CALVIN COOLIDGE, SEP. 21, 1924, TO THE HOLY NAME
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON, D.C:
More than six centuries ago, when...there was much ignorance,
much wickedness and much warfare...when the condition of the
common people appeared to be sunk in hopelessness...when the speech
of men was too often profane and vulgar, until the earth rang with the
tumult of those who took the name of the Lord in vain, the foundation
of this day was laid in the formation of the Holy Name Society...It
sought to rededicate the minds of the people to a true conception of
the sacredness of the name of the Supreme Being. It was an effort to
save all reference to the Deity from curses and blasphemy, and to
restore the lips of men to reverence and praise...This is the beginning
of a proper conception of ourselves, of our relationship to each other,
and our relationship to our Creator....
The mind does not unfold, the creative faculty does not mature,
the spirit does not expand, save under the influence of reverence...It is
along the path of reverence and obedience that the race has reached
the goal of freedom, of self-government, of a higher morality, and a
more abundant spiritual life...He who gives license to his tongue only
discloses the contents of his own mind. By the excess of his words he
proclaims his lack of discipline...
The worst evil that could be inflicted upon the youth of the
land would be to leave them without restraint and completely at the
mercy of their own uncontrolled inclinations. Under such conditions
education would be impossible, and all orderly development
intellectually or morally would be hopeless. I do not need to picture
the result. We know too well what weakness and depravity follow
when the ordinary processes of discipline are neglected...
The very first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence
asserted that they proposed “to assume, among the powers of the
earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and
of nature’s God entitle them.” And as they closed that noble
document...they again revealed what they believed to be the ultimate
source of authority by stating that they were also “appealing to the
Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of ”...their “intentions.”
When finally our Constitution was adopted, it contained
specific provision that the President and members of the Congress
and of state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officials, should
be qualified for the discharge of their office by oath or affirmation. By
the statute law of the United States, and I doubt not by all States, such
oaths are administered by a solemn appeal to God for help in the
keeping of their covenants.
I scarcely need to refer to the fact that the Houses of Congress...open
their daily sessions with prayer. The foundations of our independence and
our Government rests upon basic religious convictions. Back of the
authority of our laws is the authority of the Supreme Judge of the
World, to whom we still appeal for their final justification...
The principle of equality...follows inevitably from belief in
the brotherhood of man through the fatherhood of God. When once
the right of the individual to liberty and equality is admitted, there is
no escape from the conclusion that he alone is entitled to the rewards
of his own industry...
It seems to me perfectly plain that the authority of law, the
right to equality, liberty and property, under American institutions, have
for their foundation reverence for God. If we could imagine that to be
swept away, these institutions of our American government could not
long survive...But I know they will continue to stand. We may perish,
but they will endure. They are founded on the Rock of Ages.
Copyright 05/12/2010 William J. Federer. All rights reserved.
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PRAYERS & PRESIDENTS
-Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past
by William J. Federer
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