Dissing Mr. Franklin

Editor's note: The original version of this column was published nine years ago.

I'm no authority in American history, but, perhaps like you, I've formed definite opinions about the direction our United States is headed on this Fourth of July.

When you read our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, the bedrock documents upon which every freedom and right we cherish today is constructed, it's apparent that independence and liberty for the individual citizen was paramount in the minds of the framers, as was divine influence in their work, according to Benjamin Franklin.

The concept of a democratic republic and equality for all was hammered out by those who believed the government that manages its population should be comprised of, by and for the people. It should represent them according to the desires and will of the majority who cast votes rather than those of the government itself or a judge who overrides the results of a popular vote.

These founding guideposts, rooted largely in the precepts of Protestant Christianity and unabashed appeals to the almighty, served us for over 200 years. Yet in but a few decades, our direction has become uncertain, blurred by relativism and rationalization as we've steadily distanced ourselves from the principles set by the founders.

It's tragic that so many of us today act weak and frightened, almost as if we expect to live in this troubled world forever. Rather than stand up and be counted for values that truly matter, we choose to spend our brief existence wandering ever farther down an overgrown road that constantly meanders downhill.

This is a treacherous path that leads far from the noble values and boundaries our colonial forefathers labored and prayed to perfect. Can't you also feel the dangers of fragmentation all around and through us today?

Benjamin Franklin reportedly gave us an answer on June 28, 1787. He's said to have delivered the following speech during the Constitutional Convention to describe the laborious efforts to perfect words to share with his colleagues. Nowhere does this mention selling our national integrity and security for crass money, lobbyists, globalization or judicial imperialism and tyranny.

"Mr. President:

"The small progress we have made after four or five weeks' close attendance and continual reasonings with each other--our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own wont of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it.

"We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

"In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the 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 have we now 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 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 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 little 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 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 blessings 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."

Makes me wonder when the reliance on God, revealed so clearly in these spiritually oriented words attributed to Franklin, became taboo in government.

It's obvious to me any separation of religion and state was originally intended specifically to keep the state out of religion rather than the other way around. So how and why specifically did we decide God was no longer necessary in the guidance of our nation?

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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mikemasterson10@hotmail.com.

Editorial on 07/04/2015

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