As the semiquincentennial of our Nation approaches, I have been paying more attention to what people think America is or stands for. For example, letters of opinion published herein have claimed the original U.S. Constitutional Republic was formed as a Christian Nation to be governed by Christian principles.

I attended a series of four lectures by Christopher Pearl Ph.D. associate professor of history at Lycoming College on the American Revolution. This was a deep dive into the sentiments and events leading to the independence of the colonies along with local history and lore which enriched the experience, justifying the total of six hours invested.

One of the characters that caught my attention was George Whitefield. So intriguing is Whitefield, I was moved to purchased a book biography by Arnold Dallimore. Whitefield was an Anglican Priest but also a founder of Methodism, and went on to establish the evangelical movement in the 18th century. A powerhouse orator, he spoke to crowds numbering in the tens of thousands in unconventional outdoor settings here and abroad. What captured the attention of pre-revolutionary Americans was Whitefield’s modern multi-denominationalism, and they were really captivated by his concept of religious liberty.

Pre-revolutionary American colonial history was marred by persecution of minority religions, anti-Catholic sentiment, and state sanctioned religious intolerance through law and punishment. George Washington often addressed not just tolerance of all religion, but freedom of religion.

The words drafted by James Madison in the Bill of Rights ratified by Congress December 15, 1791 includes these of the first amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

WILLIAM HENDERSON

Williamsport

Submitted by email