Founding fathers not quite so noble...

We the people are constantly reminded, especially during an election year, of he great, moral, highly religious men who founded this great God-fearing nation. Under closer scrutiny, however, things may not look quite so noble.

Here are some interesting facts about and quotes from our illustrious founding fathers:

Benjamin Franklin, a Deist, lived abroad much of his time. While in London he was a member of a fraternity known as The Hell Boys, whose goals were to enjoy the virtues of drink and debauchery of the flesh. He is quoted as saying, “Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.”

James Madison wrote, in 1785: “What have been Christianity’s fruits? Superstition, bigotry, and persecution.” And added: “Religious bondage shakles and debilitates the mind, and unfits it for any noble purpose.”

Alexander Hamilton’s profession was that of smuggler and rum-runner, while John Hancock’s only ties to any organization was the Masonic Lodge, whose rites, supposedly heavily bent toward Deism, is still debated today.

In 1802 Thomas Jefferson wrote to John Adams: “I long for the time when the Den of the Priesthood is finally broken up.”

In another letter in 1823, he wrote, “hopefully the day will come when the Trinity will be classed with the Fables of Minerva and Jupiter,” and of his hope that “no young man living in the U.S. today will not die but as a Unitarian.”

George Washington was, at best, an indifferent member of Martha’s Episcopal Congregation, refusing to kneel at appropriate times in the service, and always walking out before taking the Eucharist. At his death his minister declared, sadly, Washington was a Deist.

In a sermon delivered in Albany, N.Y., one of the chief ministers, reported on by the Daily Observer Oct. 29, 1831, is quoted as saying “Among our Presidents from Washington downward, not one was a Professor of Religion.”

Finally, John Adams, in signing a treaty between U.S. and Tripoli, in 1797 wrote, “Let there be no doubt, the U.S. is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion.”

It would seem, at least in this instance, hindsight could use a good pair of Mr. Franklin’s bi-focals.

Jim Johnson
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Bluefield, W.Va.