The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1958-07-05
CRUSADER
PUBLISHERS COLUMN CONTINUED

that title Fsmns H. Revs Company I94 in an age when
freedom was under fire. They guardians Of liberty not
IN ADDITION 70 their proclamation Of the biblical revelation
Du rather BECAUSE Of IT. them the Bible was The cor
"e,sone OF 'berfys WALL Among their fsvore
wnere fhe Spirit Of the Lord is there Is liberty"
during fhe Revolutionary period, many New England
ministers preached sermons political subjects least
twice annually besides at Thanksgiving and other special
ooservsnees Their preaching vnderseored he SPIRITUAL
source the nature and the Of liberty They found the
source OF freedom in biblical rather than secular ira
dons The passion for liberty they traced TO the dvney
escorted Hebrew exodus from Egyptian bondage Phs-
rsohs tyranny and they stressed heritage Of freedom that
reached Tar beyond AngIoSsxon the Sinai wilder
ness To them liberty shone the Creators gift and in IFS
nurture they exfoled the divine plan and providence Of
The invisible hand that rules the world" They spoke Of
God and freedom in and the seIfssme BREATH
Clergy Of the Revolutionary era proclaimed the obes.
non OF freedom we'll its and Bounded
by Gods sovereignty and his vnehsnsins moral purpose
mans freedom rested the stable foundation of Justice and
Righteousness Anything offensive God and injurious
man considered detrimental piety and virtue 10
neishborness and good will Tyranny the exsIt
ing oneself above all that gody Hence immortality and
RIGHTEOUSNESS TO be feared than the military
threat Of eternal foes for in the absence Of sound morality
liberty could survive in neither peace cergymen
warned colonial merchants that il they treasured liberty
only when their prosperity and security threatened
Vnerepv making freedom irrelevant in good
tmes they were already guilty Of ieopardzing freedom
for the guarantees Of liberty be found only in good
ruler, in good constitution and good people, Reminding
the ezenry Of the Scriptures rye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free. II the Son therefore
shall make you free we shall be free indeed John e32 36
these eersymen preached the Gospel Of redemption In
this context they spoke Of public spirit Of civil happiness.
and Of the enjoyment Of government
u Samuel langdon president Of Harvard College.
who cried out in election in l775: no. may
camp be free from every aeevrsed ns May land be
pvdged from all its sins. May be truly holy people,
and all our towns cities Of Righteousness"
Where in American life today is this Of Ultimate
mission and purpose? Our reliance Providence matters
Of state is broken Indeed the very concept Of Prov
denee is vanishing from the political The thesis Of
separation Of Church and State is parroted provide
patriotic halo for secular and theories Of national
life Even religious leaders fearful Of secarian
pIotaton Of fhe political order eompIaeent its
corrosion by secular agencies and influences.
No matter what its phrssng-the need to awaken svm
berng Puritan convictions in heritage the need to
American conscience fresh Of its debt
the Gospel the need TO besr freedoms taproofs in
the Jvdaeo- christian radition-however the need is
pressed great responsibility rests the clergy and on
the churches of day The majority Of Americans and
therefore the largest bloc Of public opinion in American
Ife registered the church rolls. unique opportunity
exists rebuild national reliance Providence II this
resvrgenee is not forthcoming II may we'll reflect the
churches spiritual mpoteney and their lost sense OF
needed revival.