George Washington & the First Freedom

We are pleased to present our Trinity Forum Reading, George Washington & the First Freedom.

This Trinity Forum Reading with introduction by Senior Fellow Wilfred M. McClay features selections from the speeches and letters of George Washington.

The term “The First Freedom” refers to religious liberty, one of the extraordinary gifts bequeathed to us at our nation’s founding – and one of great continuing importance for us in the America of today. In this Reading, we explore the reflections of our first president on this freedom. Trinity Forum Senior Fellow Wilfred M. McClay’s introduction demonstrates how, against the backdrop of religious persecution and conflict in both the Old World and the New, George Washington was an eloquent voice for respect for those of all beliefs. In his great addresses such as his First Inaugural and his Farewell Address, as well as in intimate exchanges of letters with Jewish congregations anxious about their place in the new nation, Washington demonstrated a farsighted vision suited to the pluralistic reality of the new nation. His words serve as a guide as we continue to enjoy the blessings of religious freedom for all today.