TOO BAD THE PAGANS HAVE TAKEN OVER

This country may never have been a "Christian" nation in the truest sense of the word, but it was certainly founded on Christian principles. This fact is ignored, or denied, by many. But let's look at a couple of things. John Adams, after approving the Declaration of Independence, declared that the 4th of July, "ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." In 1777, Congress, facing a National shortage of 'Bibles for our schools, and families, and for the public worship of God in our churches,' announced that they 'desired to have a Bible printed under the care and by their encouragement' and therefore ordered 20,000 copies of the Bible to be imported 'into the different ports of the States of the Union.' Would Congress do the same today? We all know there would be loud shouts of "separation of Church and State." There were no such cries in 1777 because they knew that we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, as we are told today. In 1782 Congress set a plan in motion to print a Bible that would be 'a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools.' They approved the first English Bible printed in America which contained the congressional endorsement that 'the United States in Congress assembled…recommended this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States.' In 1787 there were several weeks of impasse at the Constitutional Convention. Finally Benjamin Franklin stood and said: "I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs 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 labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this…" With those words they moved to resort to prayer, after which they were able to move forward. In 1789 Washington wrote his Thanksgiving Proclamation saying, "Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly to implore His protection and favor --- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November….." To Whom did he attribute the establishment of this nation? In 1800, Congress approved the use of the just-completed Capitol structure as a church building, with Divine services to be held on Sunday in the Hall of the House, alternately administered by the House and Senate chaplains. However, 'most distinguished clergymen' who visited the city were also allowed to speak. By 1867 it was the largest church in Washington, D.C. with over 2,000 a week in attendance. Beginning in 1904 and continuing for the next half-century, the Federal Government printed and distributed "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth," for the use of Members of Congress because of the important teaching it contained. Where was this 'separation of church and state?' I'd like to see this published and distributed again among our Congressmen.

Two things are evident: First, as many of us know, the separation of church and state does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. It's been inserted by liberal judges and has now become the law of the land. Secondly, what our forefathers intended was that there would never be a state- run religion. They wanted freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Our forefathers never intended that our country would be removed from Christianity as it is today. Not only have we moved away from Christianity in our nation's Capitol, but it has become very much hostile toward it. It's too bad the pagans have taken over.