A Closer Walk

Edward Everett gave a speech on November 19, 1863, at the dedication ceremony for a new national cemetery that was to be the final resting place for soldiers who had fallen during battles of the American Civil War. Mr. Everett was a Unitarian pastor, an educator, and an orator from Massachusetts. He also served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a U.S. Senator, fifteenth governor of Massachusetts, minister to Great Britain, and U.S. Secretary of State. His speech consisted of 13,607 words and continued for two hours. Considered by many to be the greatest orator of his day, he was supposed to be the featured speaker that day.
When Mr. Everett's speech was completed President Abraham Lincoln, who was also invited to be present and to speak that day, came to the podium and gave a speech we now refer to as his “Gettysburg Address.” This is the last part of that speech. “But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
The president's speech consisted of 270 words and lasted two minutes. Yet he seems to have said more than Mr. Everett said in two hours. In fact, the next day Mr. Everett wrote to the president, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes." The “Gettysburg Address,” probably Mr. Lincoln's most recognizable speech, has been ingrained in popular culture. Almost everyone recognizes the, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation ...” And the people who do recognize it often know it is from President's Lincoln's address.
This last part includes the phrase, “... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ...” Under God. Also part of the “Pledge of Allegiance” to our flag. The founding fathers who came up with our “Declaration of Independence” and those who put together our “Constitution” depended upon “Divine Providence”; their words. The last sentence from the last paragraph of our “Declaration Of Independence”: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” “... with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence ...” Who or what are they referring to using the phrase “divine Providence”? The fathers explain in the first sentence of the last paragraph. “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these colonies ...” So who is the Supreme Judge of the world that they are referring to? We know Him to be the Lord God Almighty. Jehovah. Our Heavenly Father. We also should be relying on the Supreme Judge of the world for the protection of His Divine Providence. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens...who are protected by the power of God through faith ...” 1 Peter 1:1 and 5 NASB. We, you and I, are dependent upon and in need of the protection of Divine Providence also. And we are aliens here on this earth. This is not our home. Our citizenship is in Heaven and we shall reside in the presence of our Heavenly father and the Lord Jesus Christ from everlasting to everlasting.
Let's invite Katherine Lee Bates to add her thoughts to this discussion. “O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine! America! America! God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood. From sea to shining sea.” First and third verses plus refrain from the song “America the Beautiful,” words by Katherine Lee Bates, 1859-1929, music by Samuel A. Ward, 1848-1903.