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Why
is it none of the defining moments of American history
were undertaken as atheists, but in fact were engaged in
as Christians?
The
commander-in-chief directs that divine service be
performed every Sunday at eleven o'clock in those
brigades [in] which there are chaplains; those which
have none [are] to attend the places of worship nearest
to them. It is expected that officers of all ranks will
by their attendance set an example to their men. While
we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens
and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive
to the higher duties of religion. To the
distinguished character of patriot, it should be our
highest glory to add the more distinguished character of
Christian. The signal instances of providential
goodness which we have experienced, and which have now
almost crowned our labors with complete success, demand
from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of
gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.
—George Washington, General
Orders, Fitzpatrick 11:342. (May 2, 1778.)
The first
difficulty to be overcome existed in Boston itself.
Cushing, the speaker, who had received a private letter
from Dartmouth, and was lulled into confiding in
"the noble and generous sentiments" of that
minister, advised that for the time the people should
bear their grievances. "Our natural increase in
wealth and population," said he, "will in a
course of years settle this dispute in our favor;
whereas, if we persist in denying the right of
parliament to legislate for us, they may think us
extravagant in our demands, and there will be great
danger of bringing on a rupture fatal to both
countries." He thought the redress of grievances
would more surely come "if these high points about
the supreme authority of parliament were to fall
asleep." Against this feeble advice, the Boston
committee of correspondence aimed at the union of the
province, and "the confederacy of the whole
continent of America." They refused to waive the
claim of right, which could only divide the Americans in
sentiment and confuse their counsels. "What
oppressions," they asked, in their circular to all
the other towns, "may we not expect in another
seven years, if through a weak credulity, while the most
arbitrary measures are still persisted in, we should be
prevailed upon to submit our rights, as the patriotic
Farmer expresses it, to the tender mercies of the
ministry? Watchfulness, unity, and harmony are necessary
to the salvation of ourselves and posterity from
bondage. We have an animating confidence in the
Supreme Disposer of events, that he will never suffer a
sensible, brave, and virtuous people to be
enslaved."
George
Bancroft, History of the United States, Vol.3,
Chapter 34: The Boston Tea-Party, August-December
1773, p.443 - p.444
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw170227))
The George Washington Papers at
the Library of Congress
George Washington, November 27,
1779, General Orders
The Writings of George Washington
from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C.
Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 17
Head Quarters, Moore's House, Saturday, November 27, 1779.
Parole Landaft. Countersigns Lexington, Leeds.
The Honorable the Congress has
been pleased to pass the following proclamation.
Whereas it becomes us humbly to
approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and
praise for the wonders which his goodness has wrought in
conducting our fore-fathers to this western world; for his
protection to them and to their posterity amid
difficulties and dangers; for raising us, their children,
from deep distress to be numbered among the nations of the
earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty princes
in our deliverance; and especially for that he hath been
pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so to
order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced
her increase in abundance, blessing the labors of the
husbandmen, and spreading plenty through the land; that he
hath prospered our arms and those of our ally; been a
shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their
swords to victory and led them in triumph over the
bulwarks of the foe; that he hath gone with those who went
out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he
hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his
meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our
commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy
on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath
diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby,
through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become
the heirs of his eternal glory: therefore,
RESOLVED, That it be recommended
to the several states, to appoint Thursday, the 9th of
December next, to be a day of public and solemn
thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of
prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to
these United States; to beseech him that he would be
graciously pleased to influence our public councils, and
bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity,
firmness, and success; that he would go forth with our
hosts and crown our arms with victory; that he would grant
to his church the plentiful effusions of divine grace, and
pour out his holy spirit on all ministers of the gospel;
that he would bless and prosper the means of education,
and spread the light of christian knowledge through the
remotest corners of the earth; that he would smile upon
the labours of his people and cause the earth to bring
forth her fruits in abundance; that we may with gratitude
and gladness enjoy them; that he would take into his holy
protection our illustrious ally, give him victory over his
enemies, and render him signally great, as the father of
his people and the protector of the rights of mankind;
that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of
our enemies, and to dispense the blessings of peace to
contending nations; that he would in mercy look down upon
us, pardon our sins and receive us into his favor, and
finally, that he would establish the independence of these
United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and
support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace,
liberty and safety.33
[Note 33: In the General Orders
this resolve was condensed by sundry omissions.]
A strict observance to be paid by
the Army to this proclamation and the Chaplains are to
prepare and deliver discourses suitable to it.34
[Note 34: The Varick Transcripts
of Washington's General Orders in the Library of Congress
has the following note at this point: "The Army
marching by Divisions and Brigades into Winter
Quarters."]
The General
most earnestly requires and expects...of all officers and
soldiers, not engaged on actual duty, a punctual
attendance on divine service, to implore the blessings of
heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense.
—General Orders. Fitzpatrick 3:309. (1775.)
The honorable Continental Congress having been pleased to
allow a chaplain to each regiment,...the colonels or
commanding officers of each regiment are directed to
procure chaplains accordingly, persons of good characters
and exemplary lives, [and] to see that all inferior
officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and
attend carefully upon religious exercises. The blessing
and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but
especially so in times of public distress and danger.
—General Orders. Fitzpatrick 5:244. (1776.)
Divine service is to be performed tomorrow in the several
brigades or divisions. The commander-in-chief earnestly
recommends that the troops not on duty should universally
attend with that seriousness of deportment and gratitude
of heart which the recognition of such reiterated and
astonishing interpositions of Providence demand of us.
—General Orders. Fitzpatrick 23:247. (1781.)
The commander-in-chief orders the cessation of hostilities
between the United States of America and the king of Great
Britain to be publicly proclaimed tomorrow at twelve
o'clock,...after which the chaplains with the several
brigades will render thanks to almighty God for all his
mercies, particularly for his overruling the wrath of man
to his own glory, and causing the rage of war to cease
among the nations....
The proclamation...must afford the most rational and
sincere satisfaction to every benevolent mind, as it puts
a period to a long and doubtful contest, stops the
effusion of human blood, opens the prospect to a more
splendid scene, and, like another morning star, promises
the approach of a brighter day than has hitherto
illuminated the Western Hemisphere; on such a happy day, a
day which is the harbinger of peace, a day which completes
the eighth year of the war, it would be ingratitude not to
rejoice!
—General
Orders. Fitzpatrick 26:334. (1783.)
All of these General Orders were clearly religious, and
thus show that Washington did not labor under the myth of
"separation of church and state" as advanced
today by the ACLU.
Subject: The Christian Militia
From: kevin4vft@aol.com (KEVIN4VFT)
Date: 05 Dec 1998 02:51:33 EST
A policeman in Texas was fired because he wore a small
Cross on his uniform
In article
<19981204222440.27490.00000164@ng-cc1.aol.com>, edarr1776@aol.com
(EDarr1776) writes:
>I said: >The guy was
hired to work as a cop, a government job. As you
know,
>the
>>Constitution -- in this case, Texas' constitution,
too -- prevent government
>>employees from activities that tend to endorse one
religion over another.
>
>Kevin said: >>No, I emphatically do
not "know" this.<<
>
>Right. No matter how often
you are told or presented the facts, you refuse
>to "know" this.
Don't just assert "it's a fact." Quote the
constitution for us, Ed. Highlight the words
"employee" and "endorse" in your
quotation, just to make it easy for us.
>>> There is nothing in the Constitution
>nor in the first 100 years of Constitutional history
which indicates that
>the government must not advance Christianity. History
is replete with
>examples of the government advancing Christianity as a
matter of official
>policy. The idea that the Founding Fathers' chief
object in view was to keep
>a mere government employee from wearing a cross is
ludicrous.<<<
>
>Is it? Can you tell me what the regulations were
for such wear in
>Washington's army?
There were no regulations against endorsing
religion. That's my point.
In 1775, Congress selected one of
its members, Geo.Washington, to organize the local
farmers and militia groups into an army to resist
the world's greatest empire. Washington's first
order to his troops came in July, and was
consistent with the spirit of the Founders and
Congress. In that order Washington trusted that
. . . every officer and man will endeavor so
to live and act as becomes a Christian Soldier,
defending the dearest rights and liberties of
his country.
(The Writings of George Washington,
John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., (Washington: US Govt
Printing Office, 1932) vol V p. 245. From his General
Orders of July 9, 1776.)
That his troops display Christian character was
important to Washington, and on May 2, 1778, he
charged them:
To the distinguished character of Patriot, it
should be our highest glory to add the more
distinguished character of Christian.
(Writings, vol. XI, p. 343, General Orders,
5/2/78)
Washington's directives for his troops to
display Christian character were reminiscent of
those given to the Minutemen by the 1774
Provincial Congress. On Dec.10, 1774, Congress
reminded the Minutemen that:
You . . . are placed by Providence in the
post of honor, because it is the post of danger.
And while struggling for the noblest objects --
the liberties of your country, the happiness of
posterity, and the rights of human nature -- the
eyes not only of North America and the whole
British Empire, but of all Europe, are upon you.
Let us be, therefore, altogether solicitous that
no disorderly behavior, nothing unbecoming our
characters as Americans; as citizens and
Christians, be justly chargeable to us.
Richard Frothingham, Rise of the Republic of
the United States (Boston: Little, Brown
& CO., 1872) p. 393
Congress recognized that God led the Christian
militia to victory in the battle of Saratoga, and
on 1 Nov 1777, Congress proclaimed a national
thanksgiving in which it explained:
Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of
all men to adore the superintending providence
of Almighty God, to acknowledge with gratitude
their obligation to Him for benefits received
and to implore such further blessings as they
stand in need of; and it having pleased Him . .
. to crown our arms with most signal success: It
is therefore recommended [a day] . . . for
solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one
heart and one voice the good people may express
the grateful feelings of their hearts, and
consecrate themselves to the service of their
divine benefactor; and that together with their
sincere acknowledgments and offerings, they may
join the penitent confession of their manifold
sins . . . and their humble and earnest
supplication that it may please God, through the
merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive
and blot out of remembrance [and] . . . to take
schools and seminaries of education, so
necessary for cultivating the principles of true
liberty, virtue and piety, under His nurturing
hand, and to prosper the means of religion for
the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom
which consisteth "in righteousness, peace
and joy in the holy ghost" [Romans 14:17]
Journals of the American Congress: from 1774
to 1788 (Washington: Way and Gideon, 1823)
vol II, 1777, pp. 309-310, Nov 1, 1777
The militia were motivated to revolt against
Great Britain not out of a secular spirit of
anarchism: there was an Archist involved. One
Crown-appointed British governor wrote back to
Britain complaining that:
If you ask an American who is his master,
he'll tell you he has none. And he has no
governor but Jesus Christ.
Hezekiah Niles, Principals and Acts of the
Revolution in America (Baltimore: William
Ogden Niles, 1822) p. 418.
Today, the US Supreme Court says it is
"unconstitutional" to teach Christian
morality to students. The CIA deals drugs. And in
light of the facts of history, the Texas
policeman's desire to wear a dippy cross on his
uniform is like a man who hasn't had a bite to eat
in weeks, hungrily devouring a tiny piece of moldy
bread. |
George Bancroft, History of the United States Volume 4,
1774-1776
EPOCH THIRD America Takes Up Arms for Self-Defence and
Arrives at Independence From 1774 to 1776
Chapter 11: Effects of the Day of Lexington and Concord,
The General Rising, April-June 1775
p. 174-175
New Hampshire agreed to raise two thousand men, of
whom perhaps twelve hundred reached the camp. Folsom was
their brigadier, but John Stark was the most trusty
officer. Connecticut offered six thousand men; and about
twenty-three hundred remained at Cambridge, with Spenser
as their chief, and Putnam as second brigadier.
Rhode Island voted fifteen hundred men; and probably
about a thousand of them appeared round Boston, under
Nathaniel Greene. He was one of eight sons, born rear
the Narragansett bay in Warwick. In that quiet
seclusion, Gorton and his followers, untaught of
universities, had reasoned on the highest questions of
being. They had held that in America Christ was coming
to his temple; that outward ceremonies, baptism and the
eucharist, and also kings and lords, bishops and
chaplains, were but carnal ordinances, sure to have an
end; that humanity must construct its church by
"the voice of the Son of God," the voice of
reason and love. The father of Greene, descended from
ancestry of this school, was at once an anchor-smith, a
miller, a farmer, and, like Gorton, a preacher. The son
excelled in diligence and in manly sports. None of his
age could wrestle or skate or run better than he, or
stand before him as a neat ploughman and a skilful
mechanic.
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