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Founder, WallBuilders, a national, pro-family organization
that distributes historical, legal, and statistical
information
Speaker/Consultant to state and federal legislators
B.A., Religious Education, ORU
WallBuilders
P.O. Box 397
Aledo, TX 76008-0397
www.wallbuilders.com
More Church History on CBN.com
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CHURCH HISTORY
David Barton: The History of the
Supreme Court
The 700 Club
CBN.com
– The Founding Fathers of this nation laid out their
elaborate plans for the city of Washington and made no provision
for the Supreme Court to have a separate building. As intended by
the Founders, the Court met inside the Capitol building for 135
years, first bouncing around from room to room and then finally
residing in the vacated Senate chambers. The Founders intended that
the Court should not have a major role in shaping the policy of
our nation. In the first ten years of its existence, the entire
Court term lasted less than two weeks a year; and for the next fifty
years, the Court met only six to eight weeks a year.
Contrary to current policy, early sessions of the Supreme Court never saw
the practice of public prayer as contrary to the intent of the Constitution.
Records show that the Court commenced only after a minister had come into
the Courtroom to pray for the Court, jurors, and their deliberations. Communion
was often served before the session began, and records even show that early
judges would offer a salvation message to those who were sentenced to die.
Lawyers would sometimes pray for Justices as part of their arguments in Supreme
Court cases. Surpreme Court decisions were rendered by the Justices in defence
of retaining the Bible as part of official public life.
Early Justices lived lives that exemplified their beliefs. John Jay, the
first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, also served as the President of
the American Bible Society. Through his efforts, thousands of Bibles were
printed and distributed across America. Other Justices served as officers
and encouraged Christianity in the government and public arena. The Founding
Fathers had godly requirements for those who served in public office. Noah
Webster based those qualifications on Exodus 18:21, to "rule in the fear
of God." Chief Justice John Jay declared, "It is the duty, as well
as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer
Christian for their rulers."
Branching Out
In 1935 the Supreme Court began to branch out, extending its powers by constructing
a separate building. After moving into the new building, they extended the
length of the Court’s term from only a few weeks per year to nine months
per year. By rendering more and more decisions, they drew more power to themselves.
Americans quickly forgot their founding principles. The Court ignored the
American government articulated by George Washington who declared that "the
fundamental principle of our Constitution enjoins that the will of the majority
shall prevail." By 1947 the Everson v. Board of Education case, which
dealt with the First Amendment and the wall of separation of church and state,
began to pave the way for the intrusion of the state into religious expressions.
In the early '60s, the Earl Warren Court, with little judicial experience
on the part of any but one of its Justices, began to make decisions without
regard to historical practices. In 1962 the Court took prayer out of public
schools; in 1963 they took the Bible out of classrooms; in 1980 they ended
the teaching of creation in schools. The court continues to refuse to intervene
in important rulings that differ with an overwhelming majority of Americans.
For example, 70 percent of Americans approve the posting of the Ten Commandments
in the classrooms and courts, and 78 percent support volunteer school prayer,
yet the courts refuse to reconsider these cases.
However, despite these and other current rulings, many reminders of our godly
heritage are etched in wood and stone throughout the building. Inside are
several carvings of the Ten Commandments, including an etching on the upper
right side of the Justices’ seats that shows Moses displaying these sacred
laws. When seated, the Justices face a marble relief called "The Struggle
Between Good and Evil with Good Prevailing."
David says now is a critical time to persevere in prayer for our courts to
return to the godly system on which they were founded.
Related Resources:
The
Spirit Behind '76
Why
Washington is "The Father of our Country"
Author
Looks at U.S. History and Asks: 'What If?'
Cape
Henry, A Christian Nation
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