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On February 18, 1762, at Spring Gardens in England, a 19-year-old musician named Marianne Davies gave a concert that introduced the world to a brand new, fascinating musical instrument: a row of delicate tuned glass bowls in a beautifully-finished wooden chest, mounted horizontally on a long spindle, called a glass armonica. As she came from a musical family, Miss Davies herself was already somewhat well known around London’s musical circles. Her father was a composer and flautist, and she and her sister had been performing – both singing and playing instruments – since childhood. But this particular concert was news:...

In a letter dated July 2, 1756, Benjamin Franklin presented a proposal to George Whitefield, the most famous preacher of the Great Awakening, that they partner together to establish a Christian colony "in the Ohio," which was frontier at the time. In the letter, Franklin expressed confidence that God would give them success in such a project, "If we undertook it with a sincere regard to his honor." For the next 30 years, they carried on a lively and open correspondence. Whitefield often spoke about faith in Christ and admonished Franklin to make sure he was prepared for the next...

On JULY 26, 1775, Benjamin Franklin became the first Postmaster General of the United States, a position he held under the British Crown before the Revolution. Franklin's public career began when he organized Pennsylvania's first volunteer militia during threaten attacks from Spanish and French ships. Franklin then proposed a General Fast, which was approved by the Colony's Council and printed in his Pennsylvania Gazette, December 12, 1747: "As the calamities of a bloody War ... seem every year more nearly to approach us ... there is just reason to fear that unless we humble ourselves before the Lord & amend...

As Benjamin Franklin departed the Constitutional Convention, he was asked if the framers had created a monarchy or a republic. "A republic," he famously replied, and then added, "if you can keep it." The remarkable generation that founded this nation led an improbable yet successful revolution against the strongest military power of the time. They declared their independence based on self-evident truths, asserting a new basis of political rule in the sovereignty of the people and launching an experiment in self-government. Through a carefully written constitution that limits power and secures rights while allowing for change through its own amendment,...

On the same day that the Declaration of Independence became official, a telling event further reveals that our founders understood well the “ancient principles” upon which our republic must be built. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee -- consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams -- to design an official seal for the United States. Adams proposed an image of Hercules contemplating the persuasions of Virtue and Sloth. Franklin proposed a biblical theme: Moses standing on the Shore, and extending his Hand over the Sea, thereby causing the same to overwhelm Pharaoh who...

On a warm September day in 1787, Benjamin Franklin emerged from Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Franklin was leaving what has come to be known as The Constitutional Convention. Originally it was simply the Philadelphia Convention, which was intended solely to improve upon the Articles of Confederation, the prevailing government of the time. As legend has it, a man approached him and demanded, “What have you wrought?” to which Franklin succinctly replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Franklin, known for so many famous quotes he could make Yogi Berra appear to be a mute, delivered that day what might...

Today's Quotefall Puzzle features a quote by Benjamin Franklin. Click image (or click here) for full size rendition, then use your browser's print command to print puzzle.Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. He loved to fly kites in the rain, too!All hints, along with the answer, are provided in the first reply comment below, using filtered font to prevent accidential spoilers. Please refrain from disclosing the full answer in comments to...

Franklin was born in 1706 at Boston. He was the tenth son of a soap and candlemaker. He received some formal education but was principally self-taught. At 17, he obtained employment as a printer. At 19 he then sailed to London... (picked goodly lwimen, had excellent kids, made a bunch of bucks . Took good care of them each and all, and a great many more. 1754, he repped Pennsylvania at the Albany Congress unite the colonies during the French and Indian War. 1757-62 and 1764-75, resided in England, agent for Pennsylvania and later for Georgia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts....

In his later years, Benjamin Franklin became vocal as an abolitionist and in 1787 began to serve as President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. The Society was originally formed April 14, 1775, in Philadelphia, as The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage...The Society not only advocated the abolition of slavery, but made efforts to integrate freed slaves into American society. Preamble: "It having pleased the Creator of the world, to make of one flesh all the children of men, it becomes them to consult and promote each other's happiness, as...

I can’t believe I missed Benjamin Franklin’s birthday yesterday [ed. it’s been brought to my attention that I’m actually one day early – so unlike me] but it’s not too late to honor one of the country’s most influential founding fathers. The man who once wrote “If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worthy of reading or do things worth the writing.” in his own life did both. As CDN notes though this truly Renaissance man has never been adequately recognized for his remarkable contributions to this great country. He...

MEMRI: Palestinian Historian Dr. Ibrahim Al-Sinwar: Ancient Egyptians Had the Right to Force the Jews to Work Building Pithom and Raamses; Benjamin Franklin Warned against the Jews MEMRI No. 2260| November 16, 2009 Palestinian Historian Dr. Ibrahim Al-Sinwar: Ancient Egyptians Had the Right to Force the Jews to Work Building Pithom and Raamses; Benjamin Franklin Warned against the Jews Following are excerpts from an interview with Dr. Ibrahim Al-Sinwar, a lecturer on Islamic history at the Islamic University of Gaza. The interview aired on Al-Aqsa TV on July 31, 2009. To view this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2260.htm Dr. Ibrahim Al-Sinwar: The...

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" What does this quote mean? It doesn't mean anything, when it is disconnected with the full of its author's words. Franklin wrote this in his Reply to the Governor in 1755, but how many people even know that? His letter is less than 2000 words, so it is not a long read. I recommend everybody read the full letter, because that is to the detriment of progressivism. So, what does this quote mean? It only, only means what Franklin himself meant at...

Some LGBT advocates say those with same-sex attraction who use "avoidance techniques" are cheating.Martin Luther wrote, "If your head is made of butter, stay away from the fire." Sound advice for anyone seeking freedom from a bad habit or sinful temptation.To listen to gay supporters, one should be able to immerse themselves in all things homosexual and have the will power to abstain from sin.Are avoidance techniques true in the natural realm?Indeed they are. Someone might say the very term "avoidance techniques" sounds unbiblical.Fair skinned persons should avoid the noon day sun; that would include me. I burn easily.Persons allergic...

“I like you. You and me, we’re going to be best friends.” It is early January, and Eric Schneiderman is sitting in his 25th-floor office above Lower Manhattan, doing his best Donald Trump impression, puckering his lips into a duck face, scrunching up his nose and lowering his voice into something that resembles the president’s outer-borough growl. Schneiderman is recalling his meeting with Trump in 2010. Back then, Schneiderman was running for attorney general of New York, and Trump was still in his pre-birther, reality TV host phase. Trump had donated money to one of Schneiderman’s opponents in the Democratic...

•President Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Vt., on July 4, 1872. He is the only president born on July 4; however, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth of July. •One lucky Philadelphian purchased a $4 picture at a flea market. Behind the picture was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. It was sold to TV producer Norman Lear for $8.1 million. •After the war, King George III rationalized that Washington would become a dictator and make the Americans yearn for royal rule. When he was told that Washington planned to...

Ben Franklin is often quoted as having said, “Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.” But he was actually talking about wine. In a 1779 letter to French artist Francois Morellet, Franklin began by stating, “In vino veritas . . . Truth is in wine.” He then continued to wax lyrical: “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards. There it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.” The new book, “Stirring the Pot with Benjamin Franklin,” by...

It was on September 17, 1787 that our rule of law, the US Constitution was signed in Philadelphia. History tells us of an exchange that occurred outside of Independence Hall between Benjamin Franklin and a Philadelphia socialite, Mrs. Powell. Mrs. Powell inquired of Mr. Franklin, “well, what is it that we have, a monarchy or a republic”? Mr. Franklin replied, famously, “a Republic, if you can keep it”. That was the challenge of 230 years ago, and now we must ask ourselves, do we truly want to keep this Constitutional Republic. However, there is a greater question, how many people...

Here’s a list of things I don’t  feel like talking about today: the Emmys, Kim Jong-un, St. Louis riots/protests, terrorist attacks anywhere.Usually when I don’t want to be annoyed food is a safe bet, no?  No. I see that the cognoscenti of New York are promoting a new form of extreme eating based on extremely expensive extreme aging: Steak Aging Goes Beyond Weeks to Months for Some Chefs. This is beef aged for up to 180 days – that’s 6 months! In dog years I believe that translates to carrion. But if you’re up for laying out a car payment...

Every July 4th, citizens of the United States of America everywhere celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and separation from British rule. The Continental Congress had actually voted to approve a resolution of independence on July 2nd and declare the Thirteen Colonies a new nation, the United States of America. However, it would not actually come until two days later that the Declaration of Independence was drawn up, revised by the Continental Congress, and officially signed. Were any signers of the Declaration of Independence Catholic? Of the 56 total signatories of the Declaration of Independence,...

When you think of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, it’s likely because of his ill-advised, bad-weather kite-flying foray or his face on the hundred-dollar bill or possibly the pithy sayings from Poor Richard’s Almanack. Here’s another side of Franklin: swashbuckling swordsman. In its Sept. 20 “Important American Furniture, Silver, Outsider and Folk Art” sale, Christie’s is set to feature just that as they offer a brilliant silver-hilted small sword, made for Franklin by a neighbor in Philadelphia circa 1760. Thankfully, it won’t ruin your peaceable image of the portly American statesman; at the time, it was a part of a gentleman’s...