George Washington Defines Deism

George Washington's Principles of Deism in Thanksgiving Proclamation

George Washington: Many historians declare him "America's Most Celebrated Deist!"

Deism is the belief that God exists, created all and created all things, but is cold and distant, uninvolved in human day-to-day life and/or world events. In tragedy or in triumph, the Deist God is neither caring nor concerned, for either our sins or our success.

This distant Deity is neither moved by human prayers nor pleas imploring His assistance on Human Behalf: all such beseeching is thusly futile & juvenile, from inane to insane. From the Deistic Deity there is no help, no promotion, no miracles, and no response to personal prayer . . . except the obvious 'no response for human prayer.'

FACT: There is no existing definition of Deism for the generation of the American Founding Fathers, and the various writers - from French Enlightenment to German Philosophers - define Deism differently.

Rather than arguing over various foreign definitions by individual writers, this Harvard Research Group takes a different approach: that of examining the actual teaching and practices of American Founding Fathers.

This HARVARD PAPER re-defines Deism as used by early Americans in the era from the early 1700’s at least through the early 1800's, and begins according to the beliefs George Washington openly professed and advocated in this major address.

[INTRO: Whether George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation is the original words and thoughts of Washington, or written by some ‘Political Speech Writer’ - in whole or in part - is immaterial to the Harvard Research Group thesis of the definition Deism for the following facts:

Fact-1: Said Thanksgiving Proclamation was at the request of the U.S. Congress, not by President Washington’s initiation.

Fact-2: Washington knew the world would project the beliefs so-declared to him, regardless who penned them - just as a modern president cannot blame a speechwriter for the speeches they give. Thus the words of George Washington's famous Thanksgiving address are either Washington-Decreed, or Washington-Approved.

Fact-3: Further extrapolation indicates said Thanksgiving Proclamation pleased - and thus was basically approved by the US Congress - as well as President Washington. "Deism" is said to be the actual belief-&-religion of many US Founding Fathers, and of considerable American Citizenship in general:]

Premises for using George Washington's beliefs to Define Deism:

[I] George Washington was specifically & indisputably declared to be a Deist by The Reverend Dr. Abercrombie, Washington's long-time pastor who declared: “Sir, George Washington is a Deist!” (SOURCE-1)

[II] The Reverend Dr. Abercrombie - theologian and famous pastor of a large Church, should have well-known the definition of a Deist in his generation of the Founding fathers - being of proper education and station to speak and write carefully, when categorizing President George Washington as a Deist for all of posterity and all of history. (SOURCE-2)

[III] The Reverend Dr. Abercrombie would also know the beliefs and general tone of President George Washington from his two Inaugural Addresses, from two Thanksgiving Proclamations, from being his Pastor over decades, from many personal lunches & conversations with President Washington; (SOURCE-2)

[IV] In George Washington’s First Thanksgiving Day Address, Washington declares the following Deistic Doctrines: (SOURCES 3-13)

[V] Thus for The Reverend Dr. Abercrombie to publicly declare, categorize, and forever define George Washington by quoting: “Sir, George Washington is a Deist!” requires modern historians ‘Redefine Deism' according to the beliefs Washington preached and practiced so faithfully, for so long. (SOURCES 1-13)

Forty [40] Deist Beliefs as Elucidated by the Deist George Washington

> [1] George Washington declares he believes in a God who extends ’Providence’: caring for, protecting, guiding, directing the lives of individuals, groups, and even nations. Washington spoke of Providence often. (SOURCE-3)

> [2] George Washington declares that he believes in a God who deserves gratitude & thanksgiving for willfully granting blessings & favor. (SOURCE-3)

> [3] American Deism then - by inherent understanding of practicing thanksgiving & gratitude - believes in a God who is ‘Personal and Human-like', at least to the degree of being a Creator Deity who appreciates gratitude from His children of Creation. (SOURCE-3)

> [4] George Washington decrees Deism believes in a God who makes His will known. (SOURCE-3)

> [5] George Washington decrees Deism believes in a God who expects to be obeyed (SOURCE-3)

> [6] George Washington further decrees Deism believes in a God who can ‘Protect and Favor' (SOURCE-3) His human Creation.

> [7] George Washington also decrees Deism believes in a God who allows Himself to be implored. (SOURCE-3)

> [8] George Washington decrees conclude Deism believes in a God who and is ’Personal & Human-like enough’ as to be moved by Human belief, recognition, submission & imploring pleas for His Divine ‘Protection and Favor.' (SOURCE-3)

> [9] George Washington assumes Deism believes in a God who is generally defined and summed in a single word by the term: “Almighty!” (SOURCE-4)

> [10] George Washington decrees Deism believes in a God who cares about human national government.” (SOURCE-4)

> [11] George Washington decrees Deism believes in a God who cares about human safety & happiness.” (SOURCE-4)

> [12] George Washington decrees Deism believes in a God who can be 'served.' (SOURCE-4)

> [13] George Washington asserts Deism believes in a God who is Great & Glorious. (SOURCE-5)

> [14] George Washington further asserts Deism believes in a God who is the 'Author of all that is good.' (SOURCE-5)

> [15] George Washington concludes Deism believes in a God to whom human beings should be humble before Him. (SOURCE-6)

> [16] George Washington pontificates Deistic beliefs in a God who extends to human beings manifold mercies. (SOURCE-6)

> [17] George Washington pontificates Deistic beliefs in a God who extends favor to particular to nations in time of war, [perhaps implying acceptance of a just-war, by just cause]. (SOURCE-6 & 7)

> [18] George Washington pontificates Deistic beliefs in a God who is pleased to bless His people with a material state of “plenty." (SOURCE-7)

> [19] George Washington pontificates Deistic beliefs in a God who will bless a people whose national government & constitution is one of “Civil & Religious Liberty.” (SOURCE-8)

> [20] George Washington certifies that Deism believes in a God who cares and can be pleased by “the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge …” (SOURCE-8)

> [21] George Washington magnifies that Deism believes in a God who is “the great Lord and Ruler of Nations.” (SOURCE-9)

> [22] George Washington boldly decrees Deism believes in a God who declares there is absolute right & absolute wrong. (SOURCE-9)

> [23] George Washington further decrees Deism believes in a God who teaches that His Human Creation can know His Decrees & definitions of absolute right & wrong. (SOURCE-9)

> [24] George Washington boldly decrees Deism believes in a God who holds His Human Creation responsible - nationally & personally - to know His Decrees & definitions of absolute right & wrong. (SOURCE-9)

> [25] George Washington firmly decrees Deism believes in a God who considers it "transgression" for His Human Creation - nationally & personally - to know His Decrees of absolute right and wrong, and transgress His Will. (SOURCE-9)

> [26] According to President Washington, Deism believes in a God who will forgive transgressions by His Human Creation - nationally & personally - for transgressing His Decrees of absolute right and wrong. (SOURCE-9)

> [27] According to President Washington, Deism believes in a God whose forgiveness for transgression is neither automatic nor ubiquitous, but rather must be sought - nationally and personally - by “humbly offering our prayers and supplications . . . and beseeching . . .” for his “pardon”. (SOURCE-9)

> [28] According to President Washington, Deism believes in a God whose forgiveness, mercy and pardon - nationally and personally - “enables a people to perform their duties properly and on time . . .” (SOURCE-10)

> [29] According to President Washington, Deism believes in a God whose forgiveness, mercy and pardon - nationally and personally - “to render our national government a blessing to all the People, . . .” (SOURCE-10)

> [30] According to President Washington, Deism believes in a God whose forgiveness, mercy and pardon - nationally & personally - makes it possible “to render our national government a blessing to all the People, . . . by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, . . .” (SOURCE-10)

[NOTE - That the nation is to be a blessing to all the people by wise and just laws, not by socialism, handouts, lawlessness of excessive libertarian freedoms etc.]

> [31] According to President Washington, Deism believes in a God whose forgiveness, mercy and pardon - nationally and personally - makes it possible “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. (SOURCE-10)

> [32] George Washington, a Masonic 'Worshipful Master', proclaims Deism believes in a God who can be implored “to protect and guide all Sovereigns [Kings] and Nations . . . and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. (SOURCE-11)

> [33] George Washington, a Masonic 'Worshipful Master', proclaims Deism believes in a God who can be moved by deeds to have favored nations - of which Washington obviously believed the USA was one of them - and that his God could be implored to “guide & protect" other nations specifically for “kindness shewn” to the USA. (SOURCE-11)

> [34] George Washington, a Masonic 'Worshipful Master', proclaims Deism believes that nations of Civil & Religious Liberty - though restrained by law declaring “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” ; yet is “To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue” among all nations. (SOURCE-12)

> [35] George Washington, a Masonic 'Worshipful Master', proclaims Deism believes in a God who is concerned that “Science” be promoted among all nations. (SOURCE-12)

> [36] George Washington, a Masonic 'Worshipful Master', proclaims Deism believes in a God who cares about the “temporal prosperity” of His Human Creatures. (SOURCE-12)

> [37] George Washington, the World's Highest Ranking Mason, teaches that Deism believes in a God who has ultimate control over the “temporal prosperity” of His Human Creatures. (SOURCE-12)

> [38] George Washington, the World's Highest Ranking Mason, teaches that Deism believes that “temporal prosperity” - if too little or excessive - has negative effects on His Human Creatures. (SOURCE-12)

> [39] George Washington, the World's Highest Ranking Mason, teaches that believes in a God of superior knowledge, who alone knows the degree “temporal prosperity” that is best for His Creatures (SOURCE-12)

> [40] George Washington, the World's Highest Ranking Mason, teaches that Deism believes that God who knows the degree of “temporal prosperity” of His Human Creatures that is best for them, may be so inclined to raise that level of prosperity, 'if' people recognize His Deity, are thankful, and care about good government for all nations. (SOURCE-12)

Conclusion:

All forty points of American Deism during the generation of American Founding Fathers - as elucidated, extrapolated, and proclaimed by American President George Washington, Masonic Worshipful Master - provide the true definition of Deism: as Dr. James Abercrombie knew, understood, and applied the said definition to his Parishioner, personal friend, then current President of the USA: George Washington.

(SOURCE-1) John E. Remsburg, Six Historic Americans, New York: Truth Seeker Co., 1906, pp. 119-122. )

(SOURCE-2) Abercrombie: Washington - Never Received Communion

"With respect to the inquiry you make, I can only state the following facts: that as pastor of the Episcopal Church, observing that, on sacramental Sundays George Washington, immediately after the desk and pulpit services, went out with the greater part of the congregation -- always leaving Mrs. Washington with the other communicants -- she invariably being one --

[The Reverend Doctor James Abercrombie, in a letter to a friend in 1833, Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, vol. 5, p. 394, quoted from Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents, pp. 25-26.]

Abercrombie rebukes Washington for ‘uniformly turning his back on the Lord’s Supper';

I considered it my duty, in a sermon on public worship, to state the unhappy tendency of example, particularly of those in elevated stations, who uniformly turned their backs on the Lord's Supper. I acknowledge the remark was intended for the President; and as such he received it.

[The Reverend Doctor James Abercrombie, in letter to a friend in 1833, Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, vol. 5, p. 394, quoted from Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents, pp. 25-26. ]

Washington declares he had never been a communicant;

A few days after, in conversation, I believe, with a Senator of the United States, he told me he had dined the day before with the President, who, in the course of conversation at the table, said that, on the previous Sunday, he had received a very just rebuke from the pulpit for always leaving the church before the administration of the sacrament; that he honored the preacher Dr. James Abercrombie for his integrity and candor;

. . . that he had never sufficiently considered the influence of his example, and that he would not again give cause for the repetition of the reproof; and that, as he had never been a communicant, were he to become one then, it would be imputed to an ostentatious display of religious zeal, arising altogether from his elevated station. Accordingly, he never afterwards came on the morning of sacrament Sunday, though at other times he was a constant attendant in the morning."

[The Reverend Doctor James Abercrombie, quoted from Franklin Steiner, The Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents, pp. 25-26, from a letter to a friend in 1833, Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit, vol. 5, p. 394.]

(SOURCE-3)“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 -

(SOURCE-4) 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 signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

(SOURCE-5) 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 –

(SOURCE-6) 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,

(SOURCE-7) which we experienced 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 enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness,

(SOURCE-8) 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 hath been pleased to confer upon us.

(SOURCE-9) 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 –

(SOURCE-10) 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 –

(SOURCE-11) to protect and guide all Sovereigns [Gods] and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord –

(SOURCE-12) 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.

(SOURCE-13) Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.GO. WASHINGTON.

George Washington's First Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789

“THANKSGIVING DAY 1789 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A 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 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,

which we experienced 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 enabled 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 hath 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 –

[T]to protect and guide all Sovereigns [Gods] and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, 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 third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.GO. WASHINGTON.

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