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THE
RELIGION of THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Theodore
Roosevelt was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church (denomination),
like his Roosevelt ancestors. His mother was a Presbyterian, another
Calvinist denomination like the Reformed. His parents often attended
Presbyterian churches in New York City and Oyster Bay. His first wife,
Alice Lee Roosevelt was a Unitarian. His second wife, Edith Kermit Carow
Roosevelt was a devout Episcopalian.
In
Oyster Bay there is no Reformed church, and so TR went to Christ Church
(Episcopal) with Edith and the children from 1887 onward. But in Albany
TR attended a Dutch Reformed church while Edith went to an Episcopal
church. In Washington Edith as First Lady attended St. John's Church,
Lafayette Square (Episcopal), the "church of the presidents," across
from the White House, while TR attended Grace Reformed Church, also
nearby. Grace was a German Reformed church, but TR thought this was
fine, close to Dutch. The German reformed denomination later merged
with the Congregational Church, forming the present United Church of
Christ. And Grace Reformed Church today is United Church of Christ.
TR's
religious views were basically mainline Protestant, and he did receive
communion in the Reformed churches he went to and at Christ Church,
Oyster Bay. He took part in the ritual, loudly singing the hymns. Doctrine
or abstract theology did not interest him. This is perhaps not surprising
since formal philosophy as such also did not interest him in the least.
He
was ecumenical in his views. He thought churches should not fight with
each other, and he was quite content to attend services in any church.
He was four square against religious prejudice or persecution, and he
counted Roman Catholics (including priests, bishops, and nuns) and Jews
among his friends. He had many friends in the clergy-- and supporters--
Lyman Abbot, and Washington Gladden, to name two.
Relative
to other subjects, little has been written on TR's religion. However,
there is a hard-to-find book, ROOSEVELT'S RELIGION by Christian Reisner,
which collects recollections from TR friends and others on the subject.
Edward Wagenknecht's fine book, The Seven Worlds of Theodore Roosevelt,
has a section on religion, and you can find this book in most libraries.
In
TR's works, you could look at volume 13 in the NATIONAL EDITION of TR's
works, and that's volume 15 in MEMORIAL EDITION, for REALIZABLE IDEALS,
a little book consisting of lectures TR gave at a theological seminary
in California in 1911. Chapter/lecture titles include "The Bible and
the Life of the People," and ""The Public Servant and the Eighth Commandment."
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THE
FUNERAL of THEODORE ROOSEVELT
At Christ Church on January 8, 1919
Those
of you who saw the recent documentary on The History Channel, TR : AN
AMERICAN LION, noted that the film began and ended with Theodore Roosevelt's
funeral. Dr. Stuart Keill played the part of the then Rector of Christ
Church, the Rev. George E. Talmage, and other members of Christ Church
could be seen in the reenactment. That funeral was the most historically
important event that has taken place at Christ Church, and more famous
people were in Christ Church for that service that at any other time
in it's 300-year history.
Theodore
Roosevelt died in his sleep, from an embolism causing heart failure,
at Sagamore Hill about 4: 15 a.m. on January 6, 1919, the Feast of the
Epiphany. The former President's funeral was held in Christ Church on
the afternoon of Wednesday, January 8, 1919, starting at 12: 53 p.m.
The
New York City police, many of them mounted, were in charge of security
for the funeral, because TR had been Police Commissioner of the NYPD
in the 1890s. The church was extensively decorated with laurel for Christmas,
and the chancel was filled with floral arrangements, including pieces
from the U.S. Senate , American Historical Association (TR had been
president), Republican National Committee, American Academy of Arts
and Letters (TR was an original member), and other groups.
Admission
to the church was by printed invitation . About 500 persons were in
the church, and the crowd outside was estimated at 3,000- 4,000. A delegation
from Washington included Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, sometime
Speakers of the House Joe Cannon and Champ Clark, and TR's close friend
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. In all there were 16 US Senators present
and 26 members of the US House. New York's Governor Al Smith was there,
as were Mayor John F. Hylan of New York City, Charles Evans Hughes,
Henry L. Stimson, and former Roosevelt cabinet members Elihu Root, James
R. Garfield, and Oscar S. Straus.
Observers
were perhaps most surprised by the appearance of former President William
Howard Taft, once TR's trusted lieutenant, then his opponent in 1912,
and later his friend again. Major General Leonard Wood, who had organized
and led the Rough Riders with Roosevelt in 1898, was in the church,
as were many men in uniform, including representatives of the Allies
of World War I.
Fr.
Talmage conducted a brief service in the North Room at Sagamore Hill,
before the coffin was removed to a motorized hearse to be taken to Christ
Church. Former First Lady Edith K. Roosevelt was present in the North
Room, but did not go to the church or cemetery. TR's two daughters,
Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Ethel Roosevelt Derby, were at the funeral,
but his sons Kermit and Ted were still overseas with the AEF. Captain
Archie Roosevelt, the other surviving son, was head usher at the funeral.
Home because of war wounds, Archie was in uniform and wearing his medals.
People
remarked on the simplicity of the funeral service. There was no music
and no eulogy. Fr. Talmage did read TR's favorite hymn, "How Firm a
Foundation," and worked in a famous prayer by Cardinal Newman that begins
,"O Lord, support us all the day long...." This was said to be a favorite
of Quentin Roosevelt, TR's son killed in France the previous summer.
At
the benediction, Fr. Talmage began, " Theodore, the Lord bless thee
and keep thee...." The oak coffin was covered with the American flag
and two Rough Rider regimental banners, with a wreath on top from the
Rough Riders of laurel and yellow acacia. Yellow is the color of the
cavalry. After the service, the procession of hearse ,cars, and mounted
police proceeded to Youngs Memorial Cemetery, and then mourners continued
on foot to the top of the hill, where TR was buried.
Fr.
Talmage wore a white stole for the funeral, the color of the Christmas-Epiphany
season. Today white is the color for funerals, but certainly not in
those days, when purple vestments and black crepe were common. By wearing
white, a most unusual thing to do in 1919, was the Rector of Christ
Church making a statement about the Christian attitude towards death
? I think so.
Later
there were memorial services at Westminster Abbey-- the first time someone
not British had been accorded such an honor-- and in the US Capitol.
But it was the service at Christ Church in Oyster Bay that was the focus
of global attention, and which has never been forgotten.
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