Miracle in Philly

"We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition, and that every person may here worship God according to the dictates of his own heart." ~ George Washington

It has been called the Miracle in Philadelphia and it began with General Washington uttering the proclamation, "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God". (George Washington, as quoted by Gouverneur Morris in Farrand's Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, March 25, 1787)

A group of men from various regions, professions, incomes and religions came together to join efforts in an undertaking which would change the world. Their purpose-to form a government for the people and by the people. Freedom was their message and securing it was their goal. It began in May of 1787 and would be the first time in history where men would join together to freely write a new constitution for their own government.

Ideas, concerns and strategies were traded and after a few weeks it was apparent that the meeting was turning into a battle of wills. Quarrels between the states became the format of each meeting. Arguments ensued, tempers flared and historians believe that if it were not for the dignity and demeanor of Washington's presence, the convention would have disbanded altogether. George Washington remained scrupulously impartial as he presided at the convention, and only shared his personal beliefs between sessions. He was respected and revered but it was not enough to hold the convention together, for it soon became apparent to all present that the convention, and the union, was about to break up.

At this crucial moment in history a lone voice spoke out. Quietly the respected elder statesmen, Ben Franklin, then 81 years of age, stood and addressed the convention.

...."In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor…And have we now forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
....I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of man. 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. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel…and what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, or conquest.
....I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business." (In God We Trust, edited by Norman Cousins p. 42)

The words of this humble man became the turning point of the convention. The delegates, who were all believers of some kind or another, rearranged their priorities and commenced in the task of crafting a new constitution and assuring the freedom and security of this new nation.

Our founding fathers spoke of the divine hand that guided the forming of this country on numerous occasions. In James Madison's own words he states, "It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it [The Constitution] a finger of that almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution."(James Madison, Federalist No. 37, January 11, 1788)

Our founding fathers made every effort to ensure that all citizens of this great nation had the freedom to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. Other nations and societies used the government to dictate which church their citizens would join and how they would worship. Our founding fathers realized this was a flawed practice and was at the helm of wars and contentions for centuries. They knew that the way an individual worships is a very personal thing and should be respected as such. As James Madison stated, "We are teaching the world the great truth that Governments do better without Kings & Nobles than with them. The merit will be doubled by the other lesson that Religion Flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Government." (James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822)

Our country was not founded on Religion. It was founded on the freedom to live it. There were no bounds created in the constitution that made one religion partial over the other. There were no preferences mentioned, no right and wrong choices. It was complete indifference, which is why the Framers of our Constitution found the need to include the religious test clause that "no religious test shall ever be required, as a" qualification to any office or public trust, under the "United States."

They realized it was not the place of government but the people to decide. It was a means by which they could ensure avoiding any entanglement between church and state, or involving the government in any way as a determiner of religious beliefs or practices. It was an historical event. It was the freedom of religion.

It is the purpose of the constitution to sustain our freedom of religion and not to regulate it. It was not at all the intention of the Framers of the Constitution to eliminate the power and importance of God in the process of creating it. They knew the importance of God but they also recognized the right of each person to worship Him as they saw fit. George Washington stated, "I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience."(George Washington, letter to the General Committee of the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May, 1789)

Thomas Jefferson reiterates this statement. "I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises…no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in any religious discipline has been delegated to the General Government. It must then rest with the States." (Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Miller, January 23, 1808)

In a now infamous letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, Thomas Jefferson made the following statement. "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State." (Thomas Jefferson, letter to a Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, Connecticut, January 1, 1802)

This statement is often used as a means to do the very thing the founding fathers worked so hard to avoid, that being the regulation of religion. The Constitution preserves our rights as citizens to worship God. It in no way prohibits the mention of God or the right of citizens and elected officials to recognize him. John Adam's confirms this. "It is the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship." (John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776)

As the war for independence came to an end, George Washington declared, "The establishment of Civil and Religious Liberty was the Motive which induced me to the Field - the object is attained" He then continued, "it now remains to be my earnest wish & prayer, that the Citizens of the United States could make a wise and virtuous use of the blessings placed before them." (George Washington, letter to the Reformed German Congregation of New York City, November 27, 1783) I don't think Mr. Washington would be so pleased with our stewardship. God must remain in our society for as John Adams stated, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." (John Adams, Address to the Military, October 11, 1798)

And George Washington reminds us, "The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights." (George Washington, to the Annual meeting of Quakers, September 1789)

As George Washington resigned his commission as general of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783 he issued a powerful and emotional statement. "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His holy keeping."



Article provided by: Homemakers For America