Bleak Background for John Jay's New York Christmas Address 1776

Why John Jay Had to Stay: New York Christmas Address 1776 The year 1776 turned out to be more than a tough year for the state and City of New York, it was disastrous. If you did not realize it before you will see why John Jay had to stay in New York. As of June 1776 there were two British warships in New York harbor and New Yorkers were anticipating the arrival any day of the British Fleet. As advertised, the fleet came and showed off its power and intimidated the citizens. Let us look at the multiplied defeats in the New York Theater of operations.

The Battle of Brooklyn could have ended the American Revolution. Our army was almost totally destroyed; almost. The Americans were outnumbered (15,000 to 20,000 or 30,000), outclassed, outgunned and out strategized. We were no match for the British Fleet. General Howe outflanked us and had the Continental Army facing two fronts. The Maryland Line served with honor; 256 Marylanders gave up their lives so that the rest of the Continental Army could escape. A huge storm came up which delayed the British advance. In an amazing feat, Washington retreated across the East River. The dawn came accompanied with a fog that did not lift until Washington left on the last boat. I highly recommend David McCullough’s illustrated version of 1776 about the battle of Brooklyn.

After the Brooklyn defeat, another battle was fought at Kip’s Bay. We lost that battle also. The British rubbed it in by sounding fox hunt music. After Kip’s Bay, the British beat us again at Harlem but we put up a good fight. We lost Fort Lee and then Fort Washington. The loss of life and the number of prisoners lost to the British staggered the resolve of the Patriots. On top of all the losses, New York suffered with the great fire in September. Defeat after hard defeat gives us the context for the New York Convention asking John Jay to write something to enliven the spirits of New Yorkers. He wrote what I have entitled “The New York Christmas Address of 1776” or “John Jay’s 1776 Christmas Address.” What was John Jay doing all this time? Most of us do not think of John Jay on horseback. He travelled over 250 miles on horseback from Fort Montgomery (nine miles south of West Point) to Salisbury, Connecticut ( a trip of about 70 miles) trying to secure cannons. Being unsuccessful, he went another 75 miles to Lebanon, Connecticut where he got 10 twelve pound and 10 six pound cannons. He took them to Poughkeepsie and travelled to Livingston Manor. In the midst of all this, John Jay is a young guy that just got married to Sally Jay in 1775. His wife Sally gave birth to a son named Peter in January 1776. Sally became ill around this time and Jay had to pick her up at Elizabeth, New Jersey and took her to supposed safety in Fishkill, New York. Once he got her settled, Jay went to Rye, New York and brought his parents to Fishkill also. If you were a New Yorker during this time, things were lower than glum, they were desperate. Knowing his despondent audience, Jay wrote his address to give hope to suffering New Yorkers. To see a reading of the address go to https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4805975901944219056#editor/target=post;postID=4699102640012725064;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=49;src=postname To read the actual address, go to http://1776faith.blogspot.com/2009/06/john-jays-christmas-address-1776.html

John Jay's Christmas Address 1776

Today marks the 238th anniversary of John Jay's Christmas 1776 Address. In desperate times for the people of New York, New Jersey and the whole effort of the War for Independence, Jay animated the people by this address. It was translated into German by the Continental Congress. Maryland Gazette published it in 1777 in two different editions. You can see the video I made by going to December 17, 2012 and you can see video of Washington's Crossing on the September 2014 entry. What impressed me this past summer when I visited the area was the march to Trenton in such cold weather. Colonel Haslet from Delaware fell in the icy waters, (Dec. 25, 2013 entry) fought at Trenton and Princeton and died in the battle at Princeton. It is my goal that by the time my life ends, this nation will regard John Jay's writings and work more than those of Thomas Paine. This address by Jay goes a long way to start the task.

The address can be found on June 27, 2009

Recommendations for "Can a Chief Justice Love God?: The Life of John Jay" by Phil Webster (2002 Author House)

In light of current debates on the issue of "separation of church and state," has anyone bothered to check where the first Supreme Court Chief Justice would have stood?...

Recommendations

"I must congratulate you on both the motivation which inspired you to undertake the writing of these two important works, and for the yeoman-like performance of research into the history of the life and times of John Jay. Your book is a most revealing and rewarding study of a career which, as you say, has been swept under the rug. "You make a significant contribution to a much-needed understanding on the part of the American public of the Christian worldview which was so characteristic of the signers of our Declaration. With all of the disgraceful attempts being made currently to 'revise' early American history, I find your work refreshing and an encouragement to know of such effort and scholarship as yours being applied to set the record straight. "Thank you for sharing these works with me. I would like to see the actual stage performance of 'Declaration of Reliance Upon God' at some future date. "Thank you again for your thoughtfulness in getting the book and the play to me, and best wishes for their presentation to the wide audiences they deserve."

Sincerely in Christ: Dr. D. James Kennedy March 5, 2003

"Phil Webster gives us a good look at John Jay, the man of God. The reader gains insight into the depth of John Jay's character, as shaped by his Christian faith. In this day where the character of our nation's leadership seems a matter of diminishing consequence, Mr. Webster reminds us how important Christian character was in the shaping of our nation. "It is refreshing to see through John Jay's life that men and women of strong Christian character can serve their country with honor and distinction. John Jay's life of service, as highlighted in Phil Webster's book, should challenge us all."

Frank Gomez, American Bible Society

"Phil Webster's book on the life of John Jay provides a significant and welcome contribution to the noble cause of re-claiming the true Christian legacy of yet another founding father. Readers will be challenged to discover the true greatness of the first Chief Justice of the United States and to understand why it is impossible to separate a person's religious/moral belief from his public life. It is my prayer that the message contained in this book will receive a wide and receptive audience."

Mike Mc Hugh, Christian Liberty Press

"Phil Webster does a wonderful job of highlighting the life of one of the great Founding Fathers. Chief Justice John Jay was a man of character, principle and religious conviction. With the trend in America to forget our history, this book is a refreshing reminder of our great heritage and Christian foundations."

Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Peer Review and the Founding Fathers of the United States

     Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and the Founding Fathers

      What does Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn of Russia have to do with the Founding Fathers?  There are those in academia of the United States and Europe who will not look at the evidence of the Christian worldview of the Founding Fathers.  They will simply give the regurgitated phrases thinking that we are birds that like that kind of nourishment.  The mother bird brings back the food she has already eaten and gives it back to her young.  If you want to move on from  the rehashed food of the experts, read the Founding Fathers for yourself.  When someone tries to show the Christian worldview, the people with academic clout do not appreciate such "nonsense."

     In the current academic climate, there is no room for discussion of the Founding Fathers.  How many universities offer classes on the principles of the Founding Fathers?  Scarce few offer classes and when they do it usually comes with venom disparaging the Founders as white slave holders, bourgeois, women haters, etc.  When the term "peer review" comes out, that is supposed to keep the discussion controlled only by people who have earned degrees in institutions that are normally against the Christian worldview of the Founders.

     In the days of the Soviet Union, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote many books describing the history of gulag prison camps.  Did he receive any government grants to carry out his research?  Did the universities in the Soviet Union allow him to teach such classes?  What would peer review be like for Mr. Solzhenitsyn? Would he have been interviewed on the evening news and allowed to express his opinion? Imagine the press going after him and the authors of those hate filled letters attacking him would have been appreciated by the Communist party members.  They would get more party favors by attacking him.

     In a country that was powered by the Protestants/Whigs there are zero evangelical Protestants on the Supreme Court. I praise God for the conservative Catholics that are standing for truth in the Supreme Court but evangelical Protestants cannot even get one out of nine slots?  Of the first 150 universities in our nation, 149 were started by Christians.  What do we have now?  In a nation that had non-sectarian prayer and Bible reading to start the day, we have thrown God out of the public schools for over 50 years.  Do not pity God!  He is in control.  Pity us for what we are bringing on ourselves and our children.  We have not been perfect, neither were the people of the Bible. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  We sinners in this country had the best of the imperfect governments but we have thrown aside our dependence on God.