Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-07-03

Jefferson in 11tOT He was only thirty
three years OF age. He had just en-
tered public life and had become q
member OF the Virginia delegation bat
few months before. In the realm OF
debate he could not be classed among
the great advocates - John Adams,
Roger Sherman. Oliver Walcott, Lee
and George Wythe AS n writer he
bad no such influence in fostering the
independence idea as had Samuel
Adams. For the most part, i'm the de-
liberations OF the Continental congress,
he sat as sphinx with closed lips.
Yet because Richard Henry Lee had
proposed the resolution OF secession
and also because Lee was compelled to
absent himself from congress on ac-
count of his sick wife ana as congress
wanted TO honor Virginia 10y appoint
ing Virginian in Lees place this
master mind the young and compara-
lively unknown Thomas jefferson, was
pushed forward. aud he became the
author OF the famous Declaration OF
Independence.
Trust In God.
l repeat. In the great crisis of ma
tional affairs God. if we only trust
him. will give us the right men for the
right places. Did he not give the right
man for the right place when he gave
Thomas Jefferson as the writer OF this
in,."": tai document? Did he not give
the right man for the right place when
George Washington became the head
of the American armiesI Did not God
give the right man for the right place
when, at the breaking out of the civil
war, Abraham Lincoln became presi-
dent of the United States? Did not
God give us the right man for the
right place when William Mckinley
sat in the White House and calmly and
bravely guided the affairs OF state
during the Spanish-American trouble7
And shall not God raise up and inspire
our future leaders II the American
people are godly nation and unfail-
ingly look to him for divine guidancef
But reading again between the lines
Of this immortal document. see in II
the evidence of Sod given courage.
There are u solemnity and heroism in
Its utterances which come only from
faith in God and dependence upon him,
The men who signed this paper were
brave men. The last few words which
Thomas Jefferson wrote at the end OF
the last page indicate their courage.
And for the support of this declara-
ton we mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes and our sacred
honor" They pledged their lives Each
man knew that the signing of this doc
umcnt. which few hours later was
publicly read by John Nixon from the
balcony OF the statehouse. made each
one of the signcrs a traitor I'm the eyes
OF England and fit subject for the
efbbot and Tower hill. Yet when John
Hancock knew that he might be sign
Ing his own death warrant he picked
up his pen and wrote in large. bold
letters his name, John Hancock" then
as he put down his pen he remarked.
There is my name in letters so large
that King George will be able to read
them without spectaclesr'
Faith Justified
The signers pledged their fortunes as
well rs their lives. Had the insurrec-
ton been failure their personal prop
critics would have been contiscated.
When the millionaire, Charles Carroll.
signed the Declaration bystander flip
PANTY remarked, There go a few mil
lions of dollars IL the cause is unsuc-
cessful." Yet SD dead I'm earnest was
Charles Carroll Co pledge his life, his
fortune and his sacred honor to the
cause of American liberty that lest his
name should he confused with that of
another Charles Carroll he specified
and individualized his name as he sign
ed IL, Charles Carroll OF Carrollton."
But while the members OF the CONT
mental congress OF 1716 were brave
men, they were also. as n class. pray
Ing men. True courage and consecra-
who believed i'm God. They were men
who, down upon their knees, reverently
and earnestly and intensely sought d.
vine light. In the famous historical
picture the members OF the Second Con-
tinental congress are shown on their
knees in prayer. To the Christian
American student that picture ought
10 DC the most impressive historical
painting ever hung in legislative hall
or In foreign or domestic art gallery.
[ have seen the noted war pictures OF
Berlin and Dresden. | have seen the
form OF Emperor William 1. In many
scenes. fiankcd by Won Moltke and the
nation builder. Prince Bismarck. In
Paris l have seen the Napoleonic pic
lures and in London the war pictures
OF Waterloo. where the pale faced We'll |
lington immovably sits his horse.
the destruction OF the French
grenadiers. but in all the art galleries !
OF the world there is no historical pic |
ture that. to my mind, Is so impressive,
20 significant, so full OF inspiration as
that historic picture OF the Continental |
in prayer
Most OF the members OF that congress |
came from praying Christian homes.
They assembled In the spring and sum- |
mer or l776 to take the most mo- |
mentous step which the citizens OF any |
can lake. 1t was no light or |
trivial act to renounce allegiance to |
King George and to defy the power of |
the British government. These men |
well knew the consequences involved |
In such step and realized the neces-
sity or having divine guidance. One |
or the members arose and moved that |
prominent Episcopalian minister OF |
Philadelphia should be sent for and |
asked TO lead the members in prayer
to God. Samuel Adams, think ii was, |
seconded that motion. He said I'm sub
stance: IL am not an Episcopalian. but
am not a bigot / feel that Gods |
hand must lead us in this national
crisis. l second the motion" The mo-
ton was carried. The next day this
minister came to the leg
slative hall. He came In full canonical
robes. All the members knelt can
well believe that all must have Joined
In the prayer that the God OF the |
armies of Moses and of Joshua would
lead and guide them. How on any
other assumption can we explain their
dauntless courage? 1t would have been
sheer temerity for those men to sign
that Declaration unless they had be-
Iicyed that God xyouId no with thor, a.,