I was reading some quotes from a few of our Founding Fathers. I came across a quote from George Washington and as I read it I wondered how many of us could just read the letter and know what George meant.

I decided to write the quote and include the meaning of those words which do not occur in the general conversation of most adults today. So here it is:

“While I reiterate* the professions* of my dependence upon Heaven as the source of public and private blessings; I will observe that the general prevalence* of piety*, philanthropy*, honesty, industry and economy seems, in the ordinary course of human affairs*, particularly necessary for advancing and confirming the happiness of our country.

“While all men within our territories are protected in worshipping the Deity*, according to the dictates* of their consciences*; it is rationally to be expected from them in return, that they will be emulous* of evincing*, the sanctity* of their professions* by the innocence of their lives and the beneficence* of their actions for no man, who is profligate* in his morals, or a bad member of the civil community, can possibly be Christian, or a credit to his own religious society.”

Letter to Caleb Gibbs, May 26, 1789.

Here are the meanings of those words with asterisks:

Profession — declarations, avowels, claims

Heaven– God, the celestial powers, the Creator

Prevalence–of general use or occurance, acceptance

Piety–reverence for God or devout fullfillment of religious obligations

Philanthropy–affection for mankind, especially as manifested in donations of money, property, or work to needy persons or socially useful purposes

Affairs–anything done or to be done requiring action or effort; business; concerns

Deity–Godhead, the nature and essence of the Supreme Being

Dictates–an authoritative order or command

Consciences–internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right or wrong, the light of Christ, spirit of Christ or the Lord

Emulous–desirous of equaling or excelling

Evincing–to show clearly or meke manifest or evident

Sanctity–sacred or hallowed character

Beneficence–the practice of doing good, kindness

Profligate–utterly and shamelessly immoral

Perhaps this more modern attempt at the translation of the above quote will help:

While I repeat the declaration of my dependence upon God as a source of ALL my blessings; I perceive that an overall acceptance and commitment to God, to humanity, to being honest, industrious and frugal in our everyday lives, seems to be necessary to progress and establish the happiness of our country and its citizens.

As Americans we have the fundamental right to worship God, according to what we feel is morally correct. It would be logical to expect that we in turn would be anxiously endeavoring to demonstrate our love and devotion to God through our actions. No one who is corrupt in his morals, or who is a bad member of the community can possibly be Christian, or be a credit to his own character or religious affiliation.