On January 21, 1781, Robert Aitken presented a "memorial" [petition] to Congress offering to print "a neat Edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of schools."
After appointing a committee to study the project, Congress acted on September 12, 1782, by "highly approv[ing of] the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken." The endorsement by Congress was printed in the Aitken Bible:
Reprinted '68
Was "No King but Jesus" a Revolutionary War Slogan?
Emily Yoffe
At a 1999 commencement speech at Bob Jones University, Attorney General-designate John Ashcroft said this phrase was a slogan of the founding fathers.
He also said this sentiment is found in the Declaration of Independence in the phrase, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." Was this the motivating cry of the Revolution, and was Thomas Jefferson alluding to it in the Declaration?
While people in the colonies used the expression, it was not a central rallying cry, nor is it implied in the Declaration of Independence. Members of radical sects first used the phrase in a revolutionary context in England in the mid-17th century during the British Civil War.
Groups such as the Diggers and the Levellers believed that after the execution of Charles I, a biblical monarchy was nigh and that Jesus would be the king. (Note to the future attorney general:
The Diggers advocated the abolition of private property, and the Levellers were for the separation of church and state.)
The phrase was particularly incendiary because it attacked the authority of both king and clergy. In the American colonies, there are some historical references to it being said by Presbyterians who were agitating against the authority of the British king and harkening back to the earlier revolution.
But it was the Enlightenment, not Revelation, which was the underlying philosophy of the founders. While Jefferson was a member of the Anglican Church, he, like Washington, Adams, Madison, and Franklin, was a Deist.
That is, he believed in a rational God who created the world but that it was up to men, through reason and science, to shape it. Jefferson believed Jesus was a historical figure and a sublime moral philosopher, but he, like his fellow founders, was skeptical about the divinity of Jesus.
I would like to remind the "Far Left" that socialism has no future in the United States of America. I will remind them with my sword if need be, but for now I will use the gentile words of Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson's Last Letter
Ten days before the 50th of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote this letter in response to the
committees’ invitation to honor him at the celebration. Being in poor
health, Jefferson had to decline, but sent this letter in his place.
On the eve of this great anniversary, Jefferson was in his home at
Monticello, struggling to stay alive for one more day. Some 500 miles away
in Quincy, Massachusetts, John Adams was also dying. He passed away on the
day of the fourth, his last words reflecting the thoughts of an old
friend: "Thomas Jefferson still survives."
Shortly after midnight, Jefferson woke, and asked his granddaughter who
stood at his bedside, "Is it the fourth?" She said that it was, and then
perhaps he smiled. In one of the most remarkable coincidences in history,
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams--the two great architects of the
Declaration of Independence--died within hours of each other on July 4,
1826, 50 years after they created the words that gave birth to this great
land of liberty.
Monticello, June 24, 1826
Respected Sir,
The kind invitation I received from you, on the part of the citizens of
the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of
the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence, as one of the surviving
signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world,
is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable
accompaniment proposed for the comfort of the journey. It adds sensibly to
the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal
participation in the rejoicing of that day. But acquiescence is a duty,
under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to control. I
should, indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there
congratulations personally with the small band, the remnant of that host
of worthies, who joined with us on that day, in the bold and doubtful
election we were to make for our country, between submission or the sword;
and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact, that our fellow
citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to
approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will
be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal
of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and
superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the
blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have
substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason
and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of
man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to
every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born
with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready
to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope
for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever
refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to
them.
I will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which I should
have met my ancient neighbors of the city of Washington and its
vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social
intercourse; an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the
public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as
never to be forgotten. With my regret that ill health forbids me the
gratification of an acceptance, be pleased to receive for yourself and
those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly
attachments.
Thomas Jefferson
Freedom belongs to all men and woman no matter where they are. Freedom is not an American enigma, nor is it something only for Americans. Our Founding Fathers knew this, we cannot forget nor be forced to do so. Our first flag bore these words, "Don't Tread On Me". I would remind the socialists again that these words hold true today... You will not steal away my liberty, and you will not stand in the way of those who would seek it for themselves.
On the other hands, liberals seem to hate those two days and are always trying to find reasons for us not to celebrate them. As for liberals, their favorite days seem to be April 15th and September 11th.