Did you know that in Washington, D.C. there can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument?
With the rising “Holy War” that is the liberal’s attempt to remove the God from daily life, i.e. the Ten Commandments, “In God We Trust”, “Under God,” etc., this is worth a moment or two of your time. I was not aware of this amazing historical information untila few days ago.
There is an aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. where two words are displayed: Laus Deo.
There are actually words inscribed on all four faces of the point.
NORTH FACE:
Joint Commission at setting of capstone.
Chester Arthur.
W.W. Corcoran, Chairman
M.E.Bell.
Edward Clark.
John Newton.
Act of August 2, 1876
* ~ * ~ *
WEST FACE:
CORNER STONE LAID ON BED OF FOUNDATION
JULY 4, 1848.
FIRST STONE AT HEIGHT OF 152 FEET LAID.
AUGUST 7, 1880.
CAPSTONE SET DECEMBER 6, 1884.
* ~ * ~ *
SOUTH FACE:
CHIEF ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT
THOS. LINCOLN CASEY,
COLONEL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
ASSISTANTS:
GEORGE W. DAVIS.
CAPT, 14TH INFANTRY.
BERNARD R. GREEN,
CIVIL ENGINEER.
Master Mechanic:
P.H.MCLAUGHLIN
* ~ * ~ *
EAST FACE:
LAUS DEO
No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they even exist. Nor, for that matter, do they probably couldn’t care. Once you know Laus Deo‘s history, you will want to share this with everyone you know.
These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to our Heavenly Father, overlooking acres which comprise the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.
The phrase, however, that is both mysterious and mystical contains two Latin words: Laus Deo – four syllables and only 7 letters. the meaning of these two little words? Very simply, “Praise be to God.”
Inscribed at the highest point overlooking the center of the authority in the US, and perhaps, the world.
Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo. “Praise be to God!”
From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l’Enfant ..a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west.
A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.
“Praise be to God.” Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message.
On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. “Praise be to God.”
When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848, deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy, “One Nation, Under God.”
“The Prayer below was written by Washington at Newburgh, New York, at the close of the Revolutionary War on June 14, 1783. It was sent to the thirteen governors of the newly freed states in a “Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of all the States on the Disbanding of the Army.”
Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of all the States on the Disbanding of the Army, June 14, 1783
I have thus freely declared what I wished to make known, before I surrendered up my public trust to those who committed it to me. The task is now accomplished. I now bid adieu to your Excellency, as the chief magistrate of your State, at the same time I bid a last farewell to the cares of office and all the employments of public life.
“It remains, then, to be my final and only request that your Excellency will communicate these sentiments to your legislature at their next meeting, and that they may be considered the legacy of one, who has ardently wished, on all occasions, to be useful to his country, and who, even in the shade of retirement, will not fail to implore the divine benediction on it.
“I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection; that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for brethren who have served in the field; and finally that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.
LAUS DEO!
When you stop to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation’s capitol, you will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere.
You may forget the width and height of “Laus Deo,” its location, or the architects, but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or these words: “Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, “the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127: 1)
This is not rewritten history, but our children will not learn this unless we teach them.
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