[Perseverando]

Time for another great American (and world) history lesson from American Minute.

Lots more great graphics and info at the source.

[HighSierra5]

I love Federer productions. Unabashedly American.

[Jim W N]

England, generally, better than continental Europe, was always sort of one-off.

America generally hit the notes England did not.

[SoConPubbie]

If John Wesley was alive today, he’d burn down the Methodist Church and start again.

What the Methodist church has become is the antithesis of what Wesley preached.

If you want to know what real Religion is, read his book of 44 sermons.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Wesley was really one of the most important and vital religious figures in England and, by extension, in the United States. Asbury and the other circuit riders had a big impact on shaping the religious and social climate in the United States. It’s a tragedy what a large part of Methodism has become.

[Jim W N]

Cool Cal was one our greatest unsung Presidents. Love the quote Bill Federer included in this article. Cool Cal was a true Patriot.

President Calvin Coolidge unveiled an Equestrian Statue of Francis Asbury in Washington, D.C., 1924,

stating: "Francis Asbury, the first American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church ... made a tremendous contribution ...

"Our government rests upon religion. It is from that source that we derive our reverence for truth and justice, for equality and liberty, and for the rights of mankind. Unless the people believe in these principles they cannot believe in our government ...

"Calling the people to righteousness (was) a direct preparation for self-government. It was for a continuation of this work that Francis Asbury was raised up ...

"The government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a country. There is no way by which we can substitute the authority of law for the virtue of man ...

"Real reforms which society in these days is seeking will come as a result of our religious convictions, or they will not come at all. Peace, justice, humanity, charity - these cannot be legislated into being. They are the result of a Divine Grace ..."

"Frontier mothers must have brought their children to [Francis Asbury] to receive his blessings! It is more than probable that Nancy Hanks, the mother of Lincoln, had heard him in her youth. Adams and Jefferson must have known him, and Jackson must have seen in him a flaming spirit as unconquerable as his own ...

He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our nation. On the foundation of a religious civilization which he sought to build, our country has enjoyed greater blessing of liberty and prosperity than was ever before the lot of man. These cannot continue if we neglect the work which he did.

"We cannot depend on the government to do the work of religion. I do not see how anyone could recount the story of this early Bishop (Asbury) without feeling a renewed faith in our own country."

[Albion Wilde]

Ping!