TDIH: Washington on Church & State
He didn't seem to believe in separation.
On this day in 1782, George Washington writes a letter to the Reformed Dutch Church at Albany. He was then in the middle of a quick trip to that city.
“May the preservation of your civil and religious Liberties still be the care of an indulgent Providence,” Washington wrote the church, “and may the rapid increase and universal extension of knowledge virtue and true Religion be the consequence of a speedy and honorable Peace.”
Funny words to write if he truly believed that church and state should be separated. Don’t you think? Food for thought for your day.
Dear regular readers: Full-fledged history stories resume on Monday.
Our Fathers' intent was to ensure that there would not ever be a National Religion (i.e. Church of England established by King Henry the Eighth). This is what they had come from.
Our Founders definitely meant for the State to stay out of Church business.