WASHINGTON

God's Signature is Written Across Washington, D.C.

By David Brody
For CWNews

January 16, 2004

CBN.com – WASHINGTON - If you go back in our nation's history, our forefathers made sure God was at the center of our country's laws and direction.

Yet today you would hardly know it, because of the continued attempt to take the name of God out of virtually everything we do. But if you look closely, our Judeo-Christian history is cemented in marble in many places around Washington, D.C.

Our nation's capital is full of landmarks, lobbyists and a lot of hot air, but it is also full of this country's Christian heritage. Dr. Catherine Millard, President and Founder of Christian Heritage Tours in Washington, D.C., said, "Literally, God's stamp is on this nation's capital."

Millard knows more than anyone how God has been systematically removed from the public square. It starts at the U.S. Supreme Court. Some of the famous cases include the one in 1962, where prayer in public schools was ruled unconstitutional.

In 1963, Bible reading in public schools was dumped as well. And in 1980, the court ruled against a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in each public school classroom. Those three cases are just a small sampling.

Millard said, "The Supreme Court is essential to showing forth God's glory over this nation."

Yet even though God's name is being ruled against at the high court, inside His laws are clearly displayed. The Ten Commandments are located in a few different places, including above the judges' courtroom bench . But Millard says the Supreme Court Handbook has been rewritten and now refers to those tablets as the Bill of Rights.

Millard added, "In fact, they have no original documents or evidence to prove this, and the sculptor, Adolph A. Weinmen, a very famous American sculptor himself, says it is the Ten Commandments."

Even though God's name in stone is under attack, we still found plenty of evidence of it around Washington. The starting point is on the mall in Washington D.C. You look south and you find references to God at the U.S. Capitol. North, you will find the same at the Lincoln Memorial. And at the Washington Monument, references to God and the Bible are numerous.

Our cameras managed to get inside the dark stairway to the Washington Monument. We found almost 200 carved plaques donated by the states. Many of them showed scripture verses from the Bible and others with sayings like "holiness to the Lord."

On the outside aluminum tip, there's a Latin phrase inscribed that says "Laus Deo," which means "Praise Be to God." They actually have a replica of the tip inside. But the "Praise Be to God" phrase is not visible. It is actually against the wall, so it is hard to see.

Besides the Washington Monument, the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, you will find God's name mentioned at the National Archives, Senate and House office buildings, the U.S. Supreme court, the Jefferson Memorial and the Library of Congress.

As we walked into the main reading room of the Library of Congress, we saw a bronze statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments. On the ceiling, a painting called "Judea" shows a young Israeli woman raising her hands in prayer to God.

And there are also quotes on the wall like this: "The heavens declare the glory of God." And down the hallway in the main lobby, two Bibles are on display.

In the National Archives, as our camera panned down from the majestic rotunda, we found a bronze medallion on the floor, and right at the top, this: the Ten Commandments, front and center.

At the Jefferson Memorial, God's name is mentioned numerous times including the famous quote, 'God who gave us life, gave us liberty." At the Lincoln Memorial, words like "nation under God," "Bible" and "prayer" are everywhere. In the Senate and House office buildings, there is a plaque that says, "In God We Trust."

At the Capitol, our cameras were not allowed in to tape the numerous paintings and inscriptions found inside. But right above the speaker's chair on the House floor...if you look closely, you will see the words "In God We Trust."

Millard said, "Who is the father and the founder of the American Republic? It's Almighty God of the Bible. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The God of the founding fathers of this republic under God."

So what would leaders like Lincoln and others who came before him, think of efforts to root out the acknowledgement of God in this country? And if those efforts succeed, will the nation's Christian heritage that is etched in stone simply disappear right in front of our eyes?

Visit the Christian Heritage Tours Web site.

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