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4th of July Means What?Posted Friday, July 2, 2010, at 10:46 AM
John Trumbull's wonderful painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Fourth of July is a day when I bore my family with historical facts about the day and refute the legendary tales that exist. For instance, some people seem to think the United States gained its independence on that day. This is not so. It is actually the day the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence (DOI) that was composed, discussed, and edited by a committee of five men (Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson). Furthermore, the Second Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution that severed ties the American Colonies had with the British Empire on July second. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that "the second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Well, he was two days early. Another bit of frustration for me is the idea that the DOI was completely signed on the fourth, or that all signers were present. There is a famous, beautiful painting by John Trumbull that depicts this idea. When John Adams saw the painting, he became disgusted with the notion that Trumbull's painting would become actual history. While signing the document probably began on this day, it was not completed until August of 1776. The biggest frustration I feel is the debate over our Founders intent for the country that this day brings. I enjoy discussing this issue and have commented on it (see my first blog). Since the Fourth of July lands on a Sunday, it is quite possible that many churchgoers will hear sermons that will suggest (or plainly state) the United States is a Christian country founded by men who were inspired by God (or something to that effect). While their intent for our country can be endlessly debated, one thing is for certain. They were merely men who stood up for what they believed in. The signers of the DOI loved the colony and the rights and liberties they felt were so dear for existence. When the fireworks and pop'ems go off this weekend, I will remember Josiah Bartlett, Benjamin Rush, Thomas Jefferson, Steven Hopkins, Benjamin Harrison, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Franklin, Edward Rutledge, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Lyman Hall, John Hancock, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and whole host of others. These men were the greatest generation of our country, and I hope you will remember them as well. Till Next Time PS. It is also my older sister-in-law's birthday. Yes, she was born on the Fourth of July. Happy Birthday, Amy!! Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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Question:
Great point. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Now all we have to do is review the Supreme Court's (liberal & conservative) decisions regarding First Amendment issues since its inception. There is not one instance where the "free exercise of religion" has not been upheld. Not one! They do not care if your religious belief is the invisible man, the easter bunny, santa claus, or the tooth fairy. YOU CAN NOT FORCE YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON ANYONE ELSE!
You know, if interpretting the Constitution and the intentions of the Founders were as straight-forward as you two seem to think it is, we wouldn't have a need for the Supreme Court to interpret this kind of thing, or at least we wouldn't see differences of opinion among the Justices.
cow rancher:
How long ago was your total labotomy? What part of "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise therof" do you not understand"? Visit your 7th. grade teacher, your last teacher, and have him/her explain it to you, slowly and repeatedly until you get it! "An ignorant voter is the single greatest threat to democracy." Your voting district has to deal with a "threat" that has known no equal!
You have misread the 1 st ammendment and modified your thoughts to make the Constitution fit what you believe. It is not meant to be changed easily, but to be adhered to just like the founders intended.
Your stubborness and obstinence is limiting your education and understanding of reading comprehension. I not only read and understand the Constitution, I carry one with me to show people like you the truth.
As Andrew Wilkow would say, "We are right, they are wrong, and that is the end of the story."
cow rancher:
You've been sniffing your ruminant's flatulence again! Read the Constitution, especially the First Amendment! It can not be made clearer or missunderstood in anyway.
And, we don't have "kings" of any kind in this country. Never have, never will!
You progressive, athiest liberals can keep going on and on about how America was founded.
I have accumulated over 230 quotes from our founding fathers quoting their intentions to make this a Christian country.
Just because you are not believers in Christianity doesn't change history. You could even write a history book changing all the things you hate about America, but the truth is always there and people like me will always be there to remind you about our country's founding. Here are only 7 or 8 quotes of the ones I've accumulated.
Please read them instead of just glancing over them. You can really feel their passion about the direction they inteded our country should go.
Is there any doubt, they way our country is now headed, that we are in a downward spiral. I prefer a country of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John Adams
SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; JUDGE; DIPLOMAT; ONE OF TWO SIGNERS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."
John Quincy Adams
SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES; DIPLOMAT; SECRETARY OF STATE; U. S. SENATOR; U. S. REPRESENTATIVE; "OLD MAN ELOQUENT"; "HELL-HOUND OF ABOLITION"
"In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity."
Gunning Bedford
MILITARY OFFICER; MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; FEDERAL JUDGE
"To the triune God -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost -- be ascribed all honor and dominion, forevermore -- Amen."
Charles Carroll
SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; SELECTED AS DELEGATE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; FRAMER OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; U. S. SENATOR
"On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits, not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.
Grateful to Almighty God for the blessings which, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, He had conferred on my beloved country in her emancipation and on myself in permitting me, under circumstances of mercy, to live to the age of 89 years, and to survive the fiftieth year of independence, adopted by Congress on the 4th of July 1776, which I originally subscribed on the 2d day of August of the same year and of which I am now the last surviving signer."
Congress, 1854
"The great, vital, and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Congress, U. S. House Judiciary Committee, 1854
"Had the people, during the Revolution, had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle... In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity... That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants."
John Dickinson
SIGNER OF THE CONSTITUTION; GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA; GOVERNOR OF DELAWARE; GENERAL IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
"Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity."
"[Governments] could not give the rights essential to happiness... We claim them from a higher source: from the King of kings, and Lord of all the earth."
Many more quotes can be seen on "Wallbuilders" site.
Sergeant Major:
Every day in the United States of America is "Independence day". You, of all people, should not have to be apprised of that fact. Maybe the comments above were meant to remind us that freedom, liberty, and "independence" should be respected and celebrated each and every day.
And "independence" will never be restricted to individual opinion. And certainly NOT to religious opinion!
Semper Fi!
PLEASE REMEMBER FOLKS, THE 4TH OF JULY IS A DATE AND ONLY A DATE. INDEPENDANCE DAY IS AN EVENT AND A WONDERFUL ONE AT THAT. HOW MANY TIMES IS INDEPENDENCE DAY MENTIONED IN THE BLOG ABOVE?
Some quotes from one of our Founding Fathers on the subject:
Say nothing of my religion. It is known to God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life: if it has been honest and dutiful to society the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one.
I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.
I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature.
In every country and every age, the priest has been hostile to Liberty.
- Thomas Jefferson
Very good blog entry, Drew, I applaud you on pointing out that we are a country of much diversity, and we have historically derived our strength from that diversity.
There is no doubt in my mind that the United States was established as a Christian nation. The words of the 6th President of the United States ring clear, "In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity."
One of the best presentations I have ever heard on the evidence of faith in America's founding is presented by Peter Heck of Greentown, IN. Peter is a history teacher at Eastern Howard schools and a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University. Go to http://www.peterheck.com/speaking/afof to learn more, but to deny our Christian heritage is to spit in the face of our founding fathers.
Lonnie Vandeventer
Marion, IN