The winds of shifting history in the last few years have been felt…where those who seem so bent on ridding America of any  spirituality at all that has boundaries of right and wrong continually attack…so I did a little research…

One thing I found was a remarkable quote by President James Garfield who held the office only four months, dying from unsanitary medical practices following an assassination attempt by Charles Duiteau.  Duiteau was a member of a polygamist type communist cult and he shot Garfield two times.  Garfield himself was a preacher for the Disciples of Christ.

“If the next century does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the…morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”  Garfield 7/4/1876 as U.S. Congressman as Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations

It seems until 1962 the nation of America was guided greatly by the presence of faith in the lives and hearts of its governing people.  In 1892 the Supreme Court ruled in Church of the Holy Trinity vs. U.S. (citing 87 precedents), “ Our laws and our institutions must….be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of Mankind….then sadly in 1962 for the first time…the court cited no previous cases and ruled in Engel vs. Vitale that; because of Separation of Church and State…the simple school prayer…” was forbidden in American Schools.

There are quotes from many of our nation’s historical leadership that clearly point to our country having been founded upon and built upon the values, morals and foundations of Christianity.  For example I found a wealth of information quickly on only a few web sites.  Known Christians who have been our presidents or congressmen or those who led a band of people to a free country left written evidence of their belief in Jesus Christ and the role faith should play in how our government is operated and even who holds the offices!

“What we need is a Christian nation…By Christian nation, “I don’t mean that everyone is forced to be a Christian or forced to go to church or to believe in God.  The job of government is not to convert …to any kind of faith.   The job of government is to do for people what they can’t do for themselves.  …the job of bringing people to faith belongs to the private citizens; the churches…That separation should always be kept.”  -John Jay –First Continental Congress

References continue in Christopher Columbus’ Book of Prophecies; the Mayflower Compact, from William Bradford’s “History of Plymouth Plantation”.  The original 13 colonies in establishing their government and constitutions also mention God and His role in government such as these colonies:

• New England
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• New Hampshire
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

Then several original state Constitution’s read that God was in their hearts and minds in organizing their state.

• Connecticut (until 1818)…”hath ever been, and will be the tranquility and stability of Churches and Commonwealth; and the denial thereof, the disturbances, if not the ruin of both.
• Delaware (until 1821)…”no man ought to be compelled to attend any religious worship…but it is recognized ‘the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the public worship of the Author of the Universe…”
• Maryland (until 1851) “That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such a manner as he thinks most acceptable to him…”
• Massachusetts (until 1863) “…authorize and require…to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God…”
• North Carolina (until 1876) “That no person who shall deny the being of God….shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State.”

Little doubt can remain for those who think for themselves and who are willing to research the issue themselves, that our country was founded by people who not only claimed to know God but who also allowed him to work in their lives.

These states are no less part of us now than our grandparents, and great-great-great-great grandparents are….no less a part of us than our parents and siblings….plenty of times we wish we could forget where and who we came from but in the end we always find our way home.

Can America find her way home or is it too late?  Look forward to tomorrow’s post.

Faithfully Faye