrs. Pharmboy.
I will let them know. After I wrot emy last post, I got a “Merry Christmas” email from Macy’s.
And thanks for the great greeting from the editor of the gardening magazine. A classic!
Blessings to you and yours,
Your Obdt. & Humble Svt.,
P____y
I humbly thank you, Pharmboy.
Thanks for the ping. I enjoyed reading this so much.
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