Posted 25 days ago
Patriotica
(20 items)
As recounted by the Reverend Dr. James H. Taylor, rector of the Central Presbyterian Church of Washington, D.C. in his privately printed booklet, Woodrow Wilson in Church, published in 1952, Woodrow Wilson attended his church rather regularly as president and post presidency from 1913 until his death in 1924.
"On many occasions he not only shared his hymn book with those who were next to him but would step out of his pew to give a hymn book to some one who did not have one...He was a devout worshiper, always taking part in the singing of the hymns and giving the closest attention to the reading of the Scriptures and the preaching of the sermon."
On Sundays, the president would send flowers for the service that included his calling card as president and the calling card of Mrs. Wilson in an envelope to accompany the flowers. "It was customary to have flowers each Sunday on the pulpit. Soon after the President came to the church, word was received from him that it would be his pleasure to supply the flowers each Sunday for the church...During the entire administration of President Wilson the flowers were supplied from the White House gardens." In fact, two large gold plated vases were delivered to the church by President Wilson for the use of the flowers each Sunday. The photo shows an example of a White House envelope and the personal calling cards of the president and Mrs. Wilson that would accompany a set of flowers delivered to the church, this one dated August 17, 1919 handwritten in pencil.
He and his family regularly had their own pew in the church. They arrived early and left quietly with most parishioners not even aware he was in attendance, Dr. Taylor recalls. His first wife, Ellen, was eulogized at the church after her death in 1914. President and Edith Galt were married at the church in December of 1915 and President Wilson had a memorial service at the church after his death in 1924.
The privately printed hard cover booklet, 42 pages, recounts the more personal side of the president especially during his wartime and Peace Conference days at the White House where the church seemed to be a place of quiet introspection and solace for him, according to Dr. Taylor's recollection.