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The PURPOSE for this webpage |
The question has arisen lately upon whether or not America was founded as a Christian Nation. I believe the evidence is quite clear, and I also believe that if you spend just a little time looking at the comments, and the writings of our fore-fathers with an open mind you will have to come to the same conclusion.
I believe that it's necessary, in order to understand what this country is, to know WHY, and HOW it came to be. What was the Original Intent of the ones who founded this country.
We know that England, Spain, France, and Holland all sent people to America, and all of these countries had the same general idea of Imperialism - they wanted the goods that America might have to offer.
But why did the PEOPLE come here?
To understand that, we have to know a little about the history of England - the country that eventually was responsible for the foundation of America - though completely unwillingly. (They didn't want their Colony to be outside British rule!)
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Five "Divisions" of Christianity |
After the Reformation, Christianity became divided into five branches:
The Bible in English, perfected by the refugees at Geneva from the Marian
persecutions, had become a common household book; and those exiles
themselves, returning from the various centers of fervid religious
thought and feeling in Holland and Germany and Switzerland, had brought
with them an augmented spiritual faith, as well as intensified and
sharply defined convictions on the questions of theology and church
order that were debated by the scholars of the Continent. It was
impossible that the diverse and antagonist elements thus assembled
should not work on one another with violent reactions. By the beginning
of the seventeenth century not less than four categories would suffice
to classify the people of England according to their religious
differences.
FIRST
, there were those who still continued to adhere to
the Roman See - the Catholics.
SECONDLY, those who, either from conviction or from expediency or from indifference, were content with
the state church of England in the shape in which Elizabeth and her parliaments had left it; this class
naturally included the general multitude of Englishmen, religious, irreligious, and non-religious - the Conformists.
THIRDLY, there were those who, not refusing their adhesion to the national church as by law established, nevertheless earnestly desired to see it more completely purified from doctrinal errors and practical corruptions, and who
qualified their conformity to it accordingly - the Puritans or Reformists.
FOURTHLY, there were the few who distinctly repudiated the national church as a false church, coming out from
her as from Babylon, determined upon "reformation without tarrying for any" - the Separatists
(of whom were the Pilgrims).
FINALLY, following upon these, more radical, not to say more
logical, than the rest, came a fifth party, the followers of George Fox (Fox's
"Book of Martyrs"). Not one of these five parties but has valid claims, both in its
principles and in its membership, on the respect of history; not one but can point to its saints and martyrs;
not one but was destined to play a quite separate and distinct and highly important part in the planting of the
church of Christ in America - the Quakers.
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England - A Brief Religious History |
This is NOT meant to be a major work of history, here's what happened: King Henry VIIIth wanted a divorce from his wife, but according to the Catholic church, he couldn't get one. So he broke with "The Church" in 1533, and formed the Anglican Church. (Strict history buffs will get me on this one, but I know the history too, and am just trying to make it a condensed version.)
Now, just like in America today, a good part of England wanted to STAY Catholic! So this caused some turmoil, especially since Henry wound up beheading some of his wives. The Church of England, though, essentially was not too unlike the Catholic Church at this point.
When Edward, Henry's son became King after Henry's death, in 1547, he moved Anglicanism further away from Catholicism. Edward died in 1553, and his half-sister, Mary, moved England back to the Roman fold, and re-established Catholicism as the state religion. (Mary became known as Bloody Mary for her persecutions of the ones who were NOT Catholic). Of course this caused MORE turmoil, as the ones who had broken from Catholicism were severely tortured, punished, and even killed for remaining true to their religion.
In 1558 Mary died. Her sister Elizabeth I became queen and immediately broke off with Rome. She completely separated from the Catholic church and eventually was excommunicated by the church. She fought against it all of her life. She died in 1603.
Her son, James (who became famous for the King James Bible) tried to straddle the fence. He had two Bibles published during his reign. The most well known is the KJV, of course, but he also had the Duway-Rheims Bible (which is a Catholic Bible) brought to England. As you can imagine this caused even more turmoil.
For the next century, from James through Charles I (and Oliver Cromwell) there were significant swings between Catholicism and Protestantism in England, each time causing more and more and more unrest, and more suffering and pain for the people of England. (In 1630 they even abolished Christmas, not wanting to show any sign of "Popishness" - Christmas was a celebration.)
In the 18th Century after almost a hundred years of Civil War and unrest, England spread Anglicanism to their territories. Anglicanism spread outside of the British Isles by means of emigration as well as missionary effort.
English missionary organizations such as USPG--then known as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the Church Missionary Society (CMS) were established in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to bring Anglican Christianity to the British colonies. Even though Britain did NOT establish colonies in America to spread religion, the people who came here came for that express reason!
The Virginia Charter
While "The Mayflower Compact" is generally considered to be America's first Formal Document of Purpose, this, of course, predates the Mayflower by 14 years!
This is what they wrote:
"We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work,
which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in
propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true
Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to
human Civility, and to a settled and quiet Government: DO, by these our Letters Patents, graciously accept
of, and agree to, their humble and well-intended Desires.
Seems pretty clear why they came, doesn't it?
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was one of the very first "Official" papers written in "The New World" - Let's read what they wrote:
"In the name of God, Amen.
We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread
Sovereigne Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britaine, France and Ireland king, defender of
the faith, etc. having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and
honour of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northerne parts of Virginia, doe by
these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine
ourselves together into a civill body politick, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of
the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just and equall laws,
ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meete and
convenient for the generall good of the Colonie unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Codd the 11. of November,
in the year of the raigne of our sovereigne lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth,
and of Scotland the fiftie-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620" (For those who don't know, Anno Dom. is Latin for The Year Of Our Lord .
Now I don't know about how you read this, but it seems fairly clear to me that it is written "IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN" - can you find any other way to read it?
"Declare"
| THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE |
The next important document in American History is the Declaration
of Independence. What does IT say?
"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands
which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and
equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them
, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness."
Can you find a meaning to this that doesn't include God? You can? Really? No, I didn't really think so.
THE NEW ENGLAND PRIMER
"The New England Primer" was printed in 1690, by Benjamin Harris, in Boston.
It was the first textbook printed in the 13 colonies. Harris compiled the Primer modeled after earlier primers
he had dealt with in London. One of his earlier publications in London in 1679 was a longer work, The
Protestant Tutor, which included a good number of the sections that went into the Primer. Publication of the
Primer dates at least back to 1690, the year that a second, enlarged edition was advertised. The textbook
was used in Public Schools through different editions until 1930 - two hundred and forty years. Among
other things it contained: "A Creed For Children, The Lord's Prayer, the Ten
Commandments, A Morning Prayer for Children, an Evening Prayer for Children, The Shorter Catechism,
A Dialogue Between Christ, A Youth and the Devil" - and the Alphabet set to Biblical names: "A is for Adam"...
This is the prayer that is for bedtime - this is where this prayer comes from:
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
I don't really think I need to say anything about this. Still unconvinced?? Here's another bit of "Paperwork"!
Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England - 1765
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| Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England - 1765 |
">This is the book that is THE cornerstone of Western Law. It was carried by men who practiced law,
and was very often the ONLY lawbook that Judges and Attorneys had! This lawbook was used widely until the
Twentieth Century! Let's see what William Blackstone wrote in it:
"This law of nature, being co-eval with mankind and dictated by God Himself, is of course superior in
obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times: no human laws are of
any validity, if contrary to this; …upon these two foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation,
depend all human laws; that is to say, no human laws should be suffered to contradict these.”
And: “Blasphemy against the Almighty is denying his being or providence, or
uttering contumacious [rebellious] reproaches on our Savior Christ. It is punished, at common law by fine
and imprisonment, for Christianity is part of the law of the land.”
This was the LAW! THIS is what the LAW that founded our Country was!
One more, and then we'll go to something else.
The Minute Man Oath
The Minute Man, was, of course, the ones who fought for this country - that there might BE
a "United States of America". Do we think that they believed in God? Let's look at what they swore to:
"We trust in God that, should the state of our affairs require it, we shall be ready to sacrifice our estates and
everything dear in life, yea, and life itself, in support of the common cause.”
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Sign your name here
If you DIDN'T believe in Him would you swear that yo would lay down your life for Him??
Before we get into the comments and writings of our Forefathers, I'd like to take just a
moment to remind you that those days were a LOT different than what we have today.
For instance, It's especially important today to remember that in the days of our Forefathers, the job of serving the
country was NOT a full-time job. Most of the ones who served had to keep their "regular job" due to low (or no) pay.
For instance, George Washington received NO money until he became President. In 1789, Congress
allocated the sum of $25,000 for the President, and $5000 for the Vice President. This was the salary until
1873, when it was doubled.
They considered themselves as "Aristocrats" to whom campaigning was something they would NEVER do!
What this meant to the people, and to us today, is that when they spoke something, it held the conviction of
their beliefs as men, and as aristocrats. They never would intentionally mislead, and certainly did NOT lie!
Remember too, that in the early days of America, the man who got the most votes became President -
but the man who got the SECOND most votes became Vice President. Therefore, it was completely
possible (and in the case of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, very real) that you might have a President
from one political party and a vice president of another.
Now after that little bit of history, let's read some of their words:
WILLIAM PENN
William Penn, the largest single land owner of the New World, said this at the very beginning of his "Charter of Privileges" in 1701
"Almighty God being the only Lord of Conscience, Father of Lights and Spirits;
and the Author as well as Object of all divine Knowledge, Faith and Worship, who only doth enlighten the
Minds, and persuade and convince the Understandings of People.”
He also required that anyone who got land from him be able to read and write. What books do you think
they learned to read and write from? If you answered the Bible and the New England Primer, go to the head
of the class!
ROGER SHERMAN
On the Committee of Five that actually drafted the Declaration of Independence. Mayor of New Haven, he
was also a delegate from Connecticut. He was the only person to sign all four great documents of the U.S.:
The Continental Association, the Declaration, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. He was
Treasurer of Yale University and was awarded an Honorary Master's of Arts Degree. He was a Professor of
Religion for many years, and engaged in lengthy correspondences with some of the greatest theologians of
the time.
These are things that he said in his book "The Life Of Roger Sherman". See if you think this man
who had such credentials as listed above had Christian values - and one of the main Christian values, of
course, is the Great Commission: "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all men, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."
"I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance equal in power and glory. That the scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may
glorify and enjoy Him. That God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, so as thereby he is not the
author or approver of sin. That HE creates all things, and preserves and governs all creatures and all their
actions, in a manner perfectly consistent with the freedom of will in moral agents, and the usefulness of
means. That HE made man at first perfectly holy, that the first man sinned, and as he was the public head of
his posterity, they all became sinners in consequence of his first transgression, are wholly indisposed to that
which is good and inclined to evil, and on account of sin are liable to all the miseries of this life, to death, and
to the pains of hell forever.
Wow! Let's Continue.....
I believe that God having elected some of mankind to eternal life, did send his own Son to become man, die
in the room and stead of sinners and thus to lay a foundation for the offer of pardon and salvation to all
mankind, so as all may be saved who are willing to accept the gospel offer: also by his special grace and
spirit, to regenerate, sanctify and enable to persevere in holiness, all who shall be saved; and to procure in
consequence of their repentance and faith in himself their justification by virtue of his atonement as the only
meritorious cause.
And more....
I believe a visible church to be a congregation of those who make a credible profession of their faith in Christ,
and obedience to him, joined by the bond of the covenant.
Even more....
I believe that the souls of believers are at their death made perfectly holy, and immediately taken to glory: that
at the end of this world there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a final judgement of all mankind, when
the righteous shall be publicly acquitted by Christ the Judge and admitted to everlasting life and glory, and
the wicked be sentenced to everlasting punishment."
Hmmm....can we say "Evangelist" together???
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
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It has been said that Ben Franklin was a "Deist" - that he wasn't a "True Christian". Of course, we can't judge whether or not a man is
Christian - that's up to the Lord to do, however I DO believe that we can judge whether a man is "walking with
the Lord" or not. So if I were to judge, I'd have to say that the first thing I would look at on any mand/woman
would be what did he say and what did he do?
Here's what Mr. Franklin said:
"History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion...and the excellency
of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."
Upon the ending of the Constitutional Convention: "I have so much faith in the general government of the
world by Providence that I can scarcely conceive a transaction of such momentous importance to the
welfare of millions without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent,
omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler in whom all inferior spirits live, and move, and have their being."
"And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
Without His concurring aid we outselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages."
I'd say he fits the bill pretty well, wouldn't you?
The next thing I might look at would be did he outwardly live his inner Christian beliefs? We can't tell for sure,
but history seems to indicate that he did a LOT of Christian counseling to the youth of his day. He also
maintained his own pew in Christ's Church in Philadelphia, where he attended every Sunday when he was in
Philadelphia for 24 years.
Twenty-four years without missing a Sunday?? Seems like that speaks a lot, doesn't it?
One final note about Dr. Franklin - He was the one who "suggested" that every day the Continental Congress would be started with a Christian prayer!
Let's see how he "suggested" it - these are his words:
“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this
truth - that God
Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that
an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord
build the House they labour in vain that build it.’
THOMAS JEFFERSON
But what about Thomas Jefferson, you say. We ALL know that HE was a Deist - don't we?
Well, actually, DO we? Let's see what Jefferson wrote in the privacy of his own home, never (he thought) to be seen by "the Public Eye".
Thomas Jefferson wrote on the front of his well-worn Bible: "I am a real
Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will
soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator."
He was responsible for the term "Separation of Church and State" - but
it is NOT in the Constitution! It was in a letter to the Baptist Church at Danbury, Connecticut, telling them that
the Federal Government would NEVERmake any law forbidding them to worship as they wished. It was not meant for publication and was his PERSONAL
guarantee that the government would never remove our right to worship as a Christian nation!
How twisted have liberal voices in America made the words of this Founder of our Country! We should know that it is NOT
the job of the Federal Government to govern how we worship our religion!
Now we DO know that he created his own Bible, deleting all instances of miracles performed - but does
that keep him from being a Christian?
According to what I've read, the belief that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, who gave His life freely, on the
Cross for our sins, and having faith that HE and only HE is our Savior, is what makes one a Christian!
So, DO we know that he was a "Deist"? It certainly remains to be
proven, on the face of his own, private, testimony.
PATRICK HENRY
Patrick Henry, who is called the "Firebrand of the American Revolution", is still remembered for his
words, '"Give me liberty or give me death."' But in current textbooks the context of these words is deleted.
Here is what he actually said: '"An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not
fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle, sir, is not to the strong
alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it
Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."'
These sentences have been erased from our textbooks. Was Patrick Henry a Christian? The following year,
1776, he wrote this "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that
this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."
And one more person speaks - our First President - the man who refused a Kingship!
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Read these words of the Father of our Country:
"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."
"To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished
character of Christian."
The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress
and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as
becomes a Christian soldier, defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country.
I now make it my earnest prayer that God would… most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice,
to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of the mind which were
the characteristics of the Divine Auth"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."
"Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is
in the hands of God."
Looks like we can say he spoke what was in his heart...and what was in his heart was a faith in God!
JOHN JAY
John Jay - The first Supreme Court Chief Justice,
President of the American Bible Society said THESE words:
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian Nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
And these:
"Only one adequate plan has ever appeared in the world, and that is the Christian dispensation."
Only one plan? He sounds convinced!
"By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We
thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced.
What can I say?
"The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a
Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made
atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine
mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the
free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve."
(From his book "In God We Trust—The Religious Beliefs and Ideas of the American Founding Fathers", p. 379.
And lastly:
"In forming and settling my belief relative to the doctrines of Christianity, I adopted
no articles from creeds but such only as, on careful examination, I found to be confirmed by the Bible."
JAMES WILSON
James Wilson studied to be a Presbyterian pastor. He was also one of the first Justices of the U.S.
Supreme Court. Let's read his words:
"Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is
divine....Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual
assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other."
And this one....
"Christianity is part of the common law."
JOHN HANCOCK
We all know John Hancock as the one who made the fancy signature at the bottom of the
Declaration of Independence, but let's find out a little MORE about him and his beliefs.
He was also President of Congress, a Revolutionary War General, and Governor of Massachusetts. He said:
"Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a
state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement.
He called on the entire state to pray “that universal happiness may be established in
the world [and] that all may bow to the scepter of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole earth be filled with
His glory.
"That the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be established in peace
and righteousness among all the nations of the earth.
"That with true contrition of heart we may confess our sins, resolve to forsake them, and implore the Divine forgiveness, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, our Savior. . . .
And finally to overrule all the commotions in the world to the spreading the true religion of our Lord Jesus Christ in its purity and power among all the people of the earth.
Robert Morris
Today, Robert Morris is an almost forgotten man. However in the time of the formation
of this country he was one of the MOST important and best recognized leaders. He was one of the six
"Framers" of our country who signed both the Declaration of Independence, AND the Constitution.
More than that, though, he was one of the two men (the other being Roger Sherman) who ALSO signed
the Articles of Confederation, upon which both those other documents are founded. He was known as
the "Financier of the Revolutionary War" for giving so much of his money to the "war effort". He was
picked the be the very first Treasurer of the United States, but turned that honor over to Alexander Hamilton
Without his aid, we would surely NOT have become a nation! Let's read his words:
"The most important of all lessons from the Scriptures is the denunciation of ruin to
every State that rejects the precepts of religion."
"For avoiding the extremes of depotism or anarchy...the only ground of hope must be
on the morals of the people. I believe that religion is the only solid base of morals and that morals are
the only possible support of free governments. Therefore education should teach the precepts of
religion and the duties of man towards God."
"Your good morals in the army give me sincere pleasure as it hath long been my
fixed opinion that virtue and religion are the great sources of human happiness. More especially is
it necessary in your profession firmly to rely upon the God of Battles for His guardianship and
protection in the dreadful hour of trial. But of all these things you will and I hope in the merciful Lord."
By the way, his face was on the $1000 dollar bill issued in 1862. During the war, he donated
$1,400,000 to help pay the troops and buy their supplies at a time when the state of New Hampshire could
give only $3000 worth of beef. One more note..the common dollar sign ($) was his invention. Looks like his morals
and religious values kept him in good stead!
SAM ADAMS
Today, if we know him at all, we think of Samuel Adams as being the representative
for "Sam Adams Ale". Here's who he really was though.
He was also one of the six men who
signed both the Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence. He was called the "Father of the American Revolution", and later was Governor of the
state of Massachusetts
I . . . [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins. The name of the Lord (says the Scripture) is a strong tower; thither the
righteous flee and are safe [Proverbs 18:10]. Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey
of this life and at length receive us to a
better. I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of
the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the
promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is
the Prince of Peace.
He also called on the State of Massachusetts to pray that . . .
"the peaceful and glorious reign of our Divine Redeemer may be known and enjoyed
throughout
the whole family of mankind." we may with one heart and voice humbly implore His gracious and free
pardon through Jesus Christ, supplicating His Divine aid . . . [and] above all to cause the religion of
Jesus Christ, in its true spirit, to spread far and wide till the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. with
true contrition of heart to confess their sins to God and implore forgiveness through the merits and
mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior.
William Holmes McGuffey
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At first, I wasn't going to add the words of William Holmes McGuffey.
After all, he WASN'T one of the signers of the Declaration nor the Constitution. He wasn't President; not even a Supreme Court Justice. He wasn't a major land-owner.
All Reverend McGuffey did was to author of the "McGuffey Readers", a series of six books, which were used for over
100 years in our public schools with over 125 million copies sold until printing was stopped in 1963. It continues to sell on the average of 30,000 copies a year, putting it into the category of the Bible and Webster's Dictionary as far as sales go.
President Lincoln called him the "Schoolmaster of the Nation."
Listen to these words of Mr. McGuffey: '"The Christian religion is the religion of our
country. From it are derived our notions on the character of God, on the great moral Governor of the universe. On its
doctrines are founded the peculiarities of our free institutions. From no source has the author drawn
more conspicuously than from the sacred Scriptures. From all these extracts from the Bible I make no
apology."
Reverend McGuffey emphasized that "Protestant Christianity was the only true religion in America."
The Readers taught a structure of reward and punishment" in which "hard work, thrift, and rugged conformity
were the ideals. Success was desired. Failure was shunned.
I have to admit that I'm not too sure those values shouldn't be held in high esteem today, rather than the system where it's honorable to stay at home and collect "welfare"!
NOTE: I've collected these "Words from the Forefathers" for years, so I
could go on posting these all day long - and tomorrow and the day after, etc. But I'll just give a couple more
then we can move on to further proofs. I regret that I history has forgotten so many of these great men, and also regret that I can't put more and more of them here, but
believe that the reader will get the idea..and, hopefully, the message!
And hopefully, that they will investigate this history of America on their own.
I was going to quit with Rev. McGuffey, but decided on putting just a couple more short "snippets":
On July 4, 1821, President John Adams said, "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected
in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."
One of the first appropriations by the first Congress of the United States was for the purchase of
20,000 Bibles for use in evangelizing the Indians in the Northwest Territory.
In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution:
"The Congress of the United States recommends
and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools."
"The CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES! How can we
argue the issue today??!
One final thought: Just because these men were who they were, and did and said the things that they did -
does that really mean that the U.S. is a "Christian Nation"? I'd have to say in the light of who these men were,
that their intent seems very clear. They WERE Christians - and they wanted a Christian Nation!
THE LIBERTY BELL
Liberty Bell Inscription: The Liberty Bell (a.k.a. "Independence Bell" or "Old Yankee's Bell"
until 1837) was rung to announce the opening of the First Continental Congress in 1774 and after the Battle
of Lexington and Concord in 1775.
The source of the inscription is from Leviticus 25:10, which
reads "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof": it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye
shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family."
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
On the 12th Landing of the stairs climbing to the top of it is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore-
There is a memorial stone in the wall at the 140-foot level with the following blessing:
"May heaven to this union continue its beneficence. May brotherly affection with union be perpetual. May the
free constitution which is the work of our ancestors be sacredly maintained and its administration be
stamped with wisdom and virtue."
On the 24th Landing there is a memorial that was presented by the Sunday Schools of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in New York and from the Sabbath School children of the Methodist Episcopal church in
Philadelphia. It then says "A preached Gospel" and "A free press" then closes with "Washington, we revere
his memory."
The inscriptions include the Bible reference Proverbs 10:7 "The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot."
There is also an open bible on the monument that includes Luke 18:16
where Jesus said "Suffer the little children to come unto me" and Proverbs 22:6, which says "Train up a
child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
On the very top of the Monument are the words "Laus Deo", which is Latin
for "Praise be to God."
And finally: When the cornerstone was laid, several dozen items were placed into the Cornerstone of the
Monument. According to the National Park Service, a copy of the Bible presented by The Bible Society.
There are no other books in the Cornerstone.!
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
We all know the first verse of the Star Spangled Banner, and have seen it sung (and sung it ourselves) thousands of times before every sporting event, etc. But did you know that it has FOUR verses? Here's the last verse:
Verse Four:
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave
Let's re-read those final lines: Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us AS A NATION, and "In God is our trust."
Seems like that says it better than I ever could. Are you still convinced that America is NOT a Christian nation?
Why??
THE SUPREME COURT
Most of us know that today's Supreme Court Building is decorated with MANY Biblical images - the image of
Moses with the Ten Commandments on the front door only starts the exposition.
However I'm not talking about the Supreme Court Building, that was built in 1935. I'm speaking here of
the ORIGINAL Supreme Court meeting place...inside the Capitol building.
In 1800, only eleven years after the signing of our Constitution, the Supreme Court began holding session
here. The cornerstone was laid by George Washington (most people forget that his occupation was that of surveyor).
Thomas Jefferson took his Oath of Office here. In his first Inaugural Address, he said:
"I advance with obedience to the work, ready to retire from it whenever you become sensible how much
better choice it is in your power to make. And
may that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the universe lead our councils to what is best, and give
them a favorable issue for your peace and prosperity."
In 1844, Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first telegram from the Supreme Court. What he sent was "What
hath God wrought", so amazed was he by the beauty of the first vaulted ceiling in America! (In 1946, the pilot of the Enola Gay, the airplane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima repeated these words, seeing the destruction that was caused. Apparently he was a student of history!)
THE GREAT SEAL OF THE U.S./font>
| THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES
|
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress commissioned three men, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and
John Adams to create our "Great Seal".
Benjamin Franklin's proposal is preserved in a note of his own handwriting:
"Moses standing on the Shore, and extending his Hand over the Sea, thereby causing the same to overwhelm Pharaoh who is sitting in an open Chariot, a Crown on his Head and a Sword in his Hand. Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Clouds reaching to Moses, to express that he acts by Command of the Deity.
His Motto was, "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God."
Sounds pretty Biblical and pretty "Christian" to me - how about you?
Thomas Jefferson also suggested allegorical scenes. For the front of the seal: children
of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. For the reverse: Hengist and
Horsa, the two brothers who were the legendary leaders of the first Anglo-Saxon settlers in Britain.
(It's amazing that someone who "wasn't a Christian" would come up with such an idea for a seal that represents the country that they had just helped form, doesn't it you?)
The one John Adams created wasn't used either. However the final "Great Seal", with the Eye in the top of
the Pyramid, does have some of Franklin's motto: Above the radiant eye on the reverse side of the Great
Seal: are the Latin words Annuit Coeptis - (Providence has Favored Our Undertakings).:
OUR NATIONAL MOTTO
The motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" first appeared on the 1864
two-cent coin, followed in 1866 by the 5 cent nickel (1866–1883), quarter dollar, half dollar, silver dollar and
gold dollars. It did not become the official U.S. national motto until after the passage of an Act of Congress in
1956.[2][3] It is codified as federal law in the United States Code at 36 U.S.C. § 302, which provides:
'In God we trust' is the national motto.
AMERICA'S BIBLE
| AMERICA'S BIBLE (Endorsed By Congress)
|
Bible Endorsed by Congress.
The war with Britain cut off the supply of Bibles to the United States with the result that on Sept. 11, 1777,
Congress instructed its Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from "Scotland, Holland or
elsewhere." On January 21, 1781, Philadelphia printer Robert Aitken (1734-1802) petitioned Congress to
officially sanction a publication of the Old and New Testament which he was preparing at his own expense.
Congress stated that they do "highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient
to the interest of religion . . . in this country, and . . . they recommend this edition of the bible to the inhabitants
of the United States." This resolution was a result of Aitken's successful accomplishment of his project - the
FIRST English language Bible printed in America, and the first, if not only, Bible ever sanctioned by
Congress.
Aitken reportedly lost close to $3000 on the printing, but it has also been reported that a lot of this
money was made up by individual members of Congress (not by taxes, as a project like this would be today!)
Random Notes:
In January, 1844 the Supreme Court heard a case named Vidal v. Girard's
Executors, in which a school was to be built in which "no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any
sect whatsoever was to be allowed to even step on the property of the school." The Justices argued
over whether a layman could teach or not, but they agreed that, "...there is
an obligation to teach what the Bible alone can teach, viz. a pure system of morality."
This has been LEGAL PRECEDENT throughout the last 185 years!
Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard
University, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, Rule
Number 1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the
scriptures: '"Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main
end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, John 17:3; and therefore
to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation for our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten
Commandments?"
Did you know that 52 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed
Christians? Three of the others believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal
interv
Font color=ention - only one, George Clymer, wasn't religious at all. (His mother had been a Quaker who had been kicked out of the church, because she married an "outsider".
Also, of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, nearly
half (24) held seminary or Bible school degrees.
It is the same Congress that formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after
creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase and import 20,000
copies of scripture for the people of this nation.
CLOSING COMMENT
If the evidence I've presented doesn't make you see this country was formed as a CHRISTIAN
Nation, then there is little else that I can do for you besides pray. I will mention this...that if I were to be
interested in buying a boat, I'd want to know what other kinds of boats the boat-builder has built. And if the
answer was "none", then I'd have to know, is the boat-builder reliable? Is he a man of his word? Can I
expect to safely row the boat into the middle of a lake without worry of having to swim back? What
will he use as his blue-print for building the boat that I will set to sea in?
In other words, what are the builder's values and guides to building a boat?
In the case of the U.S., NONE of the "builders" had ever built a country before. All they had was a desire
to build the best country that they could. I believe that they found the best values for a country in the pages of
their Bibles. If you can find anything, anywhere, that would offer as concrete a proof as I offer here, then I'd
love to see it. Until then though, I will remain convinced that this is a CHRISTIAN NATION!
Now today, we are asking God to bless America. But, how can He bless a Nation that has departed so
far from Him? Prior to September 11, He was not welcome in America. Most of what you read in this article
has been erased from our textbooks. Revisionists have rewritten history to remove the truth about our
country's Christian roots.
You are encouraged to share with others, so that the truth of our nation's history will be told
If you have comments, feel free to email me at Texxan64@yahoo.com
Dr Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a member of the Continental Congress wrote these words in "A Defence of the Bible in schools - 1812"
"The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this, there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. The religion I mean to recommend in this place is the religion of Jesus Christ. It is foreign to my purpose to hint at the arguments which establish the truth of the Christian revelation. My only business is to declare that all its doctrines and precepts are calculated to promote the happiness of society and the safety and well-being of civil government."
"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." - George Washington
I thought it only fitting to add the words of the song "TAPS" here, as a closing. I don't know
whether or not Taps is still played at "Retreat" at the end of the day in the military. (It was, from 1964-1970,
when I was in the USAF), but it is played at funerals of military and ex-military people all over the United
States - and has been since 1835. That's right, only 46 short years after our Constitution was ratified by
all the states.
Here are a few more facts about the song: It's played at more than 2,500 Military Wreath Ceremonies
every year at Arlington National Cemetary, including the honors paid to the Unknown Soldier. The
Boy Scouts have used the second verse, known correctly by it's name as "Vespers" at the end of their
meetings. There are numerous legends of how the song came to be, but I want to stick to facts, so I will
just let you see the words, as they are written:
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the skies
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.
And with that, Good Night...or Good Day as the case may be!
(Click HERE to go the Master Index)
