Washington's Farewell Address: The Importance of Faith and Morality in the Public Paragraph 20

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 labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & 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 & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric.

According to George Washington, What is the greatest habit that leads to Political Prosperity?  A free Government run by the people?  Nope. Economic Security?  Nope.  George Washington states here emphatically that they are "Religion and Morality".  Of all the questions I'm asked about George Washington, his faith is the top vote getter.  I will discuss in greater detail the answer in a future post.  However, we see emphatically here that George Washington believes that of all the things a person could do to support the government, having faith and living by it, was the number one priority.  He asks, "Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths?"  If there is not basis of truth, if there is no basis of right or wrong, if people simply measured truth by what was good for them, our whole system would crumble.  William Penn amply noted that "Men must be ruled by God or they will be ruled by tyrants."  G. W. is noting a similar concept.  A society of laws is based on rules, moral rules.  Where do these moral rules come from?  God.  If they don't, people will be ruled by tyrants.  He says that "Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion."  He warns that morality is based on religion.  That an outside force must set the rules and maintain the rules.  If the "players" were trusted with that, there would be chaos.  Many people at the time, argued that morality could be maintained by a sense of duty.  George Washington argues that that duty will flow from religion.  Sure there are good people with no religious affiliation, but history shows us clearly they are the exception rather than the rule.  George Washington also states "In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them"  If any man tries to subvert religion he is no friend to the republic.  He is trying to destroy the very pillars of our great republic.  This paragraph is really astonishing to me.  George Washington would be considered today a religious right-winger by saying these things in public.  He is actively countering the Separation of Church and State argument that so many profess as truth today.  Many today say with such confidence that this is how the founding fathers set it up.    That the Church should not influence the state.  This simply isn't true.  It is a fallacy.  As you can read with your own eyes, George Washington would have denounced this.  In fact he would go a step farther and call a person that advocates against religion influencing the republic, "unpatriotic."  I believe if George Washington could come back to America today, he would be horrified, that's right, horrified by the war on faith in the public sector in America.  He would denounce it not only as an attack on religion, but on the United States itself.  Those are strong words, but after reading paragraph 20, I really can't see it in a different light.  I'm actually astonished by this finding, but after reading this, he is quite clear in this thoughts on the emotionally charged subject of faith in government.