Prologue, July 4th, 1776

The Story of the Declaration of Independence
By Malone

Review:
Prologue: In Congress, July 4th, 1776.

Forty to fifty delegates formed to meet in Pennsylvania's brick state house (Independence Hall) on the 4th of July 1776. On this day, the debates lasted all day and did not end until the evening.

The tale is told of an old bellman. The bellman had been in the steeple ever since the delegates gathered in the morning. He was waiting for a signal from a young boy before he was to ring the bell. Engraved on the bell was a passage from Leviticus:"Proclaim liberty though out all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." There was a buzz in the air, something great was occurring. A declaration of liberty was expected. The old man was full of anticipation as he waited for the sign from the young boy to ring the bell. Then it happened, the young boy offered his sign. He clapped his hands feverishly and proclaimed, "Ring the bell, ring the bell!" At that very moment, the birth of our great republic that was dedicated to the freedom of human spirit and destined for greatness occurred.

Two day earlier, a resolution had been adopted for political independence. At this time the great delegate from Massachusetts, John Adams, wrote his wife about what he supposed future generations would be grateful of. He wrote, "It ought be celebrated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, evermore." The Declaration of Independence was more than a political notion; it was the reflection of an ageless philosophy of moral integrity and faith.

There was a tale told overseas that the congress placed a crown on the Bible and offered it to God. Then afterward the Crown was divided up into 13 parts and distributed to the colonies. It would be more correct to say, they through off the old crown and placed the Declaration of Independence on the Bible, and dedicated the nation to be sanctified by God.

This nation was not formed by gods, but rather by men devoted to God. Who were these men? What did this men pledge to this cause? What has become of our immortal Declaration? Does it still call good men and women to action? This review will be aimed at answering such question.