The congress of Massachusetts, though destitute of
munitions of war, armed vessels, military stores, and money, had confidence that
a small people, resolute in its convictions, out weighs an empire. On the return
of Samuel Adams, they adopted all the recommendations of the continental
congress. They established a secret correspondence with Canada. They entreated
the ministers of the gospel in their colony "to assist in avoiding that
dreadful slavery with which all were now threatened." "You," said
they to its people, "are placed by Providence
in the post of honor, because it is the post of danger; while struggling for the
noblest objects, let nothing unbecoming our character as Americans, as
citizens, and Christians, be
justly chargeable to us. Whoever considers the number of brave men inhabiting
North America will know that a general attention to military discipline must so
establish their rights and liberties as, under
God, to render it impossible to destroy them. But we apprise you of
your danger, which appears to us imminently great." With such words they
adjourned, to keep the annual Thanksgiving which they them selves had appointed,
finding occasion in their distress to rejoice at "the smiles
of Divine Providence on the union in their own province and throughout the
continent."
George Bancroft, History of the
United States, Vol.4, p.94
The propitious smiles of Heaven
can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order
and right, which Heaven
itself has ordained.
George
Washington, First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789
Moreover, by the Joint Resolution of July 30, 1956, our national motto was declared to be "In God We Trust." 70 Stat. 732. In reporting the Joint Resolution, the Senate Judiciary Committee stated:
"Further official recognition of this motto was given by the adoption of the Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem. One stanza of our national anthem is as follows:
"`O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust."
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'"In view of these words in our national anthem, it is clear that `In God we trust' has a strong claim as our national motto." S. Rep. No. 2703, 84th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 2.
The commander-in-chief directs that divine service be performed every Sunday at eleven o'clock in those brigades [in] which there are chaplains; those which have none [are] to attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that officers of all ranks will by their attendance set an example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian. The signal instances of providential goodness which we have experienced, and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.—
The Writings of George Washington, JC Fitzpatrick, ed., Wash. DC: US Gov't Printing Office, 1932, Vol. XI:342-343, General Orders of 5/2/1778
http://KevinCraig.us/EndTheWall/UnderGod.htm