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Laus Deo: A lesson in American History
When our mothers and forefathers boarded ships to set sail across a vast ocean to seek a new land they were seeking a
new life and freedom from the repression they lived under. They lived under an economic system built only for the
very rich and were repressed from the freedom to worship God and not be persecuted for their beliefs. Freedom OF religion not
freedom FROM religion was what gave them the courage to set out into the unknown
putting their lives into God's hands.
I have often heard that those who refuse to learn from
history are doomed to repeat it. Have we
come full circle? When I was growing up I used to hear it said America was a country where anyone, no
matter what there status in life was, could grow up to become president. In the
world I live in today that is no longer true. Only those who can build large
"war chests" for their campaigns make it into elected office. Government has
become a place for the very rich. Religion is now and has been for some time
under attack. We have taken God out of our schools and now children kill
children. We continue to allow the minority to take God from our courts and now
justice has become an ideal we no longer hold to. The Ten Commandments, which our
great country was built upon, have been diluted to where everything is now a
matter of degrees. History is being rewritten; our Constitution has been so
corrupted and sullied by those who desire to destroy anything that points to God
or Christianity that I must ask how much longer will we see the protective hand
of God over us?
 Through history you will find that every nation that moved away
from God eventually lost their prominence in the world. In Washington DC they
will not allow (at least for the time being) a building of greater height than
the Washington Monument. On the aluminum cap atop the monument are
displayed two words: LAUS DEO. Two Latin words which simply say: Praise be to
God. Most visitors to the monument are totally unaware that they are there and
it seems most could care less. The letters are 5.125 inches high perched atop
the monument facing skyward to honor the real Father of our Nation. They
overlook 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia and the Capital
of the United States of America.
Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant,
unnoticed words which were very meaningfully placed at the highest point over
what is the most powerful city in the most successful Nation in the world. From
atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the
beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments.
From that vantage point, one can easily see the original plan of the designer,
Pierre Charles l'Enfant ... a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the
White House to the north, the Jefferson Memorial to the south, the Capitol to
the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. A cross you ask? Why a cross?
What about separation of church and state? Yes! Yes! A CROSS! Separation of
church and state was not, is not, in the constitution and was never the
intention of our forefathers.
Laus Deo - Praise be to God!
Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the
landings, the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th landing is a prayer
offered by the city of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by Chinese
Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New
York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6.
Laus Deo - Praise be to God!
Separation of church and state? I don't think so! When
the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited
within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible
Society.
Laus Deo - Praise be to God!
Such was the moral direction and spiritual
mood given by the first president of our unique democracy ... "One Nation, Under
God." I was awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you ever read it?
Well, now is your opportunity, so read on!
"Almighty God, we make our earnest
prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy holy protection; that thou
wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination
and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for
one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And
finally that thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do
justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and
specific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of
our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these
things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we
beseech thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." George Washington
When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our Nation's
Capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God. Let us never forget
that it was God who built this great nation.
Laus Deo - praise be to God!
Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build
it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman stand guard in vain.
Now you know the rest of the story, separation of church and state -
I know not!
LAUS DEO - PRAISE BE TO GOD!
Bob Goulding © September 2006
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