ity of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy."

Regarding a future existence, he writes:

"I trouble not myself about the manner of future existence. I content myself with believing, even to positive conviction, that the power that gave me existence is able to continue it in any form and manner he pleases, either with or without this body. I consider myself in the hands of my Creator, and that he will dispose of me after this life consistently with his justice and goodness."

Such was the creed of Thomas Paine. But what of John Adams? Surely, the representative of Puritan New England was "sound in the faith." In 1817 he writes Jefferson:

"Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, 'This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it!' But in this exclamation I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company-I mean hell. So far from believing in the total and universal depravity of human nature, I believe there is no individual totally depraved. The most abandoned

scoundrel that ever existed never yet wholly extinguished his conscience, and while conscience remains there is some religion. The

human understanding is a revelation from its Maker. which can never be disputed or doubted. No prophecies, no miracles are necessary to prove this celestial communication."

Italics are ours.

Would that these splendid words were inscribed upon the walls of all of our churches!

Respecting the doctrine of eternal damnation, he writes:—

"I believe no such thing. My adoration of the Author of the Universe is too profound and too sin

cere.

"The love of God and of his creation-delight, joy, triumph, exultation in my own existence— though but an atom in the universe-these are my religion."

But what of Washington? Was the "Father of his Country" tainted with this liberalism that we are taught to believe is so dangerous? So runs the evidence. In early life Washington acted as vestryman of two Episcopal churches, but in later years his attitude toward the church was one of respect,

rather than sympathy. Cautious in the expression of his views, both for personal and state reasons, he did not so boldly antagonize popular superstition as did most of his co-patriots, but his opinions were not unknown to those entitled to his confidence.

Dr. Abercrombie, Washington's rector in Philadelphia, upon being interrogated as to the President's religious views replied, "Sir, Washington was a deist."

A Boston clergyman, whose reputation for scholarship and accuracy is undoubted, says:—

"Those best qualified to testify tell us that he [Washington] was decidedly liberal in his theology in his mature manhood. That he trusted in God, believed in a Providence that in some large way guided human destiny, is, doubtless, true; but that he was an evangelical Christian is almost certainly not true."

Another authority (Historic Americans, Parker, p. 135), says:-

"Silence is a figure of speech. In his later years, he [Washington] had no more belief in the popular theology than John Adams or Benjamin Franklin, though, unlike them, he was not a speculative man.

He was entirely free from all cant, bigotry and intolerence.

As to the character of our government, Washington gave, over his official signature, as President of the United States, this important declaration:

"The Government of the United States is not in

any sense founded on the Christian religion." (Treaty with Tripoli.)

Other testimony might be given, weighty and convincing. But enough; our task is done.

It is evident that our government, securing to all equality without regard to creed, was established at a time when no church was strong enough to incorporate into the national Constitution its "articles of faith," and that the masterspirits of that day were men of the liberal fold. Not atheists, nor agnostics, but men who trusted in God, who believed in a Providence guiding, in a large way, human affairs, held to character as decisive of individual destiny, and cherished the hope of an immortal life.

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Of faith like this freedom is born. mind in bondage never yet demanded. liberty of speech or deed. But for the lofty faith of those we reverently call "Fathers of our Republic," liberty in America might be to this day but the dream of poet and prophet. They won the blessings we have inherited. But to receive is not to preserve. dom falters. Spirit of the Fathers! "Return to us again

Fair Free

And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power."