Saturday, December 12, 2009

Washington's Farewell Address

In his Farewell Address -- made public in a letter of 1796 -- President Washington declared that "Religion and morality" were the "great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and citizens."

"National morality," he continued, precluded the "exclusion of religious principle."

"Virtue or morality," that resulted from the practice of religion, were "a necessary spring of popular government."

The remarks are located in the lower right portion of
this page and continue to this page.

Washington's view was that religion and morality promoted private and public happiness and the nation's political prosperity. That's because religious principles promote the protection of property (7th and 10th commandments), reputation (8th commandment), and life (5th commandment) that are the foundations of justice. A nation's morality cannot be maintained without religion -- thus, Washington reasoned, religion is vital in maintaining the popularly elected government of the United States.

Washington was deeply flawed - the man was no saint, was only a fringe Anglican himself - but he was possessed of natural virtues and common-sense insights.

Washington Portrait
by Gilbert Stuart

1 comment:

Dolorosa said...

I've been told Washington (pictures are available of him in masonic attire) was a freemason like so many other of our presidents. The masons have also infiltrated the Catholic Church in the novus ordo.