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Is Christianity Still Essential in USA?
In France during and following the revolution there, power wrested from the royalty by common citizens led to excessive reprisals, with thousands beheaded by the guillotine, and much destruction and stealing of public and private property. A major aim of the revolt was to destroy the royal and hierarchical social relations in the name of equality for all.
In America the revolution was a powerful movement on the part of people determined to be free. Citizens got together after the war and with much discussion, debate and rewriting, came up with the marvelous Constitution and three-branched republic that has lasted until this day. The first president, George Washington (birthday Feb. 16), a man of wisdom, courage and character, established the pattern and course of the presidency, while resisting all temptations or tendencies to let the head of state develop into a constitutional monarchy.
Tocqueville was a man of insight and vision. One statement he made matches what many of our founders repeated in writings, speeches and official documents. He wrote "I do not know if all Americans have faith in their religion ' for who can read the secrets of the heart? ' but I am sure that they think it necessary to the maintenance of republican institutions."
This faith is etched into the Great Seal of the United States, which was designed to represent the new nation. Back in July 1776, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were appointed to develop an acceptable seal. Then the matter was laid aside in August 1776; with only "E Pluribus Unum" (One Composed of Many or One Out of Many) and the Eye of Providence retained. The "Eye" represented God and the triangle the Trinity. This triangle also represented the perfect form of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. With the war raging, not until March 1780 did a new committee take up the task again.
A new committee consisting of Arthur Middleton and John Rutledge of South Carolina and Elias Boudinot of New Jersey met in the spring of 1782. They were aided by William Barton, a Philadelphia amateur of heraldry, who developed the design of an eagle with arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The pyramid was placed on the opposite side. Apparently Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress, added the mottoes "Annuit Coeptis" (He, God, Favors Our Undertakings) and "Novus Ordo Seclorum" (A New Age Now Begins). Many founders believed that with God leading the nation would grow and prosper and be a blessing to the whole earth. On June 20, 1782 Congress approved the design.
In the spring of 1782, before any formal peace treaty, a potential revolt of the army arose because of lack of pay. The troops were ragged, hungry and desperate. George Washington, bolstered by his faith and character, strong will, and the respect of his men, had prevented earlier mutinies. He also quelled this more serious threat in a memorable speech to his officers.
In speaking against a revolt, General Washington commented, "... this dreadful alternative, of either deserting our Country in the extremest hour of her distress, or turning our Arms against it has something so shocking in it, that humanity revolts at the idea. My God! what can this writer have in view, by recommending such measures? Can he be a friend to the Army? Can he be a friend to this Country?"
Washington closed his speech by urging his officers to express "utmost horror and detestation of the Man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our Country, and who wickedly attempts to open the flood Gates of Civil discord, and deluge our rising Empire in Blood." By so doing, he added, "you will afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to Mankind, had this day been wanting, the World have never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining."
We are again in a dangerous war against enemies who hate us enough to blow themselves up in order to kill us. While our troops fight and die in this struggle to defend America and to bring freedom to people who have been under heartless tyrants for decades, may we revisit our roots - our beginnings. May we thus renew our faith, our zeal, and our determination to save our precious freedoms and unique republic, which was purchased and preserved by the blood and sacrifice of forebears like George Washington.
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