Washington Monument
David
On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, are
displayed two words: laus Deo.
No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are
totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldnt
care less. Once you know laus Deos history, you will want to share this with
everyone you know.
But these words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125
inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our
nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of
Columbia, capital of the United States of America
laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and,
one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest
point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in
the world.
So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and
only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say Praise be to God!
[Laus is Praise be and Deo means God]. Though construction of this giant
obelisk began in 1848 when James Polk was President of the United States, it
was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the
public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute
to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo....Praise be to God!
From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take
in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four
major segments. From that vantage point one can also easily see the original
plan of the designer, Pierre Charles lEnfant...a perfect cross imposed upon
the landscape, with the White House to the north, the Jefferson Memorial is
to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state?
Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the
Constitution. So, read on.
How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for
those who notice Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps
and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the
memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by
the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese
Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from
New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs
22:6.
Praise be to God!
When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848,
deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by
the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral
direction, the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of
our unique democracy .... One Nation, Under God. I am awed by Washingtons
prayer for America. Have you never read it? Well, now is your opportunity,
so read on!
Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United
States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the
citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government;
and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their
fellow citizens of the United states at large. And finally that Thou wilt
most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy,
and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of
mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed
religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we
can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech
Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
laus Deo!
As you probably guessed, over 92 percent of Americans like the idea that our
Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase under God.
It is clear when one studies the history of our great nation, that
Washingtons America was one of the few countries in all the world
established under the guidance, direction and banner of Almighty God, to
whom was given all praise, honor and worship by the great men who formed and
fashioned her pivotal foundations.
When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over
our nations capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it
is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look.
Though many try to disprove and reason, their arguments are weak and easily
proven without basis. Their efforts will forever be in vain; God assures us
of that. Have you noticed as of late, how many more people are coming
together, affirming the fact that this nation was, from the beginning, built
on God? Any nation that is not built upon God will fail. The truth is, we
have always been one nation under God!
Laus Deo! Praise be to God!
You may forget the width and height of Laus Deo, its location, or the
architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or
these words:
Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord
watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127: 1)
Let us remember to do our part, through prayers and sacrifice, to be the
watchmen who stand their guard.
It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every sister,
brother, father, mother or friend. They will not find offense, because you
have given them a lesson in history that they probably never learned in
school. With that, be not ashamed, or afraid, but have pity on those who
will never see.
gr...@internet.charitydays.co.uk
>LAUS DEO
>
>On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, are
>displayed two words: laus Deo.
>
>No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are
>care less. Once you know laus Deos history, you will want to share this with
>everyone you know.
>
>But these words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125
>inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our
>nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of
>Columbia, capital of the United States of America
>
>laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and,
>one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest
>point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful
[[bankrupt]]
>nation in the world.
>
>So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and
>only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say Praise be to God!
>[Laus is Praise be and Deo means God]. Though construction of this giant
>obelisk began in 1848 when James Polk was President of the United States, it
>was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the
>public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute
>to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo....Praise be to God!
>
>From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take
>in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four
>major segments. From that vantage point one can also easily see the original
>plan of the designer, Pierre Charles lEnfant
[[sounds like a Frenchman]] ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There were Christians and non-Christians amongst those who founded the USA.
They were a mixed bunch, much like modern Americans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EagleEye
"David" <notgoi...@dontask.com> wrote in message
news:U6idnSi7x6W...@comcast.com...
Thanks for posting that David. Consider it an arrow which will find it's
mark.
There is one thing which concerns me though.
There are those among us, who would hijack universal principals for purely
selfish gain, and they set up win/lose, divide and conquor structures and
operations, which do not honour the high point. Instead, they suck the life
out from the other. They offer only damnation, and not salvation as the
natural byproduct of their endeavours, because God is a just God, in the
end, and justice will be served. One tree will be preserved, and the other
cast down and out of the picture, at the end of the day, in the final
analysis.
Win/lose propositions ultimately result in one thing, which is loss for
everyone.
We cannot bend the law for selfish gain. Instead we must bend TO the law.
Without law there is nothing, and without international law, the US becomes
little more than a rogue state, the only reponse to which is fear, and fear
is the very antithesis of faith.
The United States must be beloved of more than the American people.
Untold and almost immeasurable damage has occured to that image over the
last four years, and now, by God, there needs to be some healing.
Why the international community was not brought to bear on Iraq in the
immediate aftermath of the war is beyond me. Perhaps in the end, things have
worked out ok, but when will we learn from history, so that we will not be
condemed to repeat it ad infinitim???
I have just found out about a new pyramid money making scheme which is
sweaping through the area to the south of where I am situated, and my friend
who wanted to bring me "into the fold" just finished explaining to me how
it's all ok, since greed and preying on the week, and win/lose is simply a
part of nature which we must embrace. He felt that because numberous Police
and RCMP officers were involved in it, that that made it ok, and "legit". He
called me a "marter" for being immediately repelled by the concept, blasted
me about my own past failing in a business venture I was involved in (I made
some mistakes there), and then promtly hung up the phone in rage.
Interestingly, I was blasted just last night, by yet another friend who is
deeply involved in the Freemasonry organization. What's strange is both said
the EXACT same thing, about a business that I used to be involved in. I
swear that it was Satan shouting at me through them, given the context. And
no, I am not crazy.
I had been, up until that moment, his number one supporter, and now he is
all hell bent on making his new fortune at the expense of someone else,
somewhere down the line. Who falls does not matter, he and these pyramiders
believe, so long as they come out on top. Problem is, they wont, because God
IS a just God, and justice MUST be served, at some stage, somewhere down the
line.
I'm sure he and these people will learn their lesson, and they will learn it
the hard way, when everything they have is taken away.
Justice must come to serve, and not to be served. There is no other way
which does not lead directly to destruction, and even cataclysm, in the
final analysis.
No one can build an evil empire around Godly truths. It does not and it
cannot, work that way.
I believe that Kerry is right on target about the need for an international
summit to deal with BOTH the Iraq AND the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
I see civilization as a whole series of interlocking upside down pyramids of
authentic service which all stack up to a great big one - the pyramid of
life.
Win/lose and divide and conquore structures, though they may arise for a
time, will all fall down in the end, and then something new will come in,
from either above or from below or from both or even ALL directions
simultaneously, and they will come from God alone, the REAL THING, the
supreme being, and the supreme master architect, and creator of the universe
(one song).
If the war in Iraq was without cause or justification, then that's a problem
which only the MOST righteous pursuit of justice and liberty can hope to
rectify.
So all with ears to hear, crack down on false pyramids, and crack "up" on
them as well. The breaking process MUST continue. Let's keep busting us
those gates, and find the order on the other side of chaos, by working
collaboratively, hand in hand, together, in a relative spirit of harmony to
realise a wholly just and truly noble historical pursuit of justice, and of
individual Civil liberty, which REALLY goes somewhere far and wide, where
the rubber hits the ground of being and becoming, at the end of the day, or
in the "overtime period" of history.
There are many with evil designs on a new realm of freedom, who hope to set
themselves up AS Gods, and yet they are only devils in disguise.
Civility:
Consciously motivated organizational behavior that is ETHICAL *in submission
to* a higher power.
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that
leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is
narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are
few."
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly
are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered
from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit,
but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor
can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will know them by their
fruits."
"Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a
wise man who built his house upon the rock."
There is only one yoke, which Christ alone bears with us. Anything else is
from the evil one, and he is a loser, to the nth degree, in the final
analysis.
Perhaps the battle has been won, but the war continues.
In one sense we ARE free, if we are freed in and by Christ, but in another
sense, we are still bound by God's law, which CANNOT be usurped, ever.
The law is the rainbow AND the promise, all wrapped up in one, and we are
under it whether we like it or not, come either hell or high water. It is
there for our protection, and to protect heaven against US.
If we try to bend the law, then it will bend us back into shape, but we
cannot bend the law for our own selfish gain, and neither can a kingdom of
darkness be built around a precious jewel. NO, the jewel has only one proper
setting, once it is unearthed, and that is in the gate of the holy temple of
God, which is incorruptible and indestructable.
We can choose to crash the gates of hell all we want, but what we CANNOT do,
is steal our way into the kingdom of heaven. To think that we can is utter
madness, since it is impossible for a rich man (attached to the materal
world of things, of wealth and power) to pass through the eye of a needle.
God will give us good things, and yes we must work for them, but if we take
at the expense of the other, any other, at any point down the line, then
whatever we have WILL be taken away from us.
We can learn the easy way, by embracing God in the resurrection, or we can
learn the hard way on this side of the cross. There are simply no two ways
around it.
We must become as little children in one sense, and in another let all
childish things pass away.
"Blessed are the meek, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Roger
>
> On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, are
> displayed two words: laus Deo.
From http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/monument.asp
It is true that the words "Laus Deo" are inscribed on one face of the
aluminum point which crowns the apex of the Washington Monument. Actually,
all four sides of the point bear inscriptions, as follows:
-----------------------------------------------
(NORTH FACE.)
JOINT COMMISSION
AT
SETTING OF CAPSTONE.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
W. W. CORCORAN, Chairman.
M. E. BELL.
EDWARD CLARK.
JOHN NEWTON.
Act of August 2, 1876.
-----------------------------------------------
(WEST FACE.)
CORNER STONE LAID ON BED OF FOUNDATION
JULY 4, 1848.
FIRST STONE AT HEIGHT OF 152 FEET LAID
AUGUST 7, 1880.
CAPSTONE SET DECEMBER 6, 1884.
-----------------------------------------------
(SOUTH FACE.)
CHIEF ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT,
THOS. LINCOLN CASEY,
COLONEL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
Assistants:
GEORGE W. DAVIS,
CAPTAIN, 14TH INFANTRY.
BERNARD R. GREEN,
CIVIL ENGINEER.
Master Mechanic.
P. H. MCLAUGHLIN.
-----------------------------------------------
(EAST FACE.)
LAUS DEO.
-----------------------------------------------
>
> No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are
> totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldnt
> care less. Once you know laus Deos history, you will want to share this
with
> everyone you know.
<snip>
John Starrett
That is a pretty good essay. Did you write it? I don't agree with many
of the ideas you presented, or the purpose of the essay, but it has a
good structure.
--
John Starrett
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