George Washington, the Christian

William Jackson Johnstone

Abingdon Press, 1919 - Presidents - 299 pages

George Washington, The Christian by William Jackson Johnstone, first published in 1919, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, which has been scanned and cleaned by state-of-the-art publishing tools for better readability and enhanced appreciation.

Restoration Editors' mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life. Some smudges, annotations or unclear text may still exist, due to permanent damage to the original work. We believe the literary significance of the text justifies offering this reproduction, allowing a new generation to appreciate it.

What people are saying

User Review -

In this secular day and age, it's refreshing to find a book that actually documents the Christianity, and more specifically the faith of our first president. After reading this great book, I came away knowing that George Washington was indeed a man of prayer who loved the Lord God with all his heart and soul. So many times he was found on his knees in prayer. And he demanded that his soldiers attend church services. He condemned profanity as well as gambling, wanting his soldiers to be Christians.
This secular world likes to say that George Washington was a deist. After reading Johnstone's book, there is no way you can come away with thinking for one second that he ever was anything but a God-fearing Christian.
For those who want to know the real George Washington, I recommend this book highly. 

Contents

• CHAPTER PAQ The Reason: 13
• Religious Foundation: 16
• Washingtons Pbayers: 17
• A Christian Soldier: 36
• The Active Churchman: 48
• The CommanderinChief Trusts in God: 68
• Washington Attends Communion Service 85: 87
• Prayer at Valley Forge: 102
• Washington Not Profane: 115
• General Washington a Man of Prayer: 122
• Washington and Divine Providence: 133
• Church Attendance at Home: 146
• A Christian President: 159
• How Washington Spent Sunday: 175
• Washington a Communicant: 185
• Washington Swear?: 203
• Religion Indispensable to Political Prosperity: 210
• Even Down to Old Age: 226
• Washingtons Will: 237
• His Religious Habits: 242
• Estimate of His Character: 250
• The Verdict: 262
• Sources of Information: 270
• Where Found: 276
• Names of the Deity: 288

Popular passages

Page 223 - And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

Page 162 - 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...

Page 161 - Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe; who presides in the councils of nations; and whose Providential aid can supply every human defect...

Page 240 - I do, moreover, most pointedly and most solemnly enjoin it upon my executors hereafter named, or the survivors of them, to see that this clause respecting slaves, and every part thereof, be religiously fulfilled at the epoch at which it is directed to take place, without evasion, neglect, or delay...

Page 239 - The negroes thus bound, are (by their masters or mistresses) to be taught to read and write, and to be brought up to some useful occupation, agreeably to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia providing for the support of orphan and other poor children.

Page 173 - 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...

Page 64 - Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me : say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Page 144 - And being now to conclude these his last public orders, to take his ultimate leave in a short time of the military character, and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has so long had the honor to command, he can only offer in their behalf his recommendations to their grateful country, and his prayers to the God of armies.

Page 145 - Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States, of becoming a respectable nation, I resign...

Page 241 - ... failure of the said bank should be so apparent, or a discontinuance thereof, should render a removal of this fund necessary. In either of these cases, the amount of the stock here devised is to be vested in some other bank, or public institution, whereby the interest may with regularity and certainty be drawn and applied as above.

Bibliographic information

• Title: George Washington, the Christian
• Author: William Jackson Johnstone
• Publisher: Abingdon Press, 1919
• Original from: the New York Public Library
• Digitized: Jul 20, 2007
• Length: 299 pages