UH, WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

As published in the Newport (TN) Plain Talk
Jul 7, 2011
Column Number: FM 1127

“UH; WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?”

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you probably just might accidently know that there is a current controversy raging over those extremely inciting words “Under God” in the Pledge to our ‘Murican Flag.

When I was a kid (a hundred years ago, it seems), we recited that pledge in school; and – oh my, hide the children – the teachers led us! I started school in 1947 at the Dayton, Tennessee City School; “Miss Rose” was my teacher; and although I don’t remember nothin she learned me (especially English as a first language); I do vaguely remember standing and facing the flag and repeating some words after her. I learned later that these were the words we recited:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all”.

Now, I’m not going to tell I actually remember leaving out the words, “Under God”; but I know we did because those words weren’t added to the Pledge until 1954; and I am certain Mrs. Wade Butcher taught us seventh graders to add those two little words in the Pledge as were recited it. For your information, a simple Internet search to Wikipedia reveals several changes to the Pledge since its first use in 1892, as written by Francis Bellamy:

(Original) "I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

(Revised in 1892) "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

(Revised by the National Flag Conference in 1923) "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

(Revised in 1924) "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

(Revised in 1954) "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." (Please note the comma after “God”, but not after “nation”. There should be no pause after the word, “nation”.)

According to the Flag Code (latest edition), the Pledge “should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present and not in uniform may render the military salute. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute”.

The phrase, “under God” was basically taken from a quote in President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863; but I think it goes back even further than that.

Are you aware that the National Anthem actually has four verses; and the last one has a line that says: Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: "In God is our trust”.

So, you can see that phrases like “The Power (God, no doubt) that has made and preserved us a nation” and “In God is our trust” have been around since Francis Scott Key penned those lines after seeing the flag still flying after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during September, 1814.

By the way, that line “In God is our trust”, goes back way further than 1814. Those words are taken from Scripture:

(Psalm 20:7) – “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” and (Psalm 56:11) – “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me”

Those words became the basis for the adoption of our national motto: “In God We Trust”.

That was in itself quite a debate. The phrase had been on U S. coins since 1864; but not on paper money. On July 11, 1954, Congress passed the requirement that “In God We Trust” be printed on all coins (except the penny and nickel, which came later) and all currency. It took two years; but the law was signed by President Eisenhower on July 30, 1956.

Well, this just goes on and on; and I have much more material than can be merely perused in five minutes; so I’ll be back later with some more good stuff you need to know. In the meantime, honor our service men and women; and honor the flag of our great nation “under God”.



Tom Mooty serves as Senior Pastor of Newport’s West End Baptist Church; and can be reached with your comments at tommooty05@comcast. This column can also be accessed on the church’s website: www.webaptistchurch.org (click on “pastor’s blogs”).

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