It may come as a surprise to learn that it was a prayer meeting in 1806 and the work of missionaries in 1820 followed by a major revival that began the process of bringing the Hawaiian Islands into the United States. In 1959 Congress gave its approval, in June 93% of the people of Hawaii…
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The Declaration of Independence was always considered inseparable with the Constitution since every charter by necessity must have a set of by-laws. However, in our day, as Americans celebrate the 242nd birth of their nation on the 4th of July, they may do so without an understanding that the truths declared in that charter is…
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The Pledge of Allegiance has an interesting history and has gone through several revisions before its final rendition in 1954 which we continue to recite today. The phrase “under God” has clarified our unity as a nation and is consistent with our history. This phrase has kept us from the dangerous trend toward nationalism on…
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Booker Taliaferro Washington was born into slavery on April 5, 1856 in southwest Virginia. Initially, like most slaves, he was known by his nickname “Booker” with no middle or surname. But what began as a tragic result of the sin of slavery that stained the Declaration’s promise of God-given liberty for all was overcome by…
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On March 1, 1781, the first constitution of the United States, called the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, officially became the first American covenant of law. Since the ratification required all 13 colonies to agree before it could be finalized, there were 39 months between the first colony, Virginia, who ratified in December of…
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Why would a Christian priest in Rome in the 3rd century A.D. be imprisoned, tortured and threatened with death just for standing up for marriage, secretly marrying soldiers to their brides? When we think of Valentine’s Day today, we think of romance, whether serious or trite, but we rarely think of the fact that February…
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January 1 as New Year’s Day was first celebrated in 46 B.C. when the Julian calendar took effect. The traditional Roman calendar, first established in the 7th century B.C. was based on the lunar cycle. Various politicians would add days to extend their own political terms and thus it was frequently corrupted. Julius Caesar, the…
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When people think of the historic Boston Tea Party that took place in 1773, they often have images of wild and lawless men destroying the personal property of others and throwing it into the sea in a riot, just so they don’t have to pay a very small tax. About the only thing that is…
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At this time of year many people reflect upon the Pilgrims and the origin of our American Thanksgiving holiday. Some contend that it either never occurred or was not a friendly affair with a legacy of genocide. Hopefully some context and clarity can help remove these myths and bring factual balance. Consider some of these…
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Under a hill in Bournedale a plaque commemorates the burying ground of a Praying Indian village where the first meeting house for Native converts was once located in 1637. Two individuals from Sandwich are named as the principal missionaries – Richard Bourne and Thomas Tupper. Though the plaque merely mentions the name of Bourne I…
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Of the eighty-eight structures at the recreated historic Colonial Williamsburg, most are homes. In colonial America, the home extended a form of trade and business to the community as a part of its mission. Children were taught trades at a young age. The home was the first church where worship and prayer took place. It…
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Some military historians declare that the Battle of Midway “was the greatest naval battle ever fought.” Providentially, it was the turning point of World War II in our contest with Japan, and our victory was nothing less than miraculous and unexpected.
The Pilgrim story is a church migration project and much of its success is due to the instructions and leadership of Pastor John Robinson. The Pilgrims landed in what is now Provincetown in early November of 1620. Their first response was to fall on their knees and to bless the God of heaven. One month…
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Thomas Gallaudet intended to be a preacher of the gospel from a young age, but God intervened in a most unusual way. In 1814, after graduating from Andover Theological Seminary, he resided in Hartford, Connecticut. On May 25 of 1814 he observed nine year old Alice Cogswell watching other children play and not being included. …
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