[Looking at why our area has its unique political and religious attitudes.]

To build the framework for the original teachers and settler-leaders to the Indian Territory, we saw that President Thomas Jefferson was an avid supporter of church schools. That caused us to back up for a look at the foundations of the government. Many colonies had a state-supported church and required attendance.

We have seen that the independent leaders who were not active in a state-supported or reformed-protestant church, but were more “free-will” in their traditions received the pejorative label of “deist.” Interestingly, Episcopal, which is the American derivative of the Anglican or Church of England dominates as the religion of Presidents. Presbyterian is also dominant, where the largest denomination of Baptist is little represented.

The teachings of the groups are the reason for the disparity. Both Episcopal and Presbyterian (reformed) heritage are strong advocates of government and state interconnection, where Baptist due to their “radical reform” heritage are more independent with personal responsibility due to their recognition of “free-will” at some level. Religion and political philosophy have a strong link.

Today, we will look at the most noted of these founders, although he was officially a member of the Anglican Church.

We have one of his letters from the National Archives (archives.org). Who said this? To whom was he speaking? Has Congress lived up to the expectation?

Head Qtrs. Middle Brook

May the 12: 1779

To the Chief Men, Deputies from the Delaware Nation

Brothers:

I am happy to see you here. I am glad the long Journey you have made, has done you no harm; and that you are in good health. I am glad also you left All our friends of the Delaware Nation well.

Brothers:

I have read your paper. The things you have said are weighty things, and I have considered them well. The Delaware Nation have shewn their good will to the United States. They have done wisely and I hope they will never repent. I rejoice in the new assurances you give of their friendship.

Brothers:

I am a Warrior. My words are few and plain; but I will make good what I say. Tis my business to destroy all the Enemies of these States and to protect their friends.

Brothers:

I am glad you have brought three of the Children of your principal Chiefs to be educated with us. I am sure Congress will open the Arms of love to them and will look upon them as their own Children

You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life and above all the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast that nothing shall ever be able to loose it.

To: Washington

Commander in chief of all the armies in the United States of America:

Today, this once highly regarded Delaware Nation occupies three small groups, Delaware Tribe at Bartlesville, OK, Delaware Nation at Anadarko, OK, and a smaller Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Wisconsin, all far from their traditional home south of New York.

Washington kept his word, but some later commanders did not live up to the commitments.

In the original Thirteen Colonies, education was the responsibility of the colony and their predominant church affiliation. In keeping with George Washington’s commitment, Congress enacted two documents to accomplish this idea of a decidedly Christian education.

Congress enacted the Land Ordinance of 1785. Congress was sovereign over new lands. It allocated Section 16 of every township for maintenance of education and Section 29 for the purpose of religion. Religious presence was on equal footing with education.

A township is 6-miles by 6-miles, while a section is one-mile square, consisting of 640 acres. Section 16 is as close to center as possible for even numbers. Section 19 is two miles west and one mile south. Typical lottery and land-run allocations for a settler were 160 acres. Using this pattern, no one was more than a few miles from a local school or church.

Two years later the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 clarified that religion and education are cornerstones of society and happiness, just as General Washington had proclaimed. “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” Schools were a vehicle for teaching the accepted protestant religion and morality on the same level as knowledge.

The astute, well-educated young revolutionary founders knew government should not control religion, rather that protestant religion was necessary for their form of good-government.

Think about how cultural practice deviated from George Washington’s clear admonishment. Does the separation from moral, religious teaching of Jesus Christ correspond to reduction in happiness, increase in depression, and corruption in government?

The crux is how can free-thinking women and men be involved in government without losing their core foundation? To recover Washington’s premise and that of the Northwest Ordinance requires the involvement and support of freethinkers who keep their values.