The following is not my wording, although I agree with it. It comes from the following Link:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Anghis/roger173.htm For those that still insist that it's a lie where is your evidence, your proof from official documents? IF the Bibles were not purchased then tell us WHY were they not purchased? Was it because some of these men cried that it would violate Church and State or that the Government should not finance such and endevour for they were not to favor or bring Religion into Government? If there was no plans to provide or allot money, from the Federal Government's budget then why authorize their importing? Who was to pay for these that were authorized in 1977? Note also many quotes from our founding fathers and men that were in this Congress that most likely voted on this authorization. So again were they not purchased because the Congress felt it violated separation of Government and Religion? If so what do you base that on?
On September 11, 1777 the Continental Congress approved and recommended that 20,000 Bibles be imported from other nations in Europe. Up to that time the only Bibles allowed were what England supplied, the 1611 King James Version. The war with England stopped that supply. The Congressional Committee reported:
The use of a Bible is so universal and its importance so great that your committee refers the above to the consideration of Congress, and if Congress shall not think it expedient to order the importation of types and paper, the Committee recommends that Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the States of the Union.
Where upon it was resolved accordingly to direct said Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 copies of the Bible. (Continental Congress, September 11, 1777. Robert Flood, The Rebirth of America (Philadelphia: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986), p. 39. The Journals of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1905), book 146, Vol. VIII, pp. 731-735.)
On September 10, 1782 another shortage of Bibles came about. This shortage concerned the public schools. Today’s courts have take the Bible out of the schools claiming that it is unconstitutional to have Bibles in the school, but the Founders were unaware of that provision. This edition was for “a meet edition of the Holy Scriptures for use in schools.” This edition became known as the Bible of the Revolution. The following Endorsement of Congress was printed on its front page:
Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled . . . recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize [Robert Aitken] to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper (Congress of the Confederation. September 10, 1782, under the Articles of Confederation, granted an approval to a request, January 21, 1781, for Robert Aitken of Philadelphia, to print an edition of the Bible, known as the Bible of the Revolution, Journals of the Continental Congress 1774-1789 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1905), Vol. XXIII, p. 574.)
We have achieved our exceptionalism because our government is dedicated to the preservation of human liberty grounded on the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are those that say that is not true and if that is so then one would have to question why Patrick Henry stated this: “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” (emphasis added)
Benjamin Franklin: History will afford frequent Opportunities of showing . . . the Excellency of the Christian Religion above all others ancient or modern. (Benjamin Franklin, “Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania.” 1749, Labraee, Papers of Benjamin Franklin, 3:413)
Patrick Henry: Amongst other strange things said to me, I hear it is said by the deists that I am one of their number; and, indeed, that some good people think I am no Christian. This thought give me much more pain than the appellation of tory; because I think religion of infinitely higher importance than politics; and I find much cause to reproach myself, that I have lived so long, and have given no decided and public proofs of my being a Christian. But, indeed, my dear child, this is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast. (Patrick Henry to Betsy Aylett, August 20, 1796. William Wirt, The Life of Patrick Henry (New York: M’Elrath & Bangs, 1831), 402-403.)
John Jay: Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers (John Jay to John Murray, Jr., October 12, 1816. Johnston Correspondence of Jay, 4:393.)
Thomas Jefferson: In matters of religion, I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general government (Federal government). I have therefore undertaken, on no occasion, to prescribe the religious exercises suited to it; but have left them, as the Constitution found them, under the direction and discipline of state or church authorities acknowledges by the several religious societies. (Thomas Jefferson, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1805.)
When the Constitutional Convention was in process there had been about four to five weeks where no progress was being made in the negotiations of how the States would be represented in the new government. At this time Benjamin Franklin stepped in and made some comments. Following is an excerpt from those comments. Remember that at this time Franklin was 81 years old and Governor of Pennsylvania as well as a very respected man.
“In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer 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.
To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And now have we forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that 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 men. And that 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: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move – that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service. ( Constitutional Convention. June 28, 1787, in an address by Benjamin Franklin. James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (1787: Athens, OH: Ohio University press, 1966, 1985; NY: W.W. Norton & Co., 1987), pp. 209-210. )
Some revisionist Historians refute that Ben Franklin was religious. Maybe he was the least religious but he respected and believed God specially blessed this Nation and that in turn those men who set out to write the Constitution should give prayer and thankfulness to Him/God. I guess we are going to hear how Ben Franklin never said the above either?
This information and quotes are now taboo in schools or do not appear in our History books. Cursing, language and other things are permitted before we can teach this.
To Follow Religion and the States