Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Print this Page [1-1] of 1Posts from Hannah, Cheltenham, PAHannah, Cheltenham, PA 1 Reply Hannah, Cheltenham, PA 11/26/09 re: George Washington quote Mr. Baize, sorry to say you are incorrect. If you do some research, you will find that George Washington spoke and wrote numerous times of God as "God," and not merely "Providence." About the quote we are commenting on, it is not A quote, but TWO SEPARATE QUOTES by our first president. 1. "....Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them...." [This is from Washington's 1796 Farewell Address--check out http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp] 2. "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." [This one's a little iffy, and there are a few citations in books, but you could discount this if you would like] However, Washington DOES speak of God in his first inaugural address, among other places: "Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend." And since I'm writing this on Thanksgiving Day, I thought I'd include Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Day proclamation: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789." (signed) "G. Washington" Finally, Americans looked to God even during the American Civil War era. Abraham Lincoln concluded his second inaugural address with the words: "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Oh, and by the way, the Supreme court ruled in 1892 in Holy Trinity Church vs. The United States that: "These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic [official] utterances that THIS IS A CHRISTIAN NATION." (emphasis added) Congressman Randy Forbes asked the questions: "Did America ever consider itself a Judeo-Christian nation?" and "If America was once a Judeo-Christian nation, when did it cease to be?" Your call. SaveOk2 Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print