For twenty years a Noon-day Prayer Service has been held in the Historic Church on Jamestowne Island, often by Officiant Mrs. Anne Conkling, Head Docent of Bruton Parish of Williamsburg.
The Jefferson Connection to Christian America
Unique to notice this day is that in the first representative assembly in America held in Jamestowne in anno domini 1611, in this church, included Mr. John Jefferson of Flowerdew Hundred and Mr. Dowse of the Citie of Henricus where both were members.
Almost 200 years later, in April of a.d. 1803, Mr. Edward Dowse, sent a copy of a sermon by the Rev. William Bennet entitled "The Excellence of Christian Morality", which spoke about the extension of civilization to the Indians, and asked Mr. Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, to prepare a "Gospel Tract" from the "Great White Chief" to help evangelize the Indians to Christianity.
President Jefferson, who had personally contributed to the Christian work of missionaries for some years, was only to pleased to assist this worthy work in this way, so did a "Bible Study" in the White House -- so much for "separation of church and state" -- and created what has been misrepresented as the "Jefferson Bible".
The title page in President Jefferson's handwriting gives its name and meaning:
(Click on the line above to go to learn more information about Jefferson's faith...)
"The Philosophy
of Jesus of Nazareth
extracted from the account of
his life and doctrines as given by
Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
being an abridgement of
the New Testament
for the use of the Indians
unembarrased with matters of fact
or faith beyond the level of their
comprehensions."
Consistent with that insightful observation, Jefferson created what could be described as a "Red Letter New Testament" which has been falsely described as "The Jefferson Bible".
Even poorly informed "Christian Scholars" vilify Thomas Jefferson for "cutting up the Bible, cutting out the Virgin Birth, and cutting out the Miracles."
Many Americans have labored for years under the bondage of this false teaching, both in the churches and the state schools.
Yet, Thomas Jefferson chose for the motto of his beloved University of Virginia, the words:
"And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall set you free."
and the truth shall set you free."
The truth is that the reason that the Virgin Birth and Miracles are "cut out" is that Jesus from His lips never described either the Virgin Birth or the Miracles.
In one verse in John, Jesus lists the Miracles, and Jefferson includes that verse, so the truth is that Jefferson by its inclusion does NOT deny the Miracles.
So now you know...
In one verse in John, Jesus lists the Miracles, and Jefferson includes that verse, so the truth is that Jefferson by its inclusion does NOT deny the Miracles.
So now you know...
"...the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
