The Faith of Our Fathers

On 8 June 1783, General Washington, upon his disbanding of the Continental Army, addressed a missive to the governors of the thirteen orginal states. Here is what the Father of our country wrote:

"Now I make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection, that He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens and the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field, and finally, that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. I have the honor to be, with much esteem and respect, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant. George Washington."

The words quoted above are said to be inscribed on a bronze tablet adjoining the Washington pew in Saint Paul's chapel in New York City. Someone please, remind me again about the debate over "separation of church and state".

Cross Posted at "Blogging the Revolution".