The Wilkes Team

Prominently situated betwixt the might James and York Rivers in southern VA lays a living historical monument to the founding of our United States some 233+ years ago. During the early 1900s, a growing Virginia population was threatening to put this once bustling town into extinction. However, one local pastor took the initiative and helped birth a vision for what has become an interactive learning center of American History – Colonial Williamsburg.

Have you ever wanted to meet Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or perhaps Peyton Randolph, a British Red Coat, or a 1700 era slave?

What would it be like in a mid 18th century blacksmith, silversmith, gunsmith, shoe peddler, apothecary, printing, or even a colonial coffee shop?

How did American families live in the mid to late 1700s? What would their children be involved with? How did their furniture, clothing, eating, and free time activities differ form or emulate those of today? How did they decorate for Christmas?

Colonial Williamsburg brings history to life through remarkable re-enactments of both historical and daily events which would have taken place around 1775.

On a recent visit to Williamsburg, we participated in such events, including a mock trial. We entered the town courthouse  wherein three cases involving a number of spoiled hog heads of tobacco, a complaint against spoiled meat in the market place, and the legalities of marriage were brought before the panel of justices (in Colonial America, a justice had to be a white, protestant,  land owning, male). It was noted by several of us, the clear Biblical principles used by the actor playing the chief justice as he explained both the responsibilities of men and women in marriage and the purpose of marriage being to raise children.

With so much to see during our day long visit, we only covered a small portion. Stops included the Governor’s Palace, Courthouse, Blacksmith, Printing Press, and town Gaol (jail).

The day was extra memorable as we were able to spend it with dear friends. Each one of us left Williamsburg encouraged as was later testified of during our return trip home.

We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: (Ps. 78:3-7)

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This past week, our nation celebrated the Thanksgiving. Our family found great joy in this precious time of yes, gathering with dear family, but more importantly as a time for giving our  thanks to Divine Providence – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During the Thanksgiving meal, Grandma had two glass bowls situated on the table. On each plate were 5 kernels of corn (popcorn kernels) in commemoration of the hardship of the Pilgrims in 1620. After hearing the poem, “Five Kernels of Corn by Hezekiah Butterworth,” we were told to drop a kernel of corn into the glass bowls throughout the meal when we recalled something to be grateful for. And so it was that during our joyous conversations around the abundant dinner table, a little ‘ping’ here and there were heard thus providing a divine opportunity to turn our attention heavenward unto the giver of all good things.  

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On the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving, our President proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving but for what purpose? President Obama says it is set aside, “to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own and to share our bounty with others.”

Former President George Bush proclaimed the 2008 Thanksgiving Celebration to be a time to, “give thanks to God who blessed our Nation’s first days and who blesses us today. May He continue to guide and watch over our families and our country always.”

President George Washington gave the first Thanksgiving proclamation in the fall of 1789. He unashamedly declared that, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” President Washington went on to give the two purposes for this day: 

1. Be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation “

2. Unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions

(read the entire proclamation in December’s Facts for Patriots)

What an impacting focus for this most significant holiday!

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One of America’s founding Father, John Jay (1745-1829) played an important role in the birth of America. He was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Governor of New York, Ambassador to Britain and Spain, writer of many Federalist papers, 2nd President of the American Bible society, and could also be called the penman of the American Revolution. Because of his skill, he was commissioned by the Continental Congress to write letters both to Canada, the British people, and 13 colonies.  Below are excerpts from a letter he wrote and then was circulated through the colonies:

“…And why all this desolation, bloodshed, and unparalleled cruelty? They tell you, to reduce you to obedience. Obedience to what: to their sovereign will and pleasure. Why then you shall be pardoned, because you consent to be slaves. And why should you be slaves now, having been freemen ever since the country was settled? because, forsooth, the king and parliament of an island, three thousand miles off, choose that you should be hewers of wood, and drawers of water for them… For shame! for shame!…You may be told that your forts have been taken; your country ravaged; and that your armies have retreated; and that, therefore, God is not with you. It is true, that some forts have been taken, that our country hath been ravaged, and that our Maker is displease with us. But it is also true that the King of Heaven is not like the king of Britain, implacable. If we turn from our sins, He will turn from his anger…Let a general reformation of manners take place–let universal charity, public spirit, and private virtue be inculcated, encouraged, and practiced. Unite in preparing for a vigorous defense of your country, as if all depended on you own exertions. And when you have done all things, then rely upon the good Providence of Almighty God for success, in full confidence that without his blessing, all our effort will inevitably fail….”

     But if there be any among us, dead to all sense of honor, and love of their country; if deaf to all the calls of liberty, virtue and religion; if forgetful of the magnanimity of their ancestors, and the happiness of their children; if neither the examples nor the success of other nations–the dictates of reason and of nature; or the great duties they owe to their God, themselves, and their posterity, have any effect upon them–if neither the injuries they have received , the price they are contending for, the future blessing or curses of their children–the applause or the reproach of all mankind–the approbation or displeasure of the Great Judge–or the happiness or misery consequent upon their conduct, in this and a future state, can move them;–then let them be assured, that they deserve to be slaves, and are entitled to nothing but anguish and tribulation. Let them banish from their remembrance the reputation, the freedom, and the happiness they have inherited from their forefathers. Let them forget every duty, human and divine; remember not that they have children: and beware how they call to mind the justice of the Supreme being: let them go into captivity… and be a reproach and a by-word among the nations. But we think better things of you–we believe and are persuaded that you will do you duty like men, and cheerfully refer your cause to the great and righteous Judge. If success crown you efforts, all the blessings of freemen will be your reward. If you fall in the contest, you will be happy with God in Heaven.”

- Letter discovered from The Life of John Jay written by his son William Jay.

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“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the give of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever….”  Thomas Jefferson -

  On two recent tours of DC over the past week, I was profoundly struck again by the overwhelming evidence of Providence upon the founding of our nation. Strolling by the monuments dedicated to those who have gone before, we heard the cries of our Nation’s securers of liberty. Men, who more than self, their country loved. Men who could see beyond the present strife because of an inner hope for In God did they Trust. Upon the dirt of Washington, D.C., their names lie engraved in marble and granite and should be forever etched upon the hearts of every American citizen.

But oh how grievous it was to walk in upon the museum of American History and therein read the modern revisionist viewpoint of history. The 21st century recollection of history is seen in light of economic gain, the civil rights movement, ancient Greek culture, and such vanities as sport and play. Barely was there 6 mentions of God throughout the massive 3 story, multiple acre building, much less the name of Providence or Jesus Christ. As George Bancroft so aptly stated, “There must be a meaning to history or else existence is an incomprehensible enigma.” This meaning described Bancroft, is a Providential viewpoint.

The museum was divested of not a few vestiges of our Judeo Christian founding. But, this blatantly evident divorcement of truth from fact served not as a means of discouragement but rather a stimulus to prayer, to remembrance, and to concerted action. The time to Stand has come – are you ready to join the ranks of the Christian Patriot? We trust not in our economy, our president, man’s approval, but in God alone!

In God We Trust! “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof (Ps. 46:2-3).”

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What have been the ramifications of an economical viewpoint of history?

A quick look reveals the results. Today, we live in a nation that still contains a large group of Evangelicals (those known for their belief in God and following of the Bible). In recent elections, over 45% of Evangelicals stated that their primary factor in deciding who to vote for was an economic one. National leaders are criticized or commended based on the nation’s econimc status. In fact, a recent presidential debate had the word ‘jobs’ mentioned over 157 times while the word marriage was only referenced once. There has been a paradigm shift.

Ask the majority of Americans living today what the reason for the declaration of Independence was and they will say, “Taxation without Representation.” This was reason number 17 in the Declarations long list of 27 grievances against Great Britain. In fact, 11 issues were based on representation, 7 on civil issues, 4 on judicial issues, 2 clauses dealt with moral issues, and there were religious issues as well. Charles Carroll & Sam Adams openly declared that, “Religious freedom was the reason they became involved in the revolution.”

Or take for instance the VA Charter upon which the Jamestown colony was founded. Ask the average American of the reason behind this colonization and you will hear that the explorers sought gold. This was number 20 something in a list that had as one of the highest goals the perpetration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A majority of the charters issued during that time had similar goals.

Today we live in an economical focused nation. Out of the 10-13 thousand pieces of legislation faced by Congressman today, the issues most publicized are ones affecting our economy. Christ as the center of our culture has been replaced by the love of money. How imperative it is that we as Christians awake and recognize our tendency to be inoculated by the culture.

During his 4 year tour of America (1831-1834), Alexis De Tocqueville  noted several key qualities that made America substantially different from other nations. Their chief force was Christianity – they take care of the poor. The compilation of his writings have been taught in colleges for 100 years.  Today, however, the abridged version has removed all of the religious and moral records of De Tocqueville leaving behind only those technical evaluations of government and, yes you guessed right, economics.

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Ro 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Notes taken from Wall Builders’, “American Heritage Series.”

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“I have no way of judging the future but by the past.” Patrick Henry

“History is God’s providence in human affairs.” Daniel Webster

For over 270 years, beginning in 1630 with William Bradford’s Plymouth Plantation and continuing until 1900, history was told as it happened and therefore viewed through the  perspective of God’s Providence in human affairs. Historians like unto George Bancroft (1800-1891) boldly declared that, “God’s providence in history is as important as the historical events themselves.” The result was a religious and morally abiding society.

As said Charles Coffin in his book, “The Story of Liberty“,

You will notice that while the oppressors have carried out their plans and had things their own way, there were other forces silently at work which in time undermined their plans – as if a Divine hand were directing the counter-plan. Whoever peruses the story of liberty without recognizing this feature will fail of fully comprehending the meaning of history. There must be a meaning to history or else existence is an incomprehensible enigma.

With the advent of the 20th century, a change commenced. Men with viewpoints like unto Robert Ingersol (1833-1899), who taught that American government has been secular from the very beginning, began entering the scene. Organizations such as the American Liberal Union came on the scene whose purpose was to remove God from political affairs, public knowledge, & text books.

By 1920, Historians such as, Charles & Mary Beard, W.E. Woodward, and Fairfax Downey, published writings with the following titles, “The economic Basis of Politics, The economic basis of the Constitution, The economic basis of the Revolution, etc.” When 1960 hit, historical education was delivered through the filter of economics. Whereas before the 1900s, much of the history taught by historians included non-economical history, an economic viewpoint dominated the 1960 history education.

What have been the ramifications? Wait for tomorrow’s pending part 2!

Pictures from wikipedia.com

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