Obama Celebrates Columbus Day: Ushered in ‘Disease, Devastation, and Violence’

An "ambitious navigator"?

In the Year 1876, honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a Black Ohio Legislator and A.M.E. Minister named Benjamin W. Arnett was invited to deliver the Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon celebrating that occasion. Below is a small excerpt from that remarkable Sermon whose title was Righteousness Exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to Any Nation.

Note Dr. Arnett's description of the historical role of Columbus. Arnett's summary is in stark contrast to the 21st Century President's casual "ambitious navigator" description. (From the "Library of Congress - Historical Collections" -

"African-American Pamphlets from the Daniel A. P. Murray Collection," 1820-1920; American Memory, Library of Congress

Washington, DC,

CENTENNIAL Thanksgiving Sermon, DELIVERED BY REV. B. W. ARNETT, B. D., AT ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH, URBANA, OHIO 1876

Office of ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH
Urbana, Ohio) Excerpt:

"The Continent Religious by the Right of Discovery.
"W.M. Ramsey, Esq., says in an address before the citizens of Cincinnati, Sept. 28th, 1869, that 'Columbus when he beheld the shores of the New World, called all hands about him, and offered solemn thanks and supplications, to Almighty God; and when he went on the land, he kneeling before High Heaven, dedicated it a second time to the Ruler of the Universe.'
"The world was hunting for a passage to the East Indies, but God was sending them out to hunt a field in which the great problem of human government and universal soul and mind freedom could fright and conquer the enemies of man and foes to God. In this, as in many other cases, in the multifarious works of man, we find that there is a divinity that shapes our ends, let us rough hew them as we may. This was only a prelude to a grand succession of events, which have made this continent illustrious in the annals of history, and furnished a number of brilliant names for the galaxy of the temple of fame. But what was the moving force in the breast of the distinguished pioneers. By the way, Justin D. Fulton in his "Outlook of Freedom' page 30, says: 'It was on the third of August, 1492, a little before sunrise, that Christopher Columbus, undertaking the most memorable enterprise that human genius ever planned, set sail from Spain for the discovery of the Western World. On the 13th of October, about two hours before midnight, a light on the Island of San Salvador was discovered by Columbus, from the deck of his vessel, and America was, for the first time, beheld by European eyes. The admiral, on the following morning attended by his followers stepped upon the shore, and with tears of joy streaming down his cheeks, threw himself upon his knees, kissing the earth, and returned thanks to God. Arising, he drew his sword, planted the cross, displayed the royal standard, and as the banners of the enterprise were flung to the breeze, he took possession of the soil, and a connection that was to subsist forever, was established between Europe and America.' And he might have added, a connection between the purpose for which God intended was recognized here; first the banner of the cross, then that of Spain; God first and man next; God and Christ, then Ferdinand and Isabella.
"What kind of a Religion was meant by the Father, if any? I quote from another: 'Do you doubt that these men intended to found a Christian nation? Every syllable of colonial history attests it. They sought for themselves and their posterity civil and religious liberty; they knew that they were the necessary attendants of each other—that one could not exist without the other—but it was religious liberty that was uppermost in their minds; it was religious liberty of which they had been deprived in the land of their nativity; it was religious liberty of which they experienced the greater need.'
"What did they mean by religious liberty? The conflicts of the sixteenth century were not between infidelity and Christianity, or between Christianity and paganism, but between different forms of Christian worship. That which our ancestors were intent upon making secure, therefore, was the right to worship God according to the dictates of the conscience of each individual worshiper, and not the right to those who had no conscience to blaspheme the name of God. Hence it was provided by legislative enactment in some of the colonies, that no man should be questioned or disturbed on account of his religion, provided always that his religion was the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"That was their idea upon the subject of religious freedom. And this was not a protestant idea. This provision, in all its directness, was incorporated into the laws of Maryland in 1649, at the instance of the Roman Catholics in the colony, the protestants graciously assenting, and neither Catholic nor protestant dreaming that there was any third party that had any voice in the matter. By religion, our ancestors did not mean Mohammedanism, Buddhism, or Free Thinkingism. They meant Christianity. 'Our ancestors,' said Mr. Webster, 'established their system of Government on morality and religious sentiment. They were brought hither by their high veneration of the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate it with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influences through all their institutions, civil, political, social and educational.'
"We will now look for organic and judicial testimony. Thus we have to a certain extent, followed the history of the government of the United States, and find the best thinkers agree that this nation was founded on the principle that 'righteousness exalteth a nation' thus forming their belief. We can find it in acts of the men who formed it; that they founded this nation on the principle of the 'Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.' We will now examine some of the records to establish the fact that this is a nation ';Christian in its chain and filling'- fundamentally, organically, legally and judicially, religiously, morally and educationally, a Christian nation, the denial to the contrary, notwithstanding. And, by the grace of God, we intend to use our humble influence to continue it in the highway to glory, honor and usefulness to man, by keeping it essentially christian in all of its departments. We want laws that are the transcript of the laws of God; we want rulers that rule in the fear of the Lord; we want a judiciary that gives righteous judgments; we want a people that fear God, and work righteousness, then we will be what God intended we should be—an asylum for the oppressed of all lands - 'The land of the free and the home of the brave.'

"The Pilgrim Fathers.
The vessels which preceded the 'Mayflower,' came in the name of some Prince or Lord, carrying grants and patents for the land; and they were to take possession, in the name, and by the authority of their sovereign, who was to reap the political benefits, and the expeditionists were to enjoy the great treasury, which they thought were lying bound in the wilds of the Western World, or the New World as it was then familiarly called.
"The Mayflower and Speedwell, two grand old vessels, on a glorious mission, started, not by and with the favor of the crowned heads of the old world they had no smiles from opulent princes, or favor from the aristocracy; but they came, bringing no parchment with them. What did they want with authority from the titular dignitaries of Europe, when they had authority from the Court of Heaven, coming at the command of the Kings of Kings and Lords of Lords. Their principles were written on the tablets of their hearts by the finger of God; their motto was Holiness to the Lord of Hosts, and their aim was to form a government where men could worship God in accordance to the dictates of their conscience; they brought no monuments of the tyranny of Europe with them, and they allowed none to be their posterity; a glorious heritage; a grand legacy from the Pilgrim Fathers. All honor to the noble men, who brought into living reality the grand principles, which for sixteen centuries, had been struggling into life—that governments were made for man, and not man for government. This is the soul of the nation, of our glorious United States. The Bible was the constitution of the Pilgrims; on that vessel was the 'Grand Republic' in miniature. The religious sentiment of this noble band is still going down through avenues of American society.
"Religion in the Declaration of Independence. I find these grand religious ideas running through the immortal Declaration; it is the widening of the stream of right and mountain in range of governments. Is the principles of Righteousness in this document? or is it outside of the Declaration of God. It is only the re-enactment of text, and its formulation to found a government. But what does the document say?
"'When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's God, entitles them.
"'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'
"The Declaration is thus finished, and when this noble band of patriots sent out the document to the world, how did they close it? Let us see:
"'We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare: That these United Colonies are and of right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, and in a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.' - JOHN HANCOCK.
"And the names of the whole Congress followed. You see that there is Divinity in this immortal document. Can we find in the Articles of Confederation anything to support the position that the founders of this government intended that it should be a nation for God, and that his religion should have a place in this land. It says: 'Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual union.' Thus we find this assembly thanking the Governor of the world for inclining the hearts of men. Who can move the hearts of men but God? But we find them in reverence bowing to the Governor of men.
"We now call your attention to the Constitution of the Nation and let us examine that instrument in the light of the men who formed it, and we will see that this was intended to be a Nation founded in Righteousness and Justice. What does the instrument say on this subject:
"'We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'
Article VI says: 'The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall be required as a Qualification to any office or public trust under the United States'"Thus we find there was some probability of a religious test being applied in the government. But it is proved by the words in the above Article that Religion was recognized in the proceedings of the convention. When the convention was very much perplexed on some important subject, and there appeared to be no way out of the dilemma, Dr. Benjamin Franklin stated: 'That he recognized that there was a God, who ruled in the affairs of men, and that He heard the prayer of those who petitioned to him.' He moved that a Chaplain be appointed for the Continental Congress. The motion was opposed by Mr. Jay and others on the ground that many sects were represented in the Congress. But Samuel Adams arose in his place and said 'he was no bigot, and could hear a prayer from a gentleman of piety and virtue, who was at the time a friend to his country.' He moved that Mr. Ducine, of Philadelphia, an Episcopal clergyman, might be desired to read prayers to the Congress, and the motion was adoped. Mr. Duche was appointed Chaplain to the first Congress, and on the following morning read the xxxi Psalm, beginning thus:
"'In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
"'Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me.
"'O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”
"In 1852, the House of Representatives at Washington, paused in the strife of its election of Speaker, and solemnly resolved, in view of the dangers besetting them, that every morning session should be opened with prayer. The Senate of the United States, and House of Representatives, are opened with prayer every morning. Each regiment of your army is provided with a chaplain. The Legislatures of almost every State in the Union are opened with prayer. Every Court House has a Bible in it. The eleemosynary institutions, supported by the State, have the Bible in them, and religious services are conducted in them by the evangelical ministers living adjacent thereto. The penitentiaries and jails have religious services in them, and the word of God is given freely to the unfortunate.
"Judicially Considered by Judge Story, "The promulgation of the great doctrines of religion; the being, and attributes, and providence of one Almighty God; the responsibility to him for all our actions, founded upon moral freedom and accountability: a future state of rewards and punishments; the cultivation of all the personal, social and benevolent virtues,—these never can be a matter of indifference in any well ordered community. It is, indeed, difficult to conceive how any civilized society can well exist without them.
"And, at all events, it is impossible for those who believe in the truth of Christianity, as a divine revelation, to doubt that it is the special duty of Government to foster and encourage it among all the citizens and subjects. This is a point wholly distinct from that of the right of private judgement in matters of religion, and of the freedom of public worship according to the dictates of one's own conscience."
"He says of the religious amendment to the Constitution, that: 'The real object of the amendment was, not to countenance, much less to advance Mohammedanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects, and to prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment, which should give to a hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the National Government.' Chief Justice Story, in his Commentaries on the Constitution, declares, that: 'That attempt at the time of the formation of the Constitution to make it a matter of State policy to hold all religions in utter indifference, would have created universal disapprobation, if not universal indignation.'
"The following are words of the people of Ohio in relation to the Religion of the State, as embodied in the Constitution: 'We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.' It affirms, in reiteration of the old language of the ordinance of 1787: 'Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction.' The Bill of Rights says: 'All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or attend any form of worship against his consent; and no preference shall be given by law to any religious society, nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted.'
"'No religious tests shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness on account of his religious belief.
"'Religion, mortality and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction.'
"The Convention which formed the present Constitution, at its first meeting, almost unanimously resolved to open their meetings with prayer, and the Rev. James Presly, a Christian minister, invoked the blessing of the Almighty on their deliberations.
"The Convention which held its sessions in Cincinnati in 1874, of which M.R. Waite was President, opened their sessions with prayer. The Rev. Thomas Lee, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, had charge of the services during the sittings of the Convention. The State Legislature open their sessions with prayer. The Rev. Robt. A. Johnson, of the African M.E. Church, was invited by the Hon. George L. Converse, to open the Assembly of Ohio with prayer.
"Oaths and affirmations are appeals to God, by him who makes them, that what he has said, or what he shall say, is the truth. It is the most solemn form under which one can assert or pronounce anything, and its violation is a crime of the darkest hue; one which God has declared he will punish; one that is made infamous and punishable by fine and imprisonment, by the laws of the land. Thus Christian obligation is required of every officer of the general Government, who fills any position of trust, honor or emolument. Many reports are required in the form and shape of affidavits.
"The First and Last Presidents' Testimony.
"We find that the Father of our Country, General George Washington, in his first Inaugural Address to the American nation, made the following statement: ;No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible Hand, which conducts the affairs of men, more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an Independent Nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished, in the system of their united government, the tranquil deliberations, and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities from which the event has resulted, cannot be compared with the means by which most governments have been established, without the return of previous gratitude along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seems to presage.' In his farewell address, when returning his important trust to his countrymen, he said 'abide by religion and morality as the firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.' The first in peace, the first in war, and the first in the hearts of his countrymen, in the ripenings of his manhood advises the Nation to abide by religion and morality, which is the same as Righteousness. It is in the language of the Holy Bible, 'Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.'
"The testimony of the Father of his Country, is before you. Now I have the great satisfaction of giving the last proclamation of the Great Captain of the Age, the worthy savior of his country, and the friend of our race. He is of the opinion that the strength of this Nation is the Almighty. Thus the first and last of the Chief Magistrates are of the opinion that this nation has a God and was founded on Righteousness. But here is the testimony, read it and take it home with you, and transmit it to your children and their children:
By the President of the United States - A Thanksgiving Proclamation.
"From year to year we have been accustomed to pause in our daily pursuits and set apart a time and offer our thanks to Almighty God for the special blessings He has vouch-safed to us, with our prayers for a continuance thereof. We have at this time equal reason to be thankful for His continued protection and for the material blessings He has bestowed. In addition to these favors accorded us as individuals we have especial occasion to express our hearty thanks to Almighty God, that by His providence and guidance our government established a century ago has been enabled to fulfill the purpose of its founders in offering an asylum to the people of every race, securing civil and religious liberty to all within its borders, and meting out to every individual alike justice and equality before the law. It is moreover especially our duty to offer our humble prayers to the Father of all mercies for continuance of His Divine favor to us a nation and as individuals.
"'By reason of these considerations, I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do recommend to the people of the United States to devote the 30th DAY OF NOVEMBER next to the expression of their thanks and prayers to Almighty God and laying aside their daily avocations and all secular occupations to assemble in their respective places of worship and observe said day as a day of thanksgiving and rest.
'In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this 26th day of Oct., in the year of our Lord, 1876, and of the Independence of the United Stated of America, the one hundred and first.
(Signed)U.S. GRANT.
Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State.'
"The great seal of this nation is of vast importance, for all the executive documents must have the impression of the 'great seal' to establish their authenticity. We can find that on this religious sentiment of the founders of the government are seen. This history of this seal is of much importance to every lover of his country; and who is not a lover of his country? The front of the seal contains the American Eagle with a shield on his breast, the olive branch is one talon and a bundle of thirteen arrows in the other, and in his beak a scroll inscribed with the motto, E Pluribus Unum. Reverse, a pyramid unfinished in the zenith, an eye in the triangle surrounded with a glory, over the eye the words Annat Coptis, God has favored the undertaking; on the base of the pyramid Novus Ordo, Secularum or a new series of ages.
"The Moccasin tracks of Righteousness are seen on the money of this country, on the silver and gold. You will find on one side the Goddess of Liberty, and on the other the American Eagle, and over his head we find &'In God we Trust.' It is a truth that the financial prosperity of the nation depends on the aid given by Providence in the production of the soil; if we have a bountiful harvest then we will have much money in circulation; every piece of money; the five cents, twenty-five cents, fifty cents, one dollar, on it you will find the significant inscription.
"The Footprints of Christianity as seen in the Names and Mottes of the States.
We will now call your attention to the fact that in every State of the Union you can trace in their mottoes or names, either the Moccasin track of Righteousness of the footprints of Christianity. We now call your attention to the motto of our great and glorious Nation - E Pluribus Unum, 'Out of Many One'; Arkansas - Regnant Populi, 'The people Rule'; Colorado - 'Nil sine Numine, 'Nothing can be Done without Divine Aid'; Connecticut - Qui transtulit Sustinet, 'He who brought us over Sustains us'; Florida - 'In God is Our Trust'; Georgia - 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation'; Illinois - 'State Sovereignty, National Union'; Iowa - 'Our Liberties we Prize, Our Rights we will Maintain'; Kansas gives us the following significant motto - Ad Astra per Aspera, 'To the Stars through Difficulties'; Kentucky - 'United we Stand, Divided we Fall'; Louisiana - 'Union and Confidence'; Missouri - 'Let the Welfare of the People be the Supreme Law'; Nebraska - 'Equality before the Law'; New Jersey - Liberty and Independence'; New York - Excelsior, 'Higher'; Nevada - "Willing and Able'; Ohio - Imperium in Imperio,'An Empire in an Empire'; Pennsylvania - Virtue, Liberty and Independence; Rhode Island - 'Hope'; South Carolina - Ready in Will and Deed; Vermont - 'Freedom and Unity'; Virginia - 'So Always with Tyrants'; West Virginia - 'Mountaineers are Always Free'; Wisconsin - 'The Civilized man succeeds the Barbarious.'
"Thus in most every State of the Union, do we find the impress of the Religious sentiment or the track of Righteousness in the Government. In all of them we find their aim is the amelioration of the condition of man, by the rule of right and in the light of our Christian civilization. We now hope we have satisfied the most skeptical that this is a Religious Nation, so far as principle and sentiment is concerned."

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