Opinion
By Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr.
12-15-23
The capital of the United States, Washington, D.C. is known all over the world as a beautiful and important city. But how many know that the Godly and Christian roots of our country are embedded everywhere in that city? If you look at the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Archives and many other government buildings you will see the importance of the Christian faith and its history in America.
In the U.S. Capitol building, you will see massive oil paintings in the Rotunda which depict the Pilgrims praying before departing for America with the Geneva Bible, the landing of Columbus holding the cross of Christ high, and the baptism of Pocahontas. The Geneva Bible was designed for the common man, and was instrumental in our war for independence. At the top of the Capitol building there is a Congressional Prayer room. A stained glass window depicts George Washington on his knees in prayer with the words “One Nation Under God” and Psalm 16:1 behind him: “Preserve me O God for I trust in you.” The new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, just took the media for a tour of this prayer room. I prayed there many times in 1979 when I was a Legislative Aide to U.S. Congressman John Breckinridge, and was shocked that the room was usually empty. In the House of Representatives chamber, the words “In God we trust” appear over the podium in marble. Moses also appears in the House chamber with a full facial view. An angel of God appears by Lady Justice in the Capitol marble.
The Capitol Rotunda painting showing the Pilgrims praying to God with the Geneva Bible before departing on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean. They were devout Christians and wanted to share the Gospel with the New World.
The Capitol Rotunda painting of the baptism of Pocahontas into the Christian faith
The Congressional Prayer room in the U.S. Capitol dome with a stained glass portrait of George Washington praying on his knees.
The National Motto In God We Trust appears over the Speaker’s Chair at the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the main Department of Justice Building on Pennsylvania Avenue (where I was a lawyer in 1975-78) the Great Hall of Justice is adorned with pictures of great lawgivers such as Moses and Jesus Christ. My office was just above the Great Hall of Justice and I would see Moses and Jesus every day on the way up the stairs to my office!
In the Supreme Court building, Moses appears on the East front, and Moses and the Ten Commandments also appear prominently in the frieze in the courtroom above the bench where the Justices sit during oral argument as well as on the oak door at the rear of the chamber.
A bronze statue of Moses also appears in the main Reading Room of the Library of Congress.
Moses and the Ten Commandments are depicted prominently on the walls of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the Jefferson Memorial, the words of Jefferson about God and freedom are carved on the walls. Jefferson says that our liberties are a gift of God.
Jefferson’s words from the Declaration of Independence declaring that all men are created and equal and endowed by their Creator, God, with inalienable rights. These words appear
In marble inside the Jefferson memorial.
Jefferson also said that God gave us freedom of religion and these words also appear on marble inside his memorial.
Inside the Washington monument, there are many Scripture verses inscribed on the stones at almost every level such as: “Holiness to the Lord.” Exodus 28:26, 30:30, Isaiah 23:19, Zechariah 14:20; “Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39); “The memory of the just is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7). If you choose to walk up or down the steps inside the monument, rather take the elevator, you will be amazed at the number of Bible verses you will see. At the very top, on the east side of the monument facing the sunrise, these words are inscribed: “Laus Deo” which means “Praise Be to God.”
In the Lincoln Memorial, the words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address appear in marble: “We here highly resolve that this nation under God shall not perish from the earth.” And from the Second Inaugural address: “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.” Psalm 19:9.
In the National Archives building on Constitution avenue we can see an engraving of the Ten Commandments in the floor and the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The Declaration says that all of our inalienable rights come from God, our Creator. Our Constitution is also based on many Biblical principles throughout as are the Bill of Rights.
So we see that a tour of Washington, D.C. reveals the Judeo-Christian heritage of America in magnificent fashion. Almost every federal building testifies to our national faith! It is clear that the founders of our country had a great faith in God and Jesus Christ, and gave glory to God for his favor upon our country!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR- JUDGE JOHN MARSHALL MEISBURG JR.
Judge John Marshall Meisburg, Jr., was a U.S. Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration for 26 years in Jacksonville, Florida. He retired as a judge in 2021 and is now living in Fernandina Beach, Florida with his wife of 43 years, Dr. Denise Meisburg. They have six children and 11 grandchildren. Prior to being a judge, he was a lawyer with the Federal government for 23 years, serving in all three branches of the government, with the U.S. District Court, EEOC, Justice Department, Congress, FDIC and Office of Special Counsel (MSPB). He was in private law practice one year in Washington, D.C. and filed the lawsuit that became the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case on sexual harassment. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky, and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is a lifelong Christian, being raised in the Baptist faith in Louisville, Kentucky. He was an Elder at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville where he taught Sunday School, the Jewish Roots of the Faith and the Christian Heritage of America. He was a leader of both the National Day of Prayer and the House of Prayer in Jacksonville for over ten years. He has published ten books relating to Christian and legal ssues. He is now a member of Living Waters World Outreach Center in Fernandina Beach, where he serves in the prayer and home group ministry, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Faith Christian Academy.
Christian Heritage Articles:
“Christopher Columbus – Man of Great Faith and Courage” – Citizens Journal Florida
The Christian Heritage of America (Installment 2) – Citizens Journal Florida
The Christian Heritage of America Installment 3 – The French Huguenots! – Citizens Journal Florida
The Christian Heritage of America Installment 5 -The Great Awakening – Citizens Journal Florida
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
