the patriots and statesmen sat in solemn council, and passed the Declaration of Independence and previous Christian acts, and made their solemn appeals to God. That old State-House still stands as a relic of the Revolution, and its associations and inspirations attract the American people to look upon its venerable form, to tread its rooms and halls, and to gaze upon the portraits of many of the men who acted a distinguished part in achieving our independence and in forming our civil institutions. It was from the steps of this temple of freedom that John Nixon, on the 8th of July, 1776, in the hearing of thousands, read the Declaration of Independence; and from the same spot Samuel Adams pronounced an oration on the great event, in which he said,— "Brethren and fellow-countrymen! If it was ever granted to mortals to trace the designs of Providence and to interpret its manifestations in favor of their cause, we may, with humility of soul, cry out, 'Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy name be praise.' The American people, as they look upon this consecrated temple of freedom, will re-echo the words of an American poet : "This is the sacred fane wherein assembled The fearless champions on the side of right,— "Here stood the patriot,-one Union folding The Eastern, Northern, Southern sage and seer, "Here rose the anthem which all nations, hearing, "This is the hallow'd spot where, first unfurling, The most interesting and suggestive memorial in Independence Hall is the old State-House bell. "This bell," says Watson, in his "Annals of Philadelphia," "was imported from England in 1753, for the State-House; but, having met with some accident in the trial ringing after it was landed, it lost its tone received in the fatherland, and had to be conformed to ours by recasting. This was done under the direction of Isaac Norris, Esq., the then Speaker of the Colonial Assembly; and to him we are probably indebted for the remarkable motto, so indicative of its future use, 'PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF.' That it was adopted from the Scriptures (Lev. xxv. 10) may to many be still more impressive, as being also the voice of God, that great Arbiter by whose signal providences we afterwards attained to that 'liberty' and self-government which bid fair to emancipate our whole continent, and, in time, to influence and ameliorate the condition of the subjects of arbitrary government throughout the civilized world." The ringing of this bell first announced to the citizens, who were anxiously waiting the result of the deliberations of Congress (which were at that time held with closed doors), that the Declaration of Independence had been decided upon; and then it was that the bell proclaimed the realization of the divine motto inscribed upon it some fifteen years previous. "That old bell is still seen by the patriot's eye, Let its voice but be heard, and the freeman shall start To rekindle the fire, while he sees on the gale All the stars and the stripes of the flag of his heart." In an address to the inhabitants of the United States of America, by Congress, are found the following Christian sentiments and principles :— "America, without arms, ammunition, discipline, revenue, government, or ally, almost stripped of commerce, and in the weakness of youth as it were, with a 'staff and a sling' only, dared, in the name of the LORD OF HOSTS,' to engage a gigantic adversary, prepared at all points, boasting of his strength, and of whom even mighty warriors 'were greatly afraid.' "As to inferior officers employed in the public service, we ANXIOUSLY desire to call your most vigilant attention to their conduct with respect to every species of misbehavior, whether proceeding from ignorance, negligence, or fraud, and to the making of laws for inflicting exemplary punishment on all offenders of this kind. "Your government being now established, and your ability to contend with your invaders ascertained, we have, on most mature deliberation, judged it indispensably necessary to call upon you for forty millions of dollars, &c. "We are persuaded you will use all possible care to make the promotion of the general welfare interfere as little as may be with the care and comfort of individuals; but though the raising of these sums should press heavily on some of your constituents, yet the obligations we feel to your venerable CLERGY, the truly helpless widows and orphans, your most gallant, generous, meritorious officers and soldiers, the public faith, and the common weal, so irresistibly urge us to attempt the appreciation of your clemency, that we cannot withhold obedience to these authoritative declarations. "On this subject we will only add, that, as the rules of justice are most pleasing to our infinitely good and gracious Creator, and an adherence to them most likely to obtain his favor, so they will ever be found to be the best and safest maxims of human policy. "What nation ever engaged in such a contest, under such a complication of disadvantages, so soon surmounted many of them, and in so short a period of time had so certain a prospect of a speedy and happy conclusion? We will venture to pronounce that so remarkable an instance exists not in the annals of mankind. Encouraged by favors already received from Infinite Goodness, gratefully acknowledging them, earnestly imploring their continuance, constantly endeavoring to draw them down on your heads by an amendment of your lives and a conformity to the Divine will, humbly confiding in the protection so often and wonderfully experienced, vigorously employ the means placed by Providence in your hands for completing your labors. "Effectually superintend the behavior of public officers, dili observance of prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude, and to improve all the relations of domestic and social life." Chief-Justice Hornblower, of New Jersey, remarks as fol lows: "Let this precious volume have its due influence on the hearts of men, and our liberties are safe, our country blessed, and the world happy. There is not a tie that unites us to our families, not a virtue that endears us to our country, not a hope that thrills our bosoms in the prospect of future happiness, that has not its foundation in this sacred book. It is the charter of charters, the palladium of liberty,—the standard of righteousness. Its divine influence can soften the heart of the tyrant,can break the rod of the oppressor, and exalt the humblest peasant to the dignified rank of an immortal being,—an heir of eternal glory." The following record, found in the Journals of Congress, October 12, 1778, shows their high appreciation of the morality of the Bible as a necessary qualification for the discharge of official public duties: Whereas true religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of public liberty and happiness: Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is, earnestly recommended to the several States to take the most effectual measures for the encouragement thereof, and for the suppressing theatrical entertainments, horseracing, gaming, and such other diversions as are productive of idleness, dissipation, and a general depravity of principles and manners. Resolved, That all officers in the army of the United States be, and hereby are, strictly enjoined to see that the good and wholesome rules provided for the discountenancing of profaneness and vice, and the preservation of morals among the soldiers, are duly and punctually observed. On the 16th of October, 1778, Congress passed the following act, as may be seen on their official journal of that date: Whereas frequenting playhouses and theatrical entertainments has a fatal tendency to divert the minds of the people from a due attention to the means necessary for the defence of their country and the preservation of their liberties: Resolved, That any person holding an office under the United States who shall act, promote, encourage, or attend such plays, be deemed unworthy to hold such office, and shall be accordingly dismissed. In this place it is appropriate to notice, as a patriotic and Christian memorial, Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, where the patriots and statesmen sat in solemn council, and passed the Declaration of Independence and previous Christian acts, and made their solemn appeals to God. That old State-House still stands as a relic of the Revolution, and its associations and inspirations attract the American people to look upon its venerable form, to tread its rooms and halls, and to gaze upon the portraits of many of the men who acted a distinguished part in achieving our independence and in forming our civil institutions. It was from the steps of this temple of freedom that John Nixon, on the 8th of July, 1776, in the hearing of thousands, read the Declaration of Independence; and from the same spot Samuel Adams pronounced an oration on the great event, in which he said, "Brethren and fellow-countrymen! If it was ever granted to mortals to trace the designs of Providence and to interpret its manifestations in favor of their cause, we may, with humility of soul, cry out, 'Not unto us, not unto us, but to thy name be praise.'" The American people, as they look upon this consecrated temple of freedom, will re-echo the words of an American poet : "This is the sacred fane wherein assembled The fearless champions on the side of right,- "Here stood the patriot,-one Union folding The Eastern, Northern, Southern sage and seer, "Here rose the anthem which all nations, hearing, "This is the hallow'd spot where, first unfurling, The most interesting and suggestive memorial in Independence Hall is the old State-House bell. "This bell," says Watson, in his "Annals of Philadelphia," was imported from England |