The Commendable Voice
I am always amused, entertained and tickled whenever I come across a self-proclaimed know it all. The type who believes the orb of life rotates around them. The know-it-all gunslinger, the fastest draw in the west. Taking on all comers at the OK Corral, there he is, fanning his six-shooter with bodies falling all around him in the dust. Playing in the background, Spaghetti Western music as he walks down Main Street with on lookers admiring his audacity and steely resolve. He is a legend in his own time and in his own mind.
In the corridors of education honest educators know two Universal Maxims: First, nobody has exhaustive truth, only proportional truth. Secondly, true knowledge deflates your balloon it doesn’t puff you up. Next, honest historians can and have differed on certain dates of historical events, but sometimes when this happens textbook editors pick a reasonable date for contextual purposes for grade testing and continuity. Educators that are not puffed up recognized this editorial right. So it is possible, to have three different date settings close together on certain historical events, such as the dates of the rise and fall Egyptian Dynasties, professionals knowing this don’t get their panties in a wad if their date is circumvented.
Bill Warner holds a PhD in physics and math, NC State University, and an expert on Jihad. He is a former professor of Tennessee State University Engineering Department. He founded the Study of Political Islam. The starting dates of Jihad on my previous article are directly from this expert, of which, I inadvertently penned the starting date wrongly for Jihad as 600A.D. when the actual date is 640 A.D. according to this expert. Civil disagreements on certain historical dates are not uncommon amongst educators.
Colleagues say of him, “Dr. Warner’s training in scientific theory and mathematics shaped how he analyzed Islamic doctrine. The first step was realizing that the Islamic texts had been made deliberately difficult to read and comprehend. A program, the Trilogy Project, was created to strip away the confusion in the texts. It became clear that Islam is not constructed on the same civilizational principles as the rest of the world. Simple statistical methods revealed that dualism and submission were the foundational principles of Islamic doctrine.”
Disagreement between professionals who respect one another is not uncommon either. Two celebrated intellectuals, Professor John Lennox and Professor Richard Dawkins, have lively debates on creationism and evolution. Two worldviews which which clash. Yet, they respect each other and are civil toward one another. They like each other and consider themselves to be academic friends. They don’t throw cacophonic derogatory remarks at each other. In one debate, Professor John Lennox pointed out a scholarly error in Professor Richard Dawkins book “The God Delusion” concerning the scholarly disbelief of the origins of Christ. Professor Dawkins conceded he was wrong. Professor Dawkins’ admission he was in error gained my respect for him. Both of them understand the maxims stated above. I enjoy listening to both of them on these different worldviews. I learn much from these intellectual giants.
In our endeavor of seeking truth, unfortunately, we must wade through the marsh of ideologues. When I returned from Vietnam in 1970 I enrolled in a University for a major in avionics. A required course was U.S. History. My professor was highly educated, well spoken and compassionate about his subject. Of which, I was engrossed with his presentation on U.S. History. One memorable point he pounded on was all of George Washington’s faults. (All leaders have faults. Also, all have high or low ideas that guide them. I want to know the noble ideas that they believe as they mature from experience.) He even stated, “That President Washington was really a communist in practice.”
For ten years I pontificated to all willing ears that Washington was at heart a communist. Back then; I was the know-it all gunslinger stated above. My parents had to endure this immature drip from me, sorry mom and dad. Ten years later, the professor admitted he was purposefully misrepresenting portions of history to shape a generation of fresh minds against the Judeo-Christian influence of our great nation. He is as much a zealot about his dogma as anyone else. Our universities are filled with these far left ideologues. (I will say something more on President Washington’s faith later below in this missive.)
We all have pre-philosophical positions to shape our belief system. There is a foundation in every house of thought, a prephilosophical faith in every philosophy. Mine is the gospel of Jesus Christ.[i] My sentiments are the same as this great professor’s statement. The following are stories about my experiences and relationships, in order to make a point, that someone can disagree with certain people philosophies and certain sexual orientations with being vilified by the PC troops.
My first girlfriend was a black Panamanian. My mentor in politics was a well-known and respected black man in the great state of Texas. Over the years I have met with liberal black leaders and conservative black leaders about different topics. I learned much from different positions. I might add my wife and I have many black guests and friends at our house over the last three decades. This week, I have a notable black executive from Houston with his family staying with us for 5 days. Last week we had the famous Archbishop Awovmakpa as a guess in our home from Africa. He is my Archbishop, a dear friend of mine for 15 years. He oversees 20,000 churches in Africa. After him, the Reverend David Otofia from Africa will be our houseguest as well.
My wife and I adopted a black child 10 years of age who was orphaned when an insurrection happened in Liberia. This child saw a demented gang hacking his mother and father to death with machetes as he ran for his life. (Selfishness or sin is the real problem, which is expressed through many different avenues of life that brings sufferings.) He ended up in an orphanage in Ghana. I meet him there when I went to visit the orphanage that our church supports and which I am a board member of.
My wife and I adopted him and have been supporting him from that day to this day. Today, he is twenty-five years old and ranks number two in his university. He is a great young man and we are so proud of him. Here’s my point: If I disagree with some policies of President Obama or some of the rhetoric of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, does that make me a racist in light of the facts stated above? Only the PC troops who are misguided and illogical would make a statement that I am a racist and that I am spreading hate speech. I find it interesting that those who scream hate speech at others that have a different opinion, are intolerant themselves.
Continuing, I had and have some friends that are homosexuals, of which, they know I do not agree with their lifestyle. However, occasionally we meet for a meal and laugh about different light-hearted issues when we can. On the same note, we had two lesbian military officers that came to church for spiritual guidance. Our church in no way ostracized them, in fact they were welcome to our fellowship dinners and activities, but they knew we did not agree with their lifestyle. One of them wanted to change her lifestyle. I had several counseling sessions with her on steps to take and support in helping her to this end. The other officer that didn’t want to change was still accepted as a valuable person in the eyes of God. Unfortunately, they were transferred to different parts of the world for new military assignments and we lost contact. Nonetheless, they knew we cared for them as individuals and we always will. These are just a few examples of our compassion toward homosexuals and lesbians over the last twenty years. Not all homosexuals and lesbians want to remain in that lifestyle. Just because I hold a different view on sexuality, without malicious intent toward them, does that make me a homophobe? Only the PC pack that is misguided and illogical would make statements that I hate those of a different sexual orientation.
Another example concerning a different topic, my sister had an abortion. She knows my position, that I believe it is wrong and there are other options, but she also knows that she is my best friend. We have the most wonderful times together making fun of each other. I could not have a better friend and sister. In no way have I condemned her. I will defend her against any one that would want to do her harm. Only the PC gang that is misguided and illogical would make statements that I hate women who have had an abortion.
Again, I have a relative that is a drug addict; he too knows that I have reached out to him to get help. He is one of my favorite people, but I will never agree with that lifestyle. I too, at one time, was addicted to drugs. It took three years of AA meetings and several counseling sessions with a beautiful wise minister that got that ape off of my back.
In our church, we have a program to help addicts with compassion, empathy and open arms. Because, I got help and now have a different viewpoint about drugs, does that make me intolerant of addicts or programs, policies that might assists certain individuals? Only the PC crowd who are misguided and illogical would make statements I am an intolerant toward addicts and the such. I could go on with pages of testimonies like these above, but I think it’s enough for common sense folk to get the point.
True Christianity reduces the amount of suffering in the world. My articles are to speak to those who want to change their lifestyle, whatever it might be and many want to change. I understand that not all want to change their lifestyle. I respect those who choose the lifestyle they want, though I might not agree with their lifestyle. After all, we all have freewill that our Creator has given us.
My philosophical foundation is rooted in the commendable voice that says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16)
I condemn no one as I respect a person’s freewill to choose his or her own destiny, but I might disagree with your worldview. However, my articles are speaking to those who want to change and are responding to His promptings to that end. I cast no stone at anyone. It is your life to live.
Returning to my above promise about addressing a feature on George Washington’s faith recorded by the Jared Sparks President of Harvard.
Former President of Harvard, Jared Sparks, who compiled following writings about President Washington:
Jared Sparks’ decision to compile George Washington’s works is described by The Dictionary of American Biography. It details that Sparks began . . .
. . . what was destined to be his greatest life work, the publication of the writings of George Washington. [Supreme Court] Justice Bushrod Washington, [the nephew of George Washington, the executor of the Washington estate, and] the owner of the Washington manuscripts, was won over by an offer to share the profits, through the friendly mediation of Chief Justice [of the Supreme Court, John] Marshall [who from 1804-1807 had written a popular five volume biography of George Washington], who also consented to take an equal share, twenty-five per cent, with the owner.
In January 1827, Sparks found himself alone at Mount Vernon with the manuscripts. An examination of them extending over three months showed that years would be required for the undertaking; and with the owner’s consent, Sparks carried off the entire collection, eight large boxes, picking up on the way to Boston a box of diplomatic correspondence from the Department of State, and the [General Horatio] Gates manuscripts from the New York Historical Society. Not content with these, he searched or caused to be searched public and private archives for material, questioned survivors of the Revolution, visited and mapped historic sites.
In 1830, for instance, he followed [Benedict] Arnold’s [1775] route to Quebec. The first of the twelve volumes of The Writings of George Washington to be published (vol. II) appeared in 1834 and the last (vol. I, containing the biography) in 1837.
In Volume XII of these writings, Jared Sparks delved into the religious character of George Washington, and included numerous letters written by the friends, associates, and family of Washington which testified of his religious character. Based on that extensive evidence, Sparks concluded: “To say that he [George Washington] was not a Christian would be to impeach his sincerity and honesty. Of all men in the world, Washington was certainly the last whom any one would charge with dissimulation or indirectness [hypocrisies and evasiveness]; and if he was so scrupulous in avoiding even a shadow of these faults in every known act of his life, [regardless of] however unimportant, is it likely, is it credible, that in a matter of the highest and most serious importance [his religious faith, that] he should practice through a long series of years a deliberate deception upon his friends and the public? It is neither credible nor possible.”
One of the letters Sparks used to arrive at his conclusion was from Nelly Custis-Lewis. While Nelly technically was the granddaughter of the Washingtons, in reality she was much more.
When Martha [Custis] married George, she was a widow and brought two young children (John and Martha–also called Patsy) from her first marriage into her marriage with George. The two were carefully raised by George and Martha, later married, and each had children of their own. Unfortunately, tragedy struck, and both John and Patsy died early (by 1781). John left behind his widow and four young children ranging in age from infancy to six years old.
At the time, Washington was still deeply involved in guiding the American Revolution and tried unsuccessfully to convince Martha’s brother to raise the children. The young widow of John was unable to raise all four, so George and Martha adopted the two younger children: Nelly Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis, both of whom already were living at Mount Vernon.
Nelly lived with the Washingtons for twenty years, from the time of her birth in 1779 until 1799, the year of her marriage and of George Washington’s untimely death. She called George and Martha her “beloved parents whom I loved with so much devotion, to whose unceasing tenderness I was indebted for every good I possessed.”
Nelly was ten years old when Washington was called to the Presidency, and she grew to maturity during his two terms. During that time, she traveled with Washington and walked amidst the great foreign and domestic names of the day. On Washington’s retirement, she returned with the family to Mount Vernon. Nelly was energetic, spry, and lively, and was the joy of George Washington’s life. She served as a gracious hostess and entertained the frequent guests to Mount Vernon who visited the former President.
On Washington’s Birthday in 1799, Nelly married Washington’s private secretary, Lawrence Lewis. They spent several months on an extended honeymoon, visiting friends and family across the country. On their return to Mount Vernon, she was pregnant and late that year gave birth to a daughter. A short few weeks later, on December 14, General Washington was taken seriously ill and died.
Clearly, Nelly was someone who knew the private and public life of her “father” very well. Therefore, Jared Sparks, in searching for information on Washington’s religious habits, dispatched a letter to Nelly, asking if she knew for sure whether George Washington indeed was a Christian. Within a week, she had replied to Sparks, and Sparks included her letter in Volume XII of Washington’s writings in the lengthy section on Washington’s religious habits. Of that specific letter, Jared Sparks explained: “I shall here insert a letter on this subject, written to me by a lady who lived twenty years in Washington’s family and who was his adopted daughter, and the granddaughter of Mrs. Washington. The testimony it affords, and the hints it contains respecting the domestic habits of Washington, are interesting and valuable.”
Woodlawn, 26 February, 1833.
Sir,
I received your favor of the 20th instant last evening, and hasten to give you the information, which you desire. Truro [Episcopal] Parish is the one in which Mount Vernon, Pohick Church [the church where George Washington served as a vestryman], and Woodlawn [the home of Nelly and Lawrence Lewis] are situated. Fairfax Parish is now Alexandria. Before the Federal District was ceded to Congress, Alexandria was in Fairfax County. General Washington had a pew in Pohick Church, and one in Christ Church at Alexandria. He was very instrumental in establishing Pohick Church, and I believe subscribed [supported and contributed to] largely. His pew was near the pulpit. I have a perfect recollection of being there, before his election to the presidency, with him and my grandmother. It was a beautiful church, and had a large, respectable, and wealthy congregation, who were regular attendants.
He attended the church at Alexandria when the weather and roads permitted a ride of ten miles [a one-way journey of 2-3 hours by horse or carriage]. In New York and Philadelphia he never omitted attendance at church in the morning, unless detained by indisposition [sickness]. The afternoon was spent in his own room at home; the evening with his family, and without company. Sometimes an old and intimate friend called to see us for an hour or two; but visiting and visitors were prohibited for that day [Sunday]. No one in church attended to the services with more reverential respect. My grandmother, who was eminently pious, never deviated from her early habits. She always knelt. The General, as was then the custom, stood during the devotional parts of the service. On communion Sundays, he left the church with me, after the blessing, and returned home, and we sent the carriage back for my grandmother.
It was his custom to retire to his library at nine or ten o’clock where he remained an hour before he went to his chamber. He always rose before the sun and remained in his library until called to breakfast. I never witnessed his private devotions. I never inquired about them. I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief in Christianity. His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, “that they may be seen of men” [Matthew 6:5].
He communed with his God in secret [Matthew 6:6].
My mother [Eleanor Calvert-Lewis] resided two years at Mount Vernon after her marriage [in 1774] with John Parke Custis, the only son of Mrs. Washington. I have heard her say that General Washington always received the sacrament with my grandmother before the revolution. When my aunt, Miss Custis [Martha’s daughter] died suddenly at Mount Vernon, before they could realize the event [before they understood she was dead], he [General Washington] knelt by her and prayed most fervently, most affectingly, for her recovery. Of this I was assured by Judge [Bushrod] Washington’s mother and other witnesses. He was a silent, thoughtful man. He spoke little generally; never of himself. I never heard him relate a single act of his life during the war. I have often seen him perfectly abstracted, his lips moving, but no sound was perceptible. I have sometimes made him laugh most heartily from sympathy with my joyous and extravagant spirits. I was, probably, one of the last persons on earth to whom he would have addressed serious conversation, particularly when he knew that I had the most perfect model of female excellence [Martha Washington] ever with me as my monitress, who acted the part of a tender and devoted parent, loving me as only a mother can love, and never extenuating [tolerating] or approving in me what she disapproved of others. She never omitted her private devotions, or her public duties; and she and her husband were so perfectly united and happy that he must have been a Christian. She had no doubts, no fears for him. After forty years of devoted affection and uninterrupted happiness, she resigned him without a murmur into the arms of his Savior and his God, with the assured hope of his eternal felicity [happiness in Heaven]. Is it necessary that any one should certify, “General Washington avowed himself to me a believer in Christianity?” As well may we question his patriotism, his heroic, disinterested devotion to his country. His mottos were, “Deeds, not Words”; and, “For God and my Country.”
With sentiments of esteem,
I am, Nelly Custis-Lewis
George Washington’s adopted daughter, having spent twenty years of her life in his presence, declared that one might as well question Washington’s patriotism as question his Christianity. Certainly, no one questions his patriotism; so is it not rather ridiculous to question his Christianity? George Washington was a devout Episcopalian; and although as an Episcopalian he would not be classified as an outspoken and extrovert “evangelical” Founder as were Founding Fathers like Benjamin Rush, Roger Sherman, and Thomas McKean, nevertheless, being an Episcopalian makes George Washington no less of a Christian. Yet for the current revisionists who have made it their goal to assert that America was founded as a secular nation by secular individuals and that the only hope for America’s longevity rests in her continued secularism, George Washington’s faith must be sacrificed on the altar of their secularist agenda.
Dr. Ronald D. Rhea, Bishop
For much more on George Washington and the evidences of his strong faith, examine the following sources:
- George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, Jared Sparks, editor (Boston: Ferdinand Andrews, Publisher, 1838), Vol. XII, pp. 399-411.
- George Washington, The Religious Opinions of Washington, E. C. M’Guire, editor (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1836).
- William Johnson, George Washington The Christian (1917).
- William Jackson Johnstone, How Washington Prayed (New York: The Abingdon Press, 1932).
- The Messages and Papers of the Presidents, James D. Richardson, editor (Published by the Authority of Congress, 1899), Vol. I, pp. 51-57 (1789), 64 (1789), 213-224 (1796), etc.
- George Washington, Address of George Washington, President of the United States, Late Commander in Chief of the American Army, to the People of the United States, Preparatory to his Declination (Baltimore: George & Henry S. Keatinge, 1796), pp. 22-23.
George Washington, The Maxims of Washington (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1855).
[i] Budziszewski, J. (2009-08-20). Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law (p. 179). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. Professor of Law at the University of Texas.
