National Bible Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Colorado for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, ours is not the first nation in history to win its sovereignty through a war for independence. Many nations in the history of the world were established by rebellion against tyrannical governments.

The beginning of most of these rebellions can be identified by a single, predominant leader who, through their influence, inspired people to follow their cause. But the founding of the United States of America is unique because there wasn't one, but hundreds of influencers who led their towns, counties, and colonies towards independence.

Ironically, while America's fight for independence centered on the idea of liberty for each individual, it was a collective body of influencers who rallied around a common cause that sparked the flames of liberty. That common cause was a bond, a strong belief in the moral and spiritual authority of the Bible.

As a newly formed nation, America's future faced numerous internal and external obstacles. The concern of sustaining our new Nation didn't grow over time, but was an immediate concern of our Founders.

According to Maryland delegate Dr. James McHenry, as the delegates were emerging from the Constitutional Convention at Independence Hall, a lady asked Dr. Benjamin Franklin: ``Dr. Franklin, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy.''

``A Republic,'' replied the doctor, ``if you can keep it.''

You see, Benjamin Franklin was well aware of how fragile our new government was. Just a few weeks earlier, when it appeared that the Constitutional Convention was in jeopardy of falling apart, Benjamin Franklin stood and reminded the delegates that there was one thing missing in their deliberations.

Franklin said: ``The small progress we have made after 4 or 5 weeks . . . is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. How has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? . . . 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? 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; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.''

Mr. Speaker, if our Nation, as Benjamin Franklin defined it, could not have been founded without the guidance and divine intervention of God, then how can we sustain it if we as a government have abandoned these ideas and principles?

The answers for every challenge we face today as a nation isn't within the Halls of Congress. It is not in the White House or in the Supreme Court. The answer to these challenges exist in the pages of the sacred text, of this ancient book, which is as relevant today as it was for generations that preceded us.

The sooner we get back to these basic principles, Mr. Speaker, the sooner we can restore the promises of freedom, equality, and liberty for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, ours is not the first nation in history to win its sovereignty through a war for independence, many nations in the history of the world were established by rebellion against tyrannical governments. The beginnings of most rebellions can be identified by a single, predominate leader who, through their influence, inspired the people to follow their cause. In ancient Israel, it was King David, for Scotland it was William Wallace, England had Cornwallis and France had Napoleon Bonaparte.

But the founding of the United States of America is unique because there was not one, but hundreds of influencers who lead their towns, counties and colonies towards independence.

Ironically, while America's fight for independence centered on the idea of liberty for the individual, it was a collective body of influencers who rallied around a common cause that sparked the flames of liberty. However, there was a common thread that bound our Founders together. That bond was a strong belief in the moral and spiritual authority of the Bible.

Our Founders and national leaders strongly held the belief that religion, morality, principles and virtue were the pillars of our society and the strength of our government. They also recognized that the knowledge and understanding of our national heritage, and its Biblical foundations, were also of the utmost importance in sustaining our young nation.

As a newly formed nation, America's future faced numerous internal and external obstacles. The concern of sustaining our new nation didn't grow over time but was an immediate concern of our Founders. According to Maryland delegate, Dr. James McHenry, as the delegates were emerging from Independence Hall at the close of the Constitutional Convention, ``A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy. A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.''

Benjamin Franklin was well aware of how fragile our government would be if separated from the religious and moral foundations on which it was built. Just a few weeks earlier, when it appeared that the Constitutional Convention was in jeopardy of falling apart, Benjamin Franklin stood and reminded the delegates that there was one thing missing in their deliberations. Franklin said;

``The small progress we have made after four or five weeks, . . . is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding . . . How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? . . . ``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? 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; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel:''

Mr. Speaker, if our nation, as Benjamin Franklin defined it, could not have been founded without the guidance and divine intervention of God, then how can we sustain it if we, as a government, have abandoned these ideas and principles?

Over the period of the last year, I have had first-hand experience of crime and violence. Our nation has been inundated with acts of evil and violence over the past several years and it seems to me that the most immediate reaction by some of our elected representatives, especially those in Congress, is to create more laws. However, according to one of our Founders, Benjamin Rush, creating more law is the wrong approach to end crime and violence.

Benjamin Rush, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a physician, and educator but he is best known as the ``Father of Public Schools.'' Benjamin Rush advised us ``In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little pains to prevent them. We profess to be republicans and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible.''

According to Benjamin Rush, the best way to avoid violence and crime is to teach morality to our children. However, Benjamin Rush wasn't the only advocate of teaching biblical principles in our schools. The author of the preamble of our Constitution, Gouverneur Morris also believed in the importance of teaching the Bible as a core subject in America's schools, he stated ``Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God.''

Today, we have not only veered away from teaching these ideas in our schools, in some school systems even the very mention of the Bible will prompt a rash of court challenges. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note that these lawsuits claim that the use of the Bible or prayers in our schools violates the ``establishment clause'' of the first Amendment of the Constitution. However, it is ironic that the author of the freedom of religion clause, Fisher Ames, stated; ``Should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a schoolbook? Its morals are pure, its examples are captivating and noble. . . . In no Book is there so good English, so pure and so elegant, and by teaching all the same they will speak alike, and the Bible will justly remain the standard of language as well as of faith.''

Mr. Speaker, our Founders believed that the Bible played an important role in education, but they also believed it was a foundation of our government. As the second President of these United States, John Adams, often spoke of the importance that religion and morality holds in our national government. In a speech to officers of the Massachusetts militia Adams explained that, ``We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.''

In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams reiterates the principles on which our nation was established, and the basis of our moral guidelines was the Bible. Adams wrote ``I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen.''

Thomas Jefferson also acknowledged that the Bible was the source of the standards of moral conduct for America; he wrote ``Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus.''

The importance of the Bible and its moral foundations was not just limited to the Executive and Legislative branches. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court expressed his sentiments on the importance of a society that holds to Biblical principles. The most effective way to preserve peace among the people of our nation and to avoid war with others, Jay wrote, ``. . . is by extending the prevalence and influence of the gospel. Real Christians will abstain from violating the rights of others, and therefore will not provoke war . . .''

I think it is most appropriate to conclude my remarks, by using the words of another influential American, Noah Webster. Webster is most known for his contributions to early American education and is considered the ``Schoolmaster to America'' and the ``Father of American Scholarship and Education.''

Noah Webster admonished us to, ``. . . not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary. Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in full conviction that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceful spirit of Christianity.''

The answers for every challenge we face today as a nation isn't within the halls of Congress, in the White House or in the Supreme Court. The answer to these challenges exists in the pages of the sacred texts of this ancient text that is as relevant to us today, as it was for the generations that have preceded us. The sooner that we get back to these basic principles, the sooner we can restore the promises of freedom, equality and liberty for everyone.

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