THE RELIGIOUS OPINIONS AND CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON. CHAPTER I. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF WASHINGTON. THE advantages of early religious instruction, imparted with due affection and skill, have long since been decided by the testimony of human experience, as well as by the voice of divine revelation. So well established is the principle, that the character of the man may in general be safely inferred from the moral discipline of the youth. The consent and approval of mankind, has in one sense consecrated the familiar adage : "Just as the twig is bent, the tree 's inclined;" And the Wise Man declares the same in substance, when he says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." "It is true, indeed," says one,* "that our first years * Kev. J. W. Cunningham, A. M. seldom supply that sober ear, which the lessons of religion demand; but then every avenue to the heart is open; and whatever spirit is introduced into the system, often lives, though latent, and animates the frame forever. Early piety may sometimes languish, but then it is often but for a season, as rivers sometimes suddenly disappear, but as often rise again in a distant spot, with brighter waves and increased rapidity.-Early scholars in religion are the best, for they have less to unlearn. Indeed, it is rare to see the gray hairs of Devotion silver the head which was not early taught of Heaven." A striking confirmation of the doctrine in question appears to be furnished by the life and character of Washington. Of this, however, we must leave our readers to form their own judgment, when the evidences of his religious education shall have been laid before them. There is reason, indeed, to regret that the amount of positive knowledge on this subject is not so ample as could have been desired. And yet there are some things known to us, which afford very strong presumptive testimony, while a few scattered examples of parental care have been given, which enable us to conclude, with considerable certainty, in regard to the general course of moral and spiritual instruction pursued in his case. The record of his early reception into the Christian church, by the sacred rite of baptism, has been copied from the family Bible. It is here submitted, not only as an article of some interest in itself, but as serving to introduce reflections which may shed a little light upon our subject. "George Washington, Son to Augustine and Mary his Wife, was born the 11th day of Febuary, 1731-2 about 10 in the morning, and was baptized the 5th of April following-Mr. Beverly Whiting and Captain Christopher Brooks, Godfathers, and Mrs. Mildred Gregory, Godmother." The parents of Washington, as the reader will no doubt understand, were members of the Church of England; which was almost the only denomination of Christians then known in the colony of Virginia. And in the matter before us, the baptism of their child, and the accompanying sponsorial provision, they acted, it would seem, in precise and scrupulous conformity with the rules of that ancient Church. In the absence of accurate information, as before inti. mated, there is very good ground of belief that the course subsequently pursued by the parents, was according to the good beginning here made. The vows of those who devoted their offspring to God in holy baptism, as administered by the Church of England, were very solemn, and the age distinguished by a rigid punctuality respecting the duties enjoined by those vows. The solemnity of the engagements incurred, may be more clearly perceived, and fully understood from the emphatic terms of the following exhortation, always delivered in the conclusion of the service, by the officiating minister :— "Forasmuch as this child hath promised, by you, his Sureties, to renounce the devil and all his works, to believe in God, and to serve him; ye must remember, that it is your parts and duties to see that this infant be taught, so soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise and profession, he hath here made by you. And that he may know these things the better, ye shall call upon him to hear Sermons; and chiefly ye shall provide, that he may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know, and believe to his soul's health; and that this Child may be virtuously brought up, to lead a godly and a Christian life-remembering always that Baptism doth represent unto us our profession; which is, to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, and to be made like unto him, that as he died and rose again for us, so should we, who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again unto righteousness; continually mortifying all our evil, and corrupt affections, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living." These peculiarities are referred to, solely for the purpose of exhibiting the nature of the obligations incurred, equally by the sponsors and parents of Washington, in the religious observance under consideration-obligations which we have good reason to believe they conscientiously fulfilled. Their exact conformity with the regulation of the church in the original instance, seems to authorize the conclusion, that they subsequently acted with the same scrupulous regard to engagements, bound upon them by the solemn sanctions of religion, and enforced by motives drawn from the hopes and fears of another world. ga We shall here introduce a few biographical incidents, as not unworthy the attention of our readers. They may be quoted, as serving, in some degree, to aid our inquiries, and confirm our impressions of parental fidelity in the case before us. Nor let any complain of them, as unimportant and trifling. Life is very much made up of small things, and it is often to them we must look for the development and proof of principles. What these little domestic occurrences shall be found to want in historical dignity, we think they will make up in real worth and useful intimations. Their employment may at least contribute to the amusement and edification of our juvenile readers, and, perhaps, not be deficient in salutary suggestions to older persons entrusted with the instruction and government of the young. The following account rests on the testimony of a venerable lady, now deceased, who, as a friend and relative, spent many of her youthful days in the family of Mr. Washington. "On a fine morning in the fall of 1737, Mr. Washington, having George by the hand, came to the door, and asked cousin Washington and myself to walk with him to the orchard, promising to show us a fine sight. On arriving at the orchard, we were presented with a fine sight, indeed. The whole earth, as far as we could see, was strewed with fruit; and yet the trees were bending under the weight of apples. Now, George,' said his father, 'look here, my son! Don't you remember, when this good cousin of yours brought you that fine, large apple last spring, how hardly I could prevail on you to divide with your brothers and sisters, though I promised that if you would but do it, the Almighty would give you a plenty of apples this fall?' Poor George could not say a word; but, hanging down his head, looked quite confused. 'Now, look up, my son,' continued his father, 'and see how richly the Almighty has made good my promise to you!' George looked, in silence, on the wide wilderness of fruit; then, lifting his eyes to his father, he said, with emotion, 'Well, pa, only forgive me this time, and see if I am ever so stingy any more.' |