Posts

Richard Montgomery First National Memorial
, , ,

Richard Montgomery and the First National Memorial

On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress authorizes the first national memorial of the Revolutionary War, in honor of Brigadier General Richard Montgomery. He was killed during in Quebec on December 31, 1775, where he was initially interred.

The monument, as seen below, is the first ever commissioned by the United States. Benjamin Franklin hired French sculptor Jean Jacques Caffieri to design and build the Montgomery memorial. Eventually, in 1787, it was installed in the front of St. Paul’s Chapel in Manhattan, where it remains today. Then, Montgomery’s remains were moved to St. Paul’s in 1818.

Interestingly, St. Paul’s was George Washington’s church during his time in New York as the United States’ first president in 1789.

The first memorial and the first president

So, the first memorial in the history of the United States was given a prominent place in a culturally and architecturally significant gathering place in New York City. Also, it’s where Our first president went to church.

Richard Montgomery First National Memorial

/0 Comments/by
Benjamin Franklin Epitaph
,

Benjamin Franklin born and a “most beautiful Edition”

On this day in 1706, Benjamin Franklin, the renowned Founding Father and prolific printer, patriot, scientist, statesman, etc. is born in Boston. He was the fifteenth of seventeen children.

Franklin lived until the ripe old age of 84, and died in his adopted home of Philadelphia, where he is buried.

Even in his early twenties, his wit and wisdom was on full display. Of note, in 1728 he wrote his own epitaph, revising and sharing it with friends throughout his life. Here is one such version, with a copy below:

The Body
of
Ben Franklin Printer,
Like the Cover of an old Book
Its contents torn out
And stript of its Lettering & Gilding,
Lies here Food for the Worms,
yet the Work shall not be lost:
For it will, as he believed, appear once more
In a new & most beautiful Edition,
Corrected and Amended
By
the Author.

Benjamin Franklin Epitaph

“I have lived a long time…”

At age 81, as the elder statesman at the Constitution Convention in his adopted home, Franklin urged the Assembly toward morning “prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on [their] deliberations.” In so doing, he made this famous quote, which inspired Our Benjamin Franklin shirt:

Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs”

/0 Comments/by
Flag of Pennsylvania
, , ,

Pennsylvania : Liberty and Convincing Proofs

On this day in 1787, Pennsylvania becomes the second state when it ratifies the U.S. Constitution, which, of course, was drafted in Philadelphia.

In fact, that ratifying convention also occurred at the Pennsylvania State House, which we now know as Independence Hall.

Liberty

Indeed, those delegates were inclined to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,” as stated in the U.S. Constitution.
The text of the Preamble of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes that abundantly clear.

“PREAMBLE
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”

“Convincing Proofs”

Though born in Boston, Benjamin Franklin was among those Pennsylvania delegates to the the Constitutional Convention. There, he urged the Assembly toward morning “prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on [their] deliberations.”
In so doing, he made the famous quote below, which inspired one of Our shirts.

“I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

See it in Our shop:

Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs”

 

Flag of Pennsylvania

/0 Comments/by
Benjamin Franklin See... God governs
, , ,

Benjamin Franklin Owns It

On this day in 1776, London’s St. James Chronicle announces that “The very identical Dr. Franklyn [Benjamin Franklin], whom Lord Chatham so much caressed, and used to say he was proud in calling his friend, is now at the head of the rebellion in North America.”

This confirmed Franklin’s position as an American leader, and he was instrumental in securing an the crucial alliance with France.

Cleverly crafting an argument for ratification of the newly written Constitution, Franklin wrote “A Comparison of the Conduct of the ancient JEWS, and of the ANTIFEDERALISTS in the United States of AMERICA.”  He concluded it with this paragraph:

“I beg I may not be understood to infer, that our general convention was divinely inspired when it formed the new federal constitution, merely because that constitution has been unreasonably and vehemently opposed: yet, I must own, I have so much faith in the general government of the world by Providence, that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance to the welfare of millions now existing, and to exist in the posterity of a great nation, should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent and beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferior spirits live, and move, and have their being.”

“Convincing Proofs”

He did “own” it. After all, it was Franklin who, in 1787, urged the Assembly at the Constitutional Convention toward morning “prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on [their] deliberations.” In so doing, he made this famous quote:

“I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

Might we suggest that you “own” Our shirt commemorating that quote:

Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs”

Benjamin Franklin See

/0 Comments/by
Benjamin Franklin United States seal
, , , ,

Exodus examples: “Command of the Deity” and the Ten Commandments

Let’s explore a couple Exodus examples from Our Lost Founding…

Command

First, below you’ll see Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten description (and transcription) of his Great Seal design suggestion from 1776. It describes the climactic events from the book of Exodus in the Bible; following the departure of Moses and the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the once-parted Red Sea swallows up Pharaoh and his army.

This scene clearly speaks the motto “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God” which Thomas Jefferson adopted for use in his own personal seal. That motto and his seal inspired Our TJ t-shirt.

Benjamin Frankin Seal design description

Benjamin Franklin seal design Exodus

Commandments

Later in Exodus, Moses receives the Ten Commandments from the finger of God on two stone tablet atop Mount Sinai. Those tablets are represented on the chamber doors of the Supreme Court as well as on the floor of the National Archives, as seen below.

 

Ten commandments supreme court chamber

/0 Comments/by
Benjamin Franklin first stamp

Benjamin Franklin: Letters and Liberty

On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress establishes the U.S. postal system, per the recommendations of a committee chaired by Benjamin Franklin, including Samuel Adams and others. As one could imagine, the effective conveyance of letters and intelligence was vital to the cause of liberty.

Postmaster

Franklin had been postmaster of Philadelphia as well as joint postmaster general of the colonies. However, the British fired Franklin in 1774 as a result of the Hutchinson Letters Affair. In brief, Franklin helped publicize incriminating letters from Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson to the British which suggested “an abridgment of what are called English liberties.”
Another key figure involved was, of course, Samuel Adams. It’s a fascinating whistleblower story.

Appropriately, Benjamin Franklin became the first United States Postmaster General and served until November 7, 1776. That’s when he left for Paris to garner French support for the American Revolution.

In 1847, the first stamp ever issued honors and depicts the Patriot and Postmaster:

Benjamin Franklin first stamp


Perennial Patriot

In 1785, Franklin returned to Philadelphia where he attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Then, he lived long enough to see the Constitution of the United States of America adopted in May 1789. However, he died less than one year later on April 17, 1790.

It was at that Convention where an 81 year old Benjamin Franklin famously stated:

“I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

That quote in addition to Franklin’s own illustration of one of his inventions, the bifocals, inspired Our shirt:

Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs”

/0 Comments/by
Benjamin Franklin t-shirt

Benjamin Franklin and the Stamp Act: “Is there a power on earth… ?”

On this day in 1766, the British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act.

The Stamp Act forced the colonists to buy a British stamp for every official document they obtained. Of course, this led to intense opposition as it was a clear example taxation without representation, one of the major causes of the Revolution.

After months of protest, and an appeal by Benjamin Franklin before the British House of Commons, Parliament finally repeals the Act.

Here are two portions of Franklin’s testimony:

“Q. Do not you think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp duty, if it was moderated?
A. No, never, unless compelled by force of arms… .”

“Q. If the Stamp Act should be repealed, would it induce the assemblies of America to acknowledge the right of Parliament to tax them, and would they erase their resolutions [against the Stamp Act]?
A. No, never.

Q. Is there no means of obliging them to erase those resolutions?
A. None that I know of; they will never do it, unless compelled by force of arms.

Q. Is there a power on earth that can force them to erase them?
A. No power, how great soever, can force men to change their opinions… .”

Convincing Power

Benjamin Franklin knew the true source of the power to convince, and he said as much when he motioned for daily prayers at the Constitutional Convention in 1787:

“I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

Franklin’s powerful quote is the basis for one of our t-shirt designs.

Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs” closeup

/1 Comment/by

U.S. Constitution: No debating “God governs…”

On this day in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia begin debating the first draft of the Constitution.

Our post from June 21st, (edited slightly) the day in 1788 that the Assembly ratified the Constitution, bears repeating:

“God Governs In the Affairs of Men”

The Constitution is the second of two of Our essential founding documents. The first, the Declaration of Independence, explains the basis of Our nation, and contains several direct references to God.

So, Our Constitution, firmly rooted in the Declaration, explains how Our nation is to function. Despite the apostate assertion that God is not ‘in’ the Constitution, it’s clear He is indeed inherent and indispensable.

First, when the framers used the term “religion,” as in the First Amendment, they were referring to the Protestant denominations of Christianity. For, it was the Anglican Church that was the state religion when the colonies were under British rule.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….” is to prevent one of these denominations from becoming a state religion once again. It does not lend itself pluralism or even neutrality in regards to faith. Despite attempts to pervert the meaning of the phrase “separation of church and state,” that language does not even appear in Our founding documents.

Also, Article I, Section 7 states: “If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it….” Sundays. Not Fridays (Islam). Not Saturdays (Judaism). Not any other day of the week. Sundays.

After all, the Constitution was “Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven..,”

That is, “the Year of our Lord,” as in Anno Domini, as in A.D. Not C.E. (Common Era) and not A.H. (Anno Hegirae).

“See… God governs”

While we’re discussing years, it was elder statesman (81 years of age) Benjamin Franklin who, at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, urged the Assembly toward daily prayer to seek guidance from “the Father,” and said this:

“I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

So, we paired his famous quote with his sketch of bifocals found in personal correspondence. These elements inspired Our “Benjamin Franklin “See… God Governs” t-shirt design:

Benjamin Franklin bifocals Constitution

/2 Comments/by