American Minute with Bill Federer
"America, America, God Shed His Grace On Thee" - 50 States acknowledged God "from sea to shining sea"
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"O Beautiful, For Spacious Skies, For Amber Waves of Grain ..."
Almost chosen as the National Anthem in 1926,
"America the Beautiful"
was written by
Katherine Lee Bates,
born AUGUST 12, 1859.
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Daughter of a Congregational minister,
Katherine Lee Bates
taught high school, then English literature at Wellesley College.
She hosted gatherings at her home for students and literary guests, including
Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg
and
William Butler Yeats.
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Of her 1893 Colorado journey,
Katherine Lee Bates
wrote:
"Some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon.
Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired.
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But when I saw the view, I felt great joy.
All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse."
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"America, the Beautiful"
was quoted by
President Lyndon Johnson
in his first formal address before a joint session of Congress, Supreme Court Justices and the Cabinet, November 27, 1963:
"John Kennedy's death commands what his life conveyed-that America must move forward.
The time has come for Americans of all races and creeds and political beliefs to understand and to respect one another ...
Let us here highly resolve that
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
did not live-or die-in vain ...
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... As we gather together to
ask the Lord's blessings and give Him our thanks,
let us unite in those familiar and cherished words:
'America, America,
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown they good
With brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.'"
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"America, the Beautiful"
was referred to by
President Ronald Reagan
in meeting
South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan,
November 14, 1983:
"At the worship service Sunday morning with our soldiers ... less than a mile from one of the most tyrannical regimes on Earth ... a choir of little girls ... all orphans ... closing the service, singing
"America, the Beautiful"
in our language, was a spiritual experience."
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Katharine Lee Bates'
poem was printed in
The Congregationalist
for Independence Day, July 4, 1895:
O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,
For Amber Waves of Grain,
For Purple Mountain Majesties
Above the Fruited Plain!
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America! America!
God Shed His Grace on Thee
And Crowned Thy Good with Brotherhood
From Sea to Shining Sea!
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O Beautiful for Pilgrims Feet,
Whose Stern Impassioned Stress
A Thoroughfare for Freedom Beat
Across the Wilderness!
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America! America!
God Mend Thy Every Flaw,
Confirm Thy Soul in Self-Control
Thy Liberty in Law!
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O Beautiful for Heroes Proved
In Liberating Strife,
Who More Than Self Their Country Loved,
And Mercy More Than Life!
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America! America!
May God Thy Gold Refine
Till All Success Be Nobleness
And Every Gain Divine!
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O Beautiful for Patriots Dream
That Sees Beyond the Years
Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam
Undimmed by Human Tears!
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America! America!
God Shed His Grace On Thee
And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood
From Sea to Shining Sea!
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God
shed His grace from sea to shining sea, as all 50 states, at some time in their state's history, have acknowledged
God
somewhere in their state's constitution:
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Alabama
1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama ... invoking the favor and guidance of
Almighty God,
do ordain and establish the following Constitution ...
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Alaska
1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to
God
and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ...
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Arizona
1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to
Almighty God
for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ...
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Arkansas
1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to
Almighty God
for the privilege of choosing our own form of government ...
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California
1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom ...
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Colorado
1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the
Supreme Ruler of Universe ...
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Connecticut
1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good
Providence of God
in permitting them to enjoy ...
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Delaware
1897, Preamble. Through
Divine Goodness
all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their
Creator
according to the dictates of their consciences ...
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Florida
1885, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to
Almighty God
for our constitutional liberty ... establish this Constitution ...
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Georgia
1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of
Almighty God,
do ordain and establish this Constitution ...
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Hawaii
1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for
Divine Guidance ...
establish this Constitution ...
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Idaho
1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom, to secure its blessings ...
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Illinois
1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to
Almighty God
for the civil, political and religious liberty which
He
hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to
Him
for a blessing on our endeavors ...
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Indiana
1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to
Almighty God
for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government ...
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Iowa
1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the
Supreme Being
for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on
Him
for a continuation of these blessings ... establish this Constitution ...
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Kansas
1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to
Almighty God
for our civil and religious privileges ... establish this Constitution ...
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Kentucky
1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, grateful to
Almighty God
for the civil, political and religious liberties ...
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Louisiana
1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to
Almighty God
for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy ...
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Maine
1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine ... acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the
Sovereign Ruler of the Universe
in affording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction ...
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Maryland
1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to
Almighty God
for our civil and religious liberty ...
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Massachusetts
1780, Preamble. We ... the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the
Great Legislator of the Universe ...
in the course of His Providence, an opportunity ... and devoutly imploring His direction ...
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Michigan
1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to
Almighty God
for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution ...
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Minnesota
1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to
God
for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings ...
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Mississippi
1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to
Almighty God,
and invoking
His
blessing on our work ...
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Missouri
1945, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the
Supreme Ruler of the Universe,
and grateful for
His
goodness ... establish this Constitution ...
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Montana
1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to
Almighty God
for the blessings of liberty ... establish this Constitution ...
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Nebraska
1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom ... establish this Constitution ...
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Nevada
1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom ... establish this Constitution ...
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New Hampshire
1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship
God
according to the dictates of his own conscience ...
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New Jersey
1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to
Almighty God
for civil and religious liberty which
He
hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to
Him
for a blessing on our endeavors ...
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New Mexico
1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to
Almighty God
for the blessings of liberty ...
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New York
1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings ...
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North Carolina
1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to
Almighty God
, the
Sovereign Ruler of Nations,
for ... our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon
Him
for the continuance of those ...
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North Dakota
1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God
for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain ...
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Ohio
1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common ...
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Oklahoma
1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of
Almighty God,
in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this ...
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Oregon
1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship
Almighty God
according to the dictates of their consciences ...
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Pennsylvania
1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to
Almighty God
for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking
His
guidance ...
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Rhode Island
1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island ... grateful to
Almighty God
for the civil and religious liberty which
He
hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to
Him
for a blessing ...
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South Carolina
1778, Preamble. We, the people of the State of South Carolina ... grateful to
God
for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution ...
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South Dakota
1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God
for our civil and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution ...
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Tennessee
1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship
Almighty God
according to the dictates of their conscience ...
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Texas
1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of
God
...
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Utah
1896, Preamble. Grateful to
Almighty God
for life and liberty, we ... establish this Constitution ...
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Vermont
1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the
Author of Existence
has bestowed on man ...
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Virginia
1776, Bill of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which we owe our
Creator
... can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice
Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity
towards each other ...
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Washington
1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the
Supreme Ruler of the Universe
for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ...
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West Virginia
1872, Preamble. Since through
Divine Providence
we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia ... reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon
God ...
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Wisconsin
1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to
Almighty God
for our freedom, domestic tranquility ...
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Wyoming
1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to
God
for our civil, political, and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution ...
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After reviewing acknowledgments of
God
from
all 50 state constitutions,
one is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong.
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Schedule Bill Federer for informative interviews & captivating PowerPoint presentations: 314-502-8924
[email protected]
American Minute is a registered trademark of William J. Federer. Permission is granted to forward, reprint, or duplicate, with acknowledgment.
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