When Washington’s Birthday and Ash Wednesday Collided on the Calendar

Despite this window in the Congressional Chapel in the Capitol, the popular image of Washington in reverent prayer receiving the so-called Vision of Valley Forge was invented out of thin air.

Note--I posted this when Washington’s Birthday Coincided with Ash Wednesday in 2012.  

Since the entirely spurious story of the Vision at Valley Forge was reportedly made in 1859 reminiscences of 99-year-old Anthony Sherman, who was with the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the Winter of 1777 and reported overhearing George Washington tell an officer that an angel had revealed a prophetic vision of America to him.  There is no other confirmation of this, and the recollections or revels recounted second hand are dubious. 

The story did not see print until April 1861 just at the outbreak of the Civil War by Philadelphia journalist Charles Wesley Alexander. Writing under the pseudonym Wesley Bradshaw, Alexander authored several fictional vision or dream pieces featuring historic American figures which were published as broadsheets and in various newspapers during the Civil War and were later offered for sale through advertisements in the pages of The Soldier’s Casket, his post-war publication.  It was meant to be allegorical fiction but was swallowed hook, line, and sinker by Evangelicals and some Catholics who found the mystical revelation an echo of many saint tales.  It was cynically promoted by certain hyper-conservative elements as proof that Washington and other Founders were deep and profound Christians in refutation of the fact that many of them were rationalists, Deists, or adherents of heretical sects or theologies.  

Washington's true spiritual home was Freemasonry.  He laid the cornerstone of the U.S. capitol wearing his Masonic apron.

Washington’s real spiritual life was rooted in Freemasonry, to which he was devoted.  The Masonry of his era combined esoteric mystic ritual with strong Deist elements and more than a dash of republican (small r) radicalism.  Washington famously laid the cornerstone of the Capitol building wearing his Grand Master Mason apron.  The eye-in-the-pyramid on the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States, seen most commonly on the back of the one dollar bill, is generally credited to the influence of the First President on its design. 

 Arnold Fribeg's painting of Washington praying at Valley Forge has become an iconic symbol.

An iconic image by artist Arnold Friberg—one of several versions created over the years—was widely used to promote this pseudo history.  The story, image, and propaganda punch got new wings during the McCarthy Era Red Scare of the early ‘50s when the original so-called prophesy—obviously meant as a metaphor for the Civil War when it was retooled as an anti-Communist screed. 

These days it is a handy tool of Christian dominionists  for asserting a claim that the U.S. is a Christian Nation and should be ruled in the name of Christ. 

All of which begs the question—what were Washington’s actual religious beliefs?  Conservatives point out that he was a life-long Anglican and served as a Vestryman in his local parish.  True enough.  As the local squire, the role of Vestryman—a lay member of a parish governing council—was an expected duty.  Washington from adolescence always was keenly aware of the duties of a gentleman and his obligation to fill them.  But in adulthood, like many Virginians of his class, he became influenced by the heretical philosophies of the Scottish Enlightenment, and eventually Deism.  While never a deep religious thinker like young Thomas Jefferson, he privately discarded most of the tenets of orthodox Christianity.  In his letters, writings, and public utterances he sometimes used the word God but more frequently used Deist constructions like Providence.  He virtually never referenced Jesus Christ.  

George Washington supposedly takes communion with his aides and officers at an outdoor service  held by the Morristown Presbyterian Church which claims that he officially joined during the period when the Continental Army was headquartered there.  The claim is boosted on right wing web sites trying to prove that Washington was a fervent evangelical Christian.  But there is no evidence that Washington actually took the communion wafer or that he ever joined the congregation.

In adulthood he skipped regular Sunday services when he could—his duties as a soldier and statesman provided ample excuses.  When he did attend, he always left after the sermon and before the call to the Communion Rail. 

Anyway, all of that was rolling around my fevered brain and contributed to this opus. 

The Vestryman 
Ash Wednesday/Washington’s Birthday 2012 

The Vestryman performing the duty expected of the local Squire 
            attended chapel when absolutely necessary 
            and when no good excuse like fighting an Empire 
            or Fathering a Country was handy. 
 
He sat bolt upright on a rigid pew 
            contemplated the charms of Lady Fairfax 
                     or dental misery. 
 
When came the Altar Call, he would stand up, 
            turn on his heel, and march straight out 
                        as if a legion was at his back. 
 
No filthy priestly thumb ever grimed 
                        that noble brow. 
 
—Patrick Murfin