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 During
my sermon on July 3rd I will mention some of the monuments
in Washington D.C. as ‘silent witnesses'. Here is a little
sample........
Did you
know that on the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument,
are displayed two words: "LAUS DEO".
No one can see these words, in fact most are unaware they
even exist. Perched on top of that giant obelisk, (555' high)
overlooking 69 sq. miles of the District of Columbia, facing
skyward, are the Latin words "Laus Deo" which
mean "Praise be to God" They're placed
at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in
the world. And by law, in that city, there can never be a
building of greater height than the Washington monument.
From the
vantage point atop this giant granite and marble structure,
one can see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles
l'Enfant, which is a perfect cross imposed on the landscape.
The White House to the north, The Jefferson Memorial to the
south, the Capitol to the east, and the Lincoln Memorial to
the west.
Within
the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one
climbs the steps and pauses on the landings there are memorial
stones to read: 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 is a presentation
made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia
quoting Proverbs 10:7, 22:6, and Luke 18:16.
When one
stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all
over our nation's capital, you will easily find the signature
of God, inscribed everywhere you look.
Within
the cornerstone, laid on July 4th, 1848, are many items including
a Holy Bible and George Washington's prayer for America. Have
you ever read it?...........
"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 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."
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