24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
The Man Who Fired The Shot Heard ’Round The World


Posted with Pastor Chuck Baldwin's sermon, but is separate and worthy of it's own thread.
Published: Thursday, April 19, 2012

April 19, 1775, should be regarded as important a date to Americans as July 4, 1776. It’s a shame that we don’t celebrate it as enthusiastically as we do Independence Day. It’s even more shameful that many Americans don’t even remember what happened on this day back in 1775. For the record, historians call this day, “Patriot’s Day.” More specifically, it was the day that the shot was fired that was heard ’round the world. It was the day America’s War for Independence began.

Being warned of approaching British troops by Dr. Joseph Warren, Pastor Jonas Clark and his male congregants of the Church of Lexington (numbering 60-70) were the ones that stood with their muskets in front of the Crown’s troops (numbering over 800), who were on orders to seize a cache of arms which were stored at Concord and to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock (who were known to be in the area, and who had actually taken refuge in Pastor Clark’s home).

According to eyewitnesses, the king’s troops opened fire on the militiamen almost without warning, immediately killing eight of Pastor Clark’s parishioners. In self defense, the Minutemen returned fire. These were the first shots of the Revolutionary War. This took place on Lexington Green, which was located directly beside the church-house where those men worshipped each Sunday. Adams and Hancock were not taken. They owed their lives to Pastor Clark and his brave Minutemen–albeit eight of those men gave their lives protecting Adams and Hancock.

According to Pastor Clark, these are the names of the eight men who died on Lexington Green: Robert Munroe, Jonas Parker, Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, Jr., Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, and John Brown, all of Lexington, and one Mr. Porter of Woburn.

By the time the British troops arrived at the Concord Bridge, hundreds of colonists had amassed a defense of the bridge. A horrific battle took place, and the British troops were routed and soon retreated back to Boston. America’s War for Independence had begun!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, these two elements of American history are lost to the vast majority of historians today: 1) it was attempted gun confiscation by the British troops that ignited America’s War for Independence, and 2) it was a pastor and his flock that mostly comprised the “Minutemen” who fired the shots that started our great Revolution.

With that thought in mind, I want to devote today’s column to honoring the brave preachers of Colonial America–these “children of the Pilgrims,” as one Colonial pastor’s descendent put it.

It really wasn’t that long ago. However, with the way America’s clergymen act today, one would think that preachers such as James Caldwell, John Peter Muhlenberg, Joab Houghton, and Jonas Clark never existed. But they did exist; and without them, this country we call the United States of America that would not exist.

Caldwell was a Presbyterian; Muhlenberg was a Lutheran; Houghton was a Baptist; and no one really seems to know what denomination (if any) Jonas Clark claimed, although one historian referred to Clark as a Trinitarian and a Calvinist. But these men had one thing in common (besides their faith in Jesus Christ): they were all ardent patriots who participated in America’s War for Independence, and in the case of Jonas Clark, actually ignited it.

James Caldwell

James Caldwell was called “The Rebel High Priest” or “The Fighting Chaplain.” Caldwell is most famous for the “Give ’em Watts!” story.

During the Springfield (New Jersey) engagement, the colonial militia ran out of wadding for their muskets. Quickly, Caldwell galloped to the Presbyterian church, and returning with an armload of hymnals, threw them to the ground, and hollered, “Now, boys, give ’em Watts!” He was referring to the famous hymn writer, Isaac Watts, of course.

The British hated Caldwell so much, they murdered his wife, Hannah, in her own home, as she sat with her children on her bed. Later, a fellow American was bribed by the British to assassinate Pastor Caldwell–which is exactly what he did. Americans loyal to the Crown burned both his house and church. No less than three cities and two public schools in the State of New Jersey bear his name.

John Peter Muhlenberg

John Peter Muhlenberg was pastor of a Lutheran church in Woodstock, Virginia, when hostilities erupted between Great Britain and the American colonies. When news of Bunker Hill reached Virginia, Muhlenberg preached a sermon from Ecclesiastes 3 to his congregation He reminded his parishioners that there was a time to preach and a time to fight. He said that, for him, the time to preach was past and it was time to fight. He then threw off his vestments and stood before his congregants in the uniform of a Virginia colonel.

Muhlenberg later was promoted to brigadier-general in the Continental Army, and later, major general. He participated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Yorktown. He went on to serve in both the US House of Representatives and US Senate.

Joab Houghton

Joab Houghton was in the Hopewell (New Jersey) Baptist Meeting House at worship when he received the first information regarding the battles at Lexington and Concord. His great-grandson gives the following eloquent description of the way he treated the tidings:

“[M]ounting the great stone block in front of the meeting-house, he beckoned the people to stop. Men and women paused to hear, curious to know what so unusual a sequel to the service of the day could mean. At the first, words a silence, stern as death, fell over all. The Sabbath quiet of the hour and of the place was deepened into a terrible solemnity. He told them all the story of the cowardly murder at Lexington by the royal troops; the heroic vengeance following hard upon it; the retreat of Percy; the gathering of the children of the Pilgrims round the beleaguered hills of Boston; then pausing, and looking over the silent throng, he said slowly, ‘Men of New Jersey, the red coats are murdering our brethren of New England! Who follows me to Boston?’ And every man in that audience stepped out of line, and answered, ‘I!’ There was not a coward or a traitor in old Hopewell Baptist Meeting-House that day.” (Cathcart, William. Baptists and the American Revolution. Philadelphia: S.A. George, 1876, rev. 1976. Print.)

Jonas Clark

As I said at the beginning of this column, Jonas Clark was pastor of the Church of Lexington, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775, the day that British troops marched on Concord with orders to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock, and to seize a cache of firearms. It was Pastor Clark’s male congregants who were the first ones to face-off against the British troops as they marched through Lexington. When you hear the story of the Minutemen at the Battle of Lexington, remember those Minutemen were Pastor Jonas Clark and the men of his congregation.

On the One Year Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, Clark preached a sermon based upon his eyewitness testimony of the event. He called his sermon, “The Fate of Blood-Thirsty Oppressors and God’s Tender Care of His Distressed People.” His sermon has been republished by Nordskog Publishing under the title, “The Battle of Lexington, A Sermon and Eyewitness Narrative, Jonas Clark, Pastor, Church of Lexington.”

Order the book containing Clark’s sermon at:

www.NordskogPublishing.com

Of course, these four brave preachers were not the only ones to participate in America’s fight for independence. There were Episcopalian ministers such as Dr. Samuel Provost of New York, Dr. John Croes of New Jersey, and Robert Smith of South Carolina. Presbyterian ministers such as Adam Boyd of North Carolina and James Armstrong of Maryland, along with many others, also took part.

So many Baptist preachers participated in America’s War for Independence that, at the conclusion of the war, President George Washington wrote a personal letter to the Baptist people saying, “I recollect with satisfaction that the religious societies of which you are a member have been, throughout America, uniformly and almost unanimously, the firm friends to civil liberty, and the preserving promoters of our glorious Revolution.” It also explains how Thomas Jefferson could write to a Baptist congregation and say, “We have acted together from the origin to the end of a memorable Revolution.” (McDaniel, George White. The People Called Baptists. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1918. Print.)

And although not every pastor was able to actively participate in our fight for independence, so many pastors throughout colonial America preached the principles of liberty and independence from their pulpits that the Crown created a moniker for them: The Black Regiment (referring to the long, black robes that so many colonial clergymen wore in the pulpit). Without question, the courageous preaching and example of colonial America’s patriot-pastors provided the colonists with the inspiration and resolve to resist the tyranny of the Crown and win America’s freedom and independence.

I invite readers to visit my Black Regiment web page to learn more about my attempt to resurrect America’s Black-Robed Regiment. Go to:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=23

This is the fighting heritage of America’s pastors and preachers. So, what has happened? What has happened to that fighting spirit that once existed, almost universally, throughout America’s Christian denominations? How have preachers become so timid, so shy, and so cowardly that they will stand apathetic and mute as America faces the destruction of its liberties? Where are the preachers to explain, expound, and extrapolate the principles of liberty from Holy Writ? Where are the pastors to preach the truth about Romans chapter 13?

Readers should know that my constitutional attorney son, Tim, and I have co-authored a blockbuster book dealing with Romans 13. The book is entitled, “Romans 13: The True Meaning of Submission.” And it can be ordered at:

http://www.romans13truth.com/

Plus, I also delivered four messages dealing with Romans 13. The message series is entitled, “The True Meaning of Romans 13.” These four video messages have been recorded on one DVD and may be ordered at:

http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/archives/3146

I am absolutely convinced that one of the biggest reasons America is in the sad condition that it is in today is because the sermons Americans frequently hear from modern pulpits deal mostly with prosperity theology, entertainment evangelism, feelgoodism, emotionalism, and Aren’t-I-Wonderful ear tickling! This milquetoast preaching, along with a totally false “obey-the-government-no-matter-what” interpretation of Romans 13, have made it next to impossible to find Christian men with the courage and resolve to stand against the onslaught of socialism, corporatism, and, yes, fascism that is swallowing America whole.

America cut its spiritual teeth on the powerful preaching and exemplary examples of men such as James Caldwell, John Peter Muhlenberg, Joab Houghton, and, yes, Jonas Clark. We need them as much today as we did then–maybe more!

By Pastor Chuck Baldwin

BP-B2

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 60,277
W
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
W
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 60,277
Here's to the Minutemen!


These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o
"May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,068
Campfire Savant
Online Content
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,068
Originally Posted by wabigoon
Here's to the Minutemen!



Yes indeed!!!

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,941
T
Campfire Sage
Offline
Campfire Sage
T
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,941
Originally Posted by hanco
Originally Posted by wabigoon
Here's to the Minutemen!



Yes indeed!!!

+1

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,881
O
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
O
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,881
Indeed hear hear !!!


One man with courage makes a majority....

~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
IC B2

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Pastor Baldwin is a historian of this era and ran as the Constitution party presidential candidate in a prior election. This information is hard to come by in public colleges and media.
It makes me grateful for all the honorable men who gave their lives to provide freedom for their country.

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 19,495
G
g5m Offline
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
G
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 19,495
Originally Posted by Happy_Camper
Pastor Baldwin is a historian of this era and ran as the Constitution party presidential candidate in a prior election. This information is hard to come by in public colleges and media.
It makes me grateful for all the honorable men who gave their lives to provide freedom for their country.


And that was a LOT of men, and women! Do you ever wonder what the public schools teach about our history?


Retired cat herder.


Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,463
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 10,463
Gee, you mean the ruling overlords wanted to take away the guns and ammunition of the subjects ? That sure has a familiar ring to it.

Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,807
H
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
H
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 17,807
The schools today say the gov is your daddy, that you are owed stuff, and that communism is a good idea.

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 27,091
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 27,091
If the USA turns communist this great history and the world is lost. I pray it will never be lost.

IC B3

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,159
B
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
B
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,159
I'm not against another holiday in April but somebody needs to dig a good one up for February. Something big enough to warrant family get togethers and paid time off from work. Valentines day and ground hog day just ain't cutting it and it's a long depressing stretch of winter from New Years to Easter.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Originally Posted by g5m
Originally Posted by Happy_Camper
Pastor Baldwin is a historian of this era and ran as the Constitution party presidential candidate in a prior election. This information is hard to come by in public colleges and media.
It makes me grateful for all the honorable men who gave their lives to provide freedom for their country.


And that was a LOT of men, and women! Do you ever wonder what the public schools teach about our history?

I was talking to a friend about it the other day.
American history in HS glossed over the late 1700s.
I don't blame my history teachers, but the system kept us uninformed.
In college, history of the colonies and early America was taught by an African who could not speak enough english to order pizza and a drink. My other teacher sounded like bob brown, so I dropped it and decided to buy good books for my personal interest. The entire culture is kept in darkness as to relevant truth IMHO.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Originally Posted by mtnsnake
If the USA turns communist this great history and the world is lost. I pray it will never be lost.

Amen, Same here.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Originally Posted by hookeye
The schools today say the gov is your daddy, that you are owed stuff, and that communism is a good idea.

I heard that in the sermon this morning hookeye.
That's a very good point. It changed the American culture altogether.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Originally Posted by 22250rem
Gee, you mean the ruling overlords wanted to take away the guns and ammunition of the subjects ? That sure has a familiar ring to it.

It used to be that we had one Lord and the moto of those minute men mentioned by Wabigoon and friends was "NO KING BUT JESUS!"
That was the battle cry. King George was considered to have violated his authority and it was taught by the preachers, the black regiment.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450


Here's the campfire version.

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,776
S
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
S
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,776
I was in school in the late fifties and early sixties. We were taught the story of the start of the war at Concord, We knew of Bunker Hill, Betsy Ross, Paul Revere, and Valley Forge. Of course we also knew of George Washington, a cherry tree, and a fellow named Benedict Arnold. We were taught what John Paul Jones did and a lot of other things that I have surely forgotten. Thanks for posting this as it is an important piece of history that everyone should know and remember.

My ggggg-grandfather was a Virginian. He was at Valley Forge and was captured by the British and rescued by some mounted dragoons sent out to find them. After the war he went to North Carolina and was killed by a lightening strike in 1803. He was 58 years old.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Stantdm,

That is extremely interesting history. To have those details recorded is rare as are the events... Captured by the red coats and rescued on top of that.
After surviving the conflict that exceeded anything today mortality wise, he was ironically taken by lightning.
That reminds me of my buddy I just talked to who asked one day for a lightning bolt experience (not literal) in regards to the Lord speaking to him about something. The next day, he had a bolt hit a street width across from him.
The same thing happened to me the year before last. A superbolt wider than the tree trunk in my yard struck.
Close call. If it had electricuted me, I doubt if a historian would take note though. Lol.

PS:. I always enjoyed American history, but at a time in life when college was a big goal, It would have been nice to have a teacher who had some a personal interest and ability to communicate those golden events.

Last edited by Happy_Camper; 07/04/21.
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Campfire Outfitter
OP Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 9,450
Originally Posted by g5m
Originally Posted by Happy_Camper
Pastor Baldwin is a historian of this era and ran as the Constitution party presidential candidate in a prior election. This information is hard to come by in public colleges and media.
It makes me grateful for all the honorable men who gave their lives to provide freedom for their country.


And that was a LOT of men, and women! Do you ever wonder what the public schools teach about our history?

They started calling it "Social Studies" by the time I graduated. I was wondering why too.

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,719
W
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
W
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,719
Thanks so mcuh!!


Molon Labe
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
645 members (10gaugemag, 257Bob, 12344mag, 1234, 06hunter59, 257man, 73 invisible), 2,951 guests, and 1,318 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,667
Posts18,399,373
Members73,817
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.124s Queries: 15 (0.003s) Memory: 0.9068 MB (Peak: 1.0854 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 20:02:50 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS