The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the dark days of the Civil War. At that time, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, received many appeals from “The People” from throughout the country, requesting that the United States recognize Deity on United States coins. It appears from Treasury Department records, that the first such appeal was a letter dated November 13, 1861.
America’s Quest for Religious Freedom
On Constitution Day, Americans celebrate among our many freedoms, our religious freedom. We claim it for ourselves, and show respect for the freedom of those around us. We and they are free to worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences, without government interference. We also recognize the freedom to choose to not worship at all.
Such freedom has not always been the case. History reveals great battles over religious freedom in our country. The Pilgrims came seeking freedom to worship as they saw fit, but some accounts show that they did not always extend that same freedom to those in their midst who came up with ideas different than their own. Anne Hutchison, a Puritan spiritual adviser and mother of 15, expressed strong religious convictions that were at odds with the established Puritan clergy in the Boston area. She was eventually tried and convicted, then banished from the colony with many of her supporters.
As 17 year-old boy in 1768, James Madison, later known as the Father of the Constitution, was deeply moved as he watched a Baptist preacher teaching a sermon through a window from inside his jail cell to a crowd who had gathered outside. The preacher had been arrested as one observer stated, for preaching according to the dictates of his conscience. There was much persecution of other Baptist preachers in Virginia at that time as well; one reportedly having been horse-whipped by the sheriff for preaching. Other states also experienced religious persecution from the government during that time period. It was not even legal for a Catholic to enter the state of New York, so they met and worshiped in secret.
Although the Founding Fathers individually clearly recognized God as our Divine creator and protector, they had a variety of personal religious beliefs. John Adams, during the time preceding the Declaration of Independence, could see that there was a great need to ask in unity, for divine help and guidance. It was he who motioned that the Reverend Jacob Duche be asked to pray for the group, even though he was not of his own faith. Adams motion was seconded and the next day (Sept 7 7, 1774) the First Prayer of Congress was given at the opening session of the First Continental Congress. It had a profound effect on the delegates, Adams recounted to his wife.
The quest for religious freedom that had stretched over many years was not attained fully with the Declaration of Independence, or even 11 years later when the original Constitution was signed; but the religious freedom and protection that we enjoy today was not clearly defined until almost 4 years after that when the Bill of Rights was ratified and added to the Constitution. Those sixteen powerful words that are the first part of the first amendment make all the difference.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
Remembering and Honoring God had been the History and Heritage of this country from the beginning:
*During the Constitutional Convention which lasted nearly 4 months during the heat of summer behind closed doors, battles between the delegates intensified, threatening to destroy their efforts to build a new nation. At that point, Benjamin Franklin made a statement:
“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 men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in the assembly every morning before we proceed to business…”
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“If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.” George Washington to Constitutional Delegates
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In the dark days of the Civil War, President Lincoln proclaimed a
National Day of Fasting and Prayer
March 30, 1863
“ Whereas, the Senate of the United states, devoutly recognizing the supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.
And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord….”
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In Keeping with the Law, President Obama Proclaims
Most recent National Day of Prayer
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a "National Day of Prayer."
The proclamation issued in 2013 begins, “Americans have long turned to prayer both in times of joy and times of sorrow….” Several paragraphs later, it clearly states our religious freedoms, “….All of us have the freedom to pray and exercise our faiths openly. Our laws protect these God-given liberties, and rightly so. Today, and every day, prayers will be offered in houses of worship, at community gatherings, in our homes, and in neighborhoods all across our country. Let us give thanks for the freedom to practice our faith as we see fit, whether individually or in fellowship….” It concludes: “IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.
BARACK OBAMA
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“The sum of all is, if we would most truly enjoy this gift of Heaven, let us become a virtuous people.” Samuel Adams
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“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams
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First Prayer of Congress
O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these our American States, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee, to Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give; take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved bands in the day of battle!
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst The people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask In the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior. Amen. [2]
