Much can be learned about a nation and its people by observing its monuments. After all, for that reason they are there, to tell future generations what was essential to them.
MONUMENT, n. [L. monumentum, from moneo, to admonish or remind.]
1. Anything by which the memory of a person or an event is preserved or perpetuated; a building, stone or other thing placed or erected to remind men of the person who raised it, or of a person deceased, or of any remarkable event; as a mausoleum, a pillar, a pyramid, a triumphal arch, a tombstone and the like. (1828 Webster dictionary).
The Washington Monument is but one of those reminders, construction was started in 1848 and finally completed in 1888. It is not only a monument to our 1st President but a reflection of his character as well as the people he governed. The monument itself contains numerous Bible verses and religious acknowledgments carved on memorial blocks in the walls, including the phrases: “Holiness to the Lord” (Exodus 28:26, 30:30, Isaiah 23:18, Zechariah 14:20), “Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39), “The memory of the just is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7), “May Heaven to this Union continue its beneficence,” and “In God We Trust”, but the Latin inscription Laus Deo – “Praise be to God”, is engraved on the monument’s capstone. It is both the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing just over 554 feet. That is quite impressive, what one would carve upon such a structure would be eminently important to them.
The Jefferson Memorial is another great reminder, it was built between 1939-1943. Of the five inscriptions inside the Jefferson Memorial into which Jefferson’s words have been carved, four are references to God, including Jefferson’s own declaration that
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.”The inscription under the Dome, "...I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." - Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1800.
Panel One, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We...solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states...And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." - The Declaration of Independence
Panel Two, "Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens...are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion...No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively."
His reference to "the Holy Author of our religion" Etches in stone for us what religion was accepted among the American people.
The Lincoln Memorial, established for the 16th President of the United States was dedicated in May 1922 and contains numerous acknowledgments of God and citations of Bible verses, including the declarations that
“we here highly resolve that . . . this nation under God . . . shall not perish from the earth”;
“The Almighty has His own purposes. ‘Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh’ (Matthew 18:7)”;
“as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether’ (Psalms 19:9)”;
“one day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh see it together”.
Lincoln's words "this nation under God" was his own recognition that the Sovereignty of the United States exists under and was submissive to the Almighty. In Lincoln's own view, the mighty scourge of war that the nation had endured was in fact punishment by God for the sins of the nation.
Throughout our Nation's Captial, one finds the faith of a people. In the House Chamber, although almost two dozen lawgivers from throughout history are depicted in artwork, only Moses is shown with a full-face view. This presents the understanding of all the laws established by men, the central foundation of all right and just laws rest upon the decalogue.
In the Capitol Rotunda, we find depictions of Christopher Columbus participating in a prayer service, the Baptism of Pocahontas, and the prayer and Bible study of the Pilgrims. In the Cox Corridor, we see the words “America! God shed His grace on thee.” At the east Senate entrance, the words Annuit Coeptis greet us — Latin for “God has favored our undertakings.”
There are Christians symbols and quotations from the Bible engraved all over the nations capital. So what are we to make of all this? Is it relevant to our time? Well, yes, if you are interested in our history and the richness of the faith of our Founding Fathers, the source of our laws and institutions. One might also include the motivating factor resting at the foundation of our becoming a nation. Beyond that, they have very little influence now upon our society. That was then and this is now. It is obvious if we were building the capital building and other related governmental buildings today anew, we would not be lineing them with such monuments and inscriptions. There is reason to believe those that are there now will in time be removed. You may remember Judge Roy Moore and the 10 Commandments controversy. While the former ones remain, adding additional Christian monuments will most certainly be resisted. The United States Supreme Court refused to hear the case concerning Roy Moore and the 10 Commandments all the while the building in which they set is decorated with Moses and the 10 Commandments.
All of these things are a reflection of who we were as a people for much of our history, it is not a reflection of who we are as a people now. As an example, consider the nations blue laws. Blue laws are laws designed to restrict certain activities on Sundays for religious reasons to observe a day of worship or rest.
Blue laws also may ban shopping or the sale of specific items on Sundays. They most certainly address the sale of alcohol. It is surprising the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional by citing that blue laws secure a day of rest for certain workers and guarantee the free exercise of religion. However, for the most part they are ignored, either the individual states have removed them or have no interest in enforceing them.
I can remember as a lad there was no need to go to town on Sunday, there would not be anything open, couldn't buy gas, the stations were closed. I remember a story told about my Papa Bivens getting his days mixed up one weekend and going to the field on a Sunday and working. After finding out he had worked on Sunday, he took Monday off to amend for it. Some today are pushing for a return to the days when we as a nation prayed in our schools and ball games, closed our shops and business on Sunday, etc. This however will never return us to former times, for we would be imposing laws and regulations upon a people that are different than the people of those days.
Christianity in America was not a legislated Christianity, it was and has always been an organic Christianity. The Founders of the nation referenced the Bible often in their deliberations simply because it was their faith, it was the way they thought, the way they viewed the world. The blue laws were instituted across the nation because for the most part the American people recognized them as right and just. Like my Papa Bivens, they didn't work on Sunday, not because it was against the law, but because it was generally acknowledged it was simply wrong to do so. The laws against it were simply a reflection of that general sentiment.
That is no longer true concerning the nations sentiment today, only remnants of our Christian Heritage remains with us. Many that still hold to them do so mostly sentimentally and others simply reject them altogether. We have moved from a Christian society in America to a mostly secular society. The tides have turned, it is organically secular now, therefore it's laws and legislation are a reflection of such. The sexual promiscuity we are seeing in our society and its expression in the changing of our laws to reflect such are the result of that, such could not have existed in the organic Christian society of previous years. Even our language has changed with the free use of vulgarity freely and openly in public and our entertainment. It's affect is seen across the board in our society. If it were to be possible to put prayer back in our schools and inforce the blues laws once again, it would change very little, it's only effect would be in the way of restraint. The American culture would still remain what it is. The only way back is the preaching of the Gospel and the hope that God will grant repentance, then once again perhaps the Christian faith could again grow organically among us.
May the grace of God be with each of you,
David
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