LAUS DEO The Washington Monument
rv.ros...@gmail.com
To: RV Roseville
From: David James Nolan"
<csinfo...@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:21 pm
Subject: "Laus Deo" tcsu_org
Washington continues to Give Praise to God
On the aluminum cap atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC are
two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact, most
visitors to the monument have no idea they are even there and...for
that matter...probably couldn't care less!
But there they are...5.125 inches high ... perched atop the monument
to the father of our nation. The Washington Monument is 55 feet wide
at the base and 555 feet tall, overlooking the 69 square miles which
comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of
America. It is made of 36,000 stones of marble (from Maryland) and
granite (from Maine) and weighs 90,000 tons. The monument sees about
800,000 visitors a year.
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 world. And what might those two words ... composed of just
four syllables and only seven letters ... mean? Very simply ...
"Praise be to 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 the tribute Laus
Deo! Praise be to God!
>From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure ... a visitor
can take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division
into four major segments. And from that vantage point one can also
easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant
... a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape ... with the White
House to the North, the Jefferson Memorial to the South, the Capitol
to the East, and the Lincoln Memorial to the West. A cross ... you say?
How interesting! And ... no doubt ... intended to carry a meaning for
those who bother to notice. Praise be to God! One interesting feature
is the interior iron stairway with 50 landings and 897 stone steps.
These donated stones come from every state in the Union, as well as
Native American nations and foreign countries. While the stairwell has
been closed since the 1970s, visitors can gain access to the top
observation area via elevator. 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 republic .. "one nation,
under God."
I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it?
Well now is your opportunity ... 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 might have guessed ... I kind of 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 Washington's 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. And when one stops to observe the
inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's
capitol ... one will easily find the signature of God.
We are a nation under God!!! Laus Deo!!! Praise be to God!!!
RV Roseville
shared,
http://www.palletmastersworkshop.com/lausdeo.html ,
http://www.go-patriots.com/Laus%20Deo.htm ,
http://www.cyclequest.com/Vets/Washington%20Monument.htm ,
http://www.oreilly-fire.com/documents/laus_deo.htm,
and http://members.aol.com/tpedrosa/lausdeo.htm ,
http://www.inspire21.com/site/stories/05-Stories/laus_deo.html
The author is unknown. Dave sent it to me after discussing it with
me. Thus, it is fitting to have it
placed on this site that contains communication close to his (Dave's)
heart.