|
"The Holy Cause of Liberty" Celebrated ~July 4th, 2004~ |
 On Independence Day, Lovers of Liberty came from all over Tulare County California to Kaweah Commonwealth to celebrate our independence from Great Britain. The location for the celebration was The church at Kaweah's meeting house, green, and pond. The day began with prayer, followed by Alexis de Tocqueville's quote from Democracy in America, "The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other," being read and expounded upon by Pastor Warren Mark Campbell. America and America the Beautiful were then sung by the congregation with renewed understanding and appreciation for God's Providence on behalf of our Country. The Lord's Day message was then proclaimed. Using a portion from John Quincy Adam's Independence Day Speech of 1837 as his sermon outline, Pastor Campbell boldly declared "Liberty" is a holy cause because God is its author. The portion of John Quincy Adams (our sixth President of these United States) speech that Pastor Campbell used is as follows... "Why is it that, next to the birthday
of the Saviour of the World, your most joyous and most venerated
festival returns on this day. Is it not that, in the chain of
human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with
the birthday of the Saviour? That it forms a leading event in the
Progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the
Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the
foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the
cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity
and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment
of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the
Saviour and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years
before."
At the conclusion of the Lord's Day
message, Reverend Campbell then read the following account of Peter
Muhlenberg as found in the book America's
Providential History.
"In the U.S. Capitol building today, there stands a statue honoring
another one of the Black Regiment. Benson J. Lossing
writes: "In those days politics were preached in the pulpits and
men were led to action on the side of freedom by faithful
pastors. The eminent General Muhlenburg was one of this
stamp. When the war for Independence was kindling, he was a
clergyman in Virginia, and at the close of 1775, he concluded a sermon
with the words of Scripture: 'There is a time for all things-- a
time to preach and a time to pray, but those times, he said, had passed
away; and then, in a voice that sounded like a trumpet-blast through
the church, he exclaimed: "There is a time to fight, and that
time has now come.' Then laying aside his sacerdotal gown, he
stood before his flock in the uniform of a Virginia colonel. He
ordered the drums to be beaten at the church door for recruits; and
almost the entire male audience, capable of bearing arms, joined his
standard. Nearly three hundred men enlisted under his banner on
that day." After this stirring reading, Pastor Campbell
took off the black ministerial robe he was wearing to reveal a uniform
in the colonial militia. Once again, as so many pastors in
colonial America had done over 200 years before, Reverend Campbell
called for volunteers to train in the manual at arms on the church
green. Substitutionary firelocks were issued to the volunteer
army who were instructed in the manual at arms for that time.
After drilling and marching were finished, our commander read from
George Washington's address to the Continental Army. "The General
most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles
of war established for the government of the Army which forbid profane
cursing, swearing, and drunkenness. And in like manner he
requires and expects of all officers and soldiers not engaged in actual
duty, a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing
of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense."
 Huzzas (an exclamation of joy) filled the air before the militia was dismissed to enjoy the repast that had been prepared. After lunch, games with adults and children playing together were enjoyed until everyone was ready to hit the water and cool off. So, it was off to the church pond for water relays, boating, and swimming! (Sorry, but I don't have any pictures of the pond) 
 These two photos are a relay race of
trying to hold a water balloon between your knees and walk to your
teams bucket and land the water balloon in the bucket without using
your hands :)
Pictured below are some of the spectators who would rather laugh, smile and cheer us on than attempt a relay race! 
 Patriotic singing was next
on the agenda followed by a skit with John and Abigail Adams.
  (Pastor Campbell as John Adams) (Jill Campbell as Abigail Adams) Late afternoon (until dinner) was taken
up with Civil war era dancing. Of the many dances that were done,
the Virginia Reel, always a favorite concluded the dancing. After
dinner, the patriots settled in for the final event of the day which
was a movie about two families who loved liberty so much that they made
a hot air balloon and sailed over the Berlin Wall from East Germany
into West Germany and freedom.
Hope you have enjoyed reading about and seeing a few pictures of our Independence Day Celebration! |