Few founders were more insistent on the importance of religion and morality than George Washington. For instance, in his 1783 “Circular Letter to the States,” written upon his resignation as commander-in-chief of the Continental army, he concluded with an “earnest prayer” that God would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never
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