God and the Founding Fathers

GOD AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS Fr . D onald Sh earer, O. F. M. Ca p. The religious atmosphere in the American Colonies at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War was quite different from the simple faith of the early Pilgrim Fathers. There were a number of reasons for this. First of all, many especially among the upper classes revolted against the fire and brim­ stone of Calvinism with its fearful doctrine of predestination. Secondly, the latter part of the eighteenth century was characterized by a kind of skepticism among the upper classes. This skepticism took the form of a more or less watered down Deism. The Deist looked upon God as a benign creator who governed the universe wisely. But, though the Deist believed in im­ mortality he did not believe in "...salvation through the 'blood of the Lamb.’ The divinity of Jesus seemed less important than the example of His life.. . . There was a tendency toward anti-clericalism, and a feeling that religious dogmatism and orthodoxy led to obscurantism. Some, indeed, thought of the clergy as hypocritical, designing, and unscrupulous exploiters of the ignorant and superstitious.”1 In this paper, an attempt will be made to show the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers in so far as these religious convictions were manifested in the discussions and actions of the Continental Congress. Secondly, we shall examine the personal beliefs of a number of these Revolutionary heroes. The Journals of the Continental Congress contain the proceedings of this legislative body from its first session until 1789. From the pages of these thirty-four volumes we can form some idea of the attitude of the delegates toward religion. The First Continental Congress opened on September 5, 1774. The fol­ lowing day, a resolution was offered that the daily sessions be opened with prayer. Objections were made to the resolution by John Jay of New York and Rutledge of South Carolina. However, Samuel Adams answered their objections and Mr. Duché, an Episcopalian minister, was asked "to open the Congress, tomorrow morning, with Prayers, at the Carpenters’ Hall, at 9 o’clock.”2 Mr. Duché later defected from the Revolutionary cause, and two chaplains were appointed in his stead.3 Up to the end of the Congress in 1789, chaplains were regularly appointed. That this body of men realized the need of divine protection and guid­ ance, is evident from a resolution passed on June 7, 1775, that July 20th "be observed throughout the twelve United Colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer.”4 On the day itself, Congress, "considering the present critical, alarming, and calamitous state.. .for the English colonies on this continent, as a day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer,” went in a body "to attend divine service at Mr. Duché’s church.”5 1. Koch, G. A., Republican Religion (New York, 1933), xiv. 2. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 (Washington, 1904-1937), I, 26. 3. Op. cit., VI, 1033f 4. Op. cit., II, 81. 5. Loc. cit. 387 388 FRANCISCAN STUDIES The members of Congress, at least in the early days, were very much concerned about safeguarding their religion. In their minds, the Quebec Act constituted a real danger to Protestantism in the Colonies and they protested vigorously against the Act. They demanded the repeal of "the A ct...for establishing the Roman Catholic Religion in the Province of Quebec.”6 In their Address to the People of Great Britain, October 21, 1774, they expressed their sentiments as follows: We think the Legislature of Great Britain is not authorized by the Constitution to establish a religion fraught with sanguinary and impious tenets. . . . Nor can we suppress our astonishment, that a British Parliament should ever consent to establish in that country a religion that has deluged your island in blood, and dispersed impiety, bigotry, persecution, .murder, and rebellion throughout every part of the world.7 In the Petition to the King, October 26, 1774, Congress complains that: in the last session of Parliament an act was passed . . . for extending the limits of Quebec, abolishing the English and restoring the French law, whereby great numbers of the British freemen are subjected to the latter, and establishing the...