A Wall of Separation Between Church and State?

Our nation is bombarded with the idea that our Founding Fathers promoted a wall of separation between church and state. Atheistic and secular groups continue their efforts to push God out of the United States and from the minds of its public officials and its citizens. These groups have succeeded in many of their endeavors. Thankfully, the truth about the heritage of our nation can be found and is readily available to the public. Of course, the wealth of information against the false notion of a wall of separation between church and state is completely ignored by these groups and our federal government. In this post, we will look at two excerpts from historical documents by George Washington.This first piece is a section from George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation from October 3, 1789.
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." (Memory).
How unconstitutional of our nation’s first president to say? Or is it? Now, our federal Constitution was officially legal with the ratification by the ninth state, which was New Hampshire, on June 21, 1788 (America). George Washington was selected as our nation’s first president and inaugurated April 30, 1789. After being in office only about six months, George Washington signed this Thanksgiving Day Proclamation to be read across the nation. Look at what he says again. It is our duty as a nation to acknowledge God. Both Houses of Congress requested him to recommend this national day of public thanks-giving and prayer to God. Wait…so Congress made the request for the president to announce a national day of prayer and thanksgiving? Did Congress not know that they established a nation with a wall of separation between church and state? They must not have gotten the memo that they built this wall.
Next, let us look at a portion of George Washington’s farewell address to the nation in 1789. After leading our nation as its first president, George Washington looked back on his life before and during the presidency. He had led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War. He was in the midst of the founding of our national government. He witnessed the ratification of the Constitution. He also witnessed the ratification of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1971. Then, he was chosen to be the first man to lead our nation through this first step of the American experiment. After fulfilling his duties to his nation, he had one more opportunity to give advice to the nation as its president and leader. Let us look at part of what he said.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” (Avalon).
What did our first president say were indispensable supports of political happiness? Atheism and science? No. Philosophy and reason? No. Money and power? No. Religion and Morality? Yes. Now, George Washington was fully aware of the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment. How can George Washington say that political prosperity relies upon religion and morality as indispensable supports? How unconstitutional of our first president to say? Or did George Washington and our Founding Fathers have a different understanding of the First Amendment than the false notions taught in the classrooms and to our citizens today? If our Founding Fathers knew what was happening today, I think they would all roll over in their graves.
George Washington also warned of the consequences in the courts of justice if the instruments of investigation were deserted. He understood that without religion morality will disappear. If a nation is without religion, then national morality will cease to exist and cannot be expected. This statement is as true today as it was back in 1796. George Washington would laugh at the thought of a wall of separation between church and state.

Constitution Pic - http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/constitution.jpg
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation – http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field%28DOCID+@lit%28gw300388%29%29
Fact on ratification – http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2008/April/20080416001234eaifas0.5001337.html
Farewell Address – http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp

-Tyler