It is the Soldier It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus
Read moreFounders
Were the Founders Inspired by God?
Recently, Gilbert Watch received an email from a reader criticizing one of our Contributing Editors, Silence Dogood, for quoting Thomas Paine. His concern was that, based on his reading a book written by Thomas Paine, it seemed odd that Silence Dogood, who works tirelessly "to ensure that our Country and its Divine principles are left intact for future generations," would quote a man who stated that there was "no religion…more derogatory to the Almighty…than..Christianity." His criticism that Silence might not be informed about the Founders writings implicitly included Gilbert Watch as well.
Both Gilbert Watch and Silence Dogood thought you might be interested in reading this gentleman’s email. His personal information has been removed, but not a single word of his relevant statements have been edited or removed. Following the reader’s email, you will see the responses from both Gilbert Watch and Silence Dogood.
Reader’s Email
According to your website, “Silence is a native Arizonan whose love of investigative research and drive for knowledge was ingrained early in life… Silence’s children are the prime motivation behind tireless work that ensures that our Country and its Divine principles are left intact for their generation and future generations to come.” Thomas Paine is then quoted: “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” I found Thomas Paine to be an interesting choice. I read the articles titled “Will God Survive in Amerika? We have a Choice” and “The Role of Religion in The Founding Fathers’ Constitutional Formula.” In these articles, the writer refers to the anti-Christian “Amerikans” and the “secular left.”
"Based on what I have read, many of the more well-known Founding Fathers were secularists meaning they were not exclusively allied or against any particular religion. However, some of them, especially Thomas Paine, had particular complaints against Christianity. In fact, he wrote an entire book on it. It is called “Age of Reason.”
"Has Silence, or any of the other contributors read it? I ask because I cannot imagine having read it and still quoting Thomas Paine on this website. For your reference, below is an excerpt from “Age of Reason.”
”Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid or produces only atheists or fanatics. As an engine of power, it serves the purpose of despotism, and as a means of wealth, the avarice of priests, but so far as respects the good of man in general it leads to nothing here or hereafter.”
"By no means am I advocating Thomas Paine’s viewpoint. I just think it is important for people who use the Founding Fathers to support their position to be well-informed."
Gilbert Watch Response
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Three months older than co-signer Edward Rutledge, Thomas Lynch, Jr., at age 26 was the second youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. However, when Thomas Lynch, Jr.’s life tragically ended at age 30, he was the youngest of the signers at their deaths.
The story of Thomas Lynch, Jr., an Episcopalian, is really the story of father and son, for it was Thomas Lynch, Sr. who, had he not suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in early 1776, from which he never sufficiently recovered, would have signed the Declaration of Independence, along with his son. He is the only Founding father whose son was elected to replace his father. Lynch, Sr. was a prominent politician who played a pivotal role in events leading up to the American Revolution.
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: Thomas Heyward, Jr.
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Thomas Heyward, Jr.: South Carolina
An Episcopalian, The eldest son of a wealthy planter, Thomas Heyward, Jr., was born in Old House, in St. Luke’s Parish (now Jasper County) in the Province of South Carolina, about 25 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, on July 28, 1746. His father was Colonel Daniel Heyward, his mother, Mary Butler Heyward. They were among those to grow rice, the “golden seed from Madagascar” which became the big money crop of “low country” South Carolina. Thomas used the “junior” suffix to differ him from his father’s younger brother of that name.
Education
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: Edward Rutledge
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Edward Rutledge: South Carolina
An Episcopalian, Edward Rutledge was born in Charleston, South Carolina on November 23, 1749. He was the youngest son of Dr. John Rutledge, who emigrated from Ireland to South Carolina about the year 1735. Edward’s mother was Sarah Hert, a “lady of respectable family, and large fortune.”
At age 26, he was the youngest delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence. (The accomplishments of Edward’s older brother, John Rutledge, rivaled those of Edward’s. John was an early delegate to the Continental Congress, President of South Carolina from 1776 to 1778, Governor of South Carolina in 1779, a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1789 to 1791 and was appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President George Washington in 1795.)
Education and Law Practice
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: John Penn
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
John Penn: North Carolina.
An Episcopalian, John Penn was born on May 17, 1741, at Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia. John was the only child of a farmer, Moses Penn, and Catherine Taylor Penn. On his mother’s side, two descendants of his great-grandfather James Taylor became presidents of the United States—James Madison and Zachary Taylor.
John’s father died suddenly when John was 18 years old. Even though John was left with a modest fortune, his parents didn’t believe in the value of an education. John had spent only two-three years at a country common school.
John could have led an unprincipled life of foolishness and dissipation, but instead he took advantage of the tutelage and vast library of his cousin, Edmund Pendleton. Pendleton was well known as one of the most accomplished statesmen of Virginia. His library was described by both Jefferson and Adams as having no equal in the colonies.
Read moreConstitution Week USA – Gilbert – September 16-23
Constitution Week USA is both an educational opportunity and a celebration of the United States Constitution of America, which was signed on September 17, 1787. Constitution Week has taken place in Gilbert since it was founded by John Lewis in 2002. Lewis is the current Mayor of Gilbert.
On August 2, 1956, Congress requested that the President of the United States proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."
This year’s Gilbert celebration begins September 16 with Scout Night, which provides an opportunity for scouts to obtain citizenship merit badges. Another Scout Night occurs on September 23. Both events occur at Mesquite Jr. High School, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. For more information and to register, click HERE.
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: William Hooper
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
William Hooper, North Carolina.
William Hooper has often been called the "Prophet of Independence." His prophetic observation was recorded in a letter of 26 April 1774 to his friend James Iredell, stating: “The Colonies are striding fast to independence, and ere long will build an empire upon the ruins of Great Britain; will adopt its Constitution, purged of its impurities, and from an experience of its defects, will guard against those evils which have wasted its vigor”.
Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and William Hooper were called the “Orators of the Congress” by John Adams.
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: Joseph Hewes
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Joseph Hewes, North Carolina.
Joseph Hewes was a Quaker who, when it became clear that he would advocate for war against Great Britain, became an Episcopalian.
Before Joseph was born, his parents Aaron and Providence were forced out of Connecticut due to Indian massacres occurring within their community as well as intolerance of Quakers by Puritans. Aaron and Providence’s resettlement to New Jersey was not without great personal risk. Ms. Hewes was wounded in the neck by ball shot from the gun of an Indian. The couple settled in “Maybury Hill,” an estate on the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey. On January 23, 1730, Joseph was born there. Maybury Hill was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
Read moreReligious Convictions of America’s Founders: George Walton
"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
George Walton, Georgia.
George Walton, an Episcopalian, was born near Farmville, Virginia, in about 1741. His parents were poor, and both died when George was only 12 years old. He was apprenticed to a carpenter, a man of limited education, who worked him hard during the day and refused to provide him with a candle to read at night.
But George Walton wasn’t an ordinary boy. He possessed a thirst for knowledge and was gifted with a strong intellect and determined spirit. He did not enjoy any special advantages, except for his own strong desire to expand his mind and develop his skills of carpentry. During the day, he would find moments to collect lightwood, which served to allow him to read at night.
Read more