What event spawned that phrase that sparked theAmerican Revolution? Patrick Henry was a devoted Christian and friend to true religious liberty. He often had tracts printed at his own expense and would give them out. Frequently, he would defend preachers and churches in the courtrooms of Virginia without even asking for remuneration.
One day, while riding through the town of Culpeper , Virginia, Patrick Henry spied an event that curdled the blood in his veins. (The Commonwealth of Virginia had on the statute books a law that demanded preachers to other faiths than that of the state church had to receive a license in order to preach. Throughout those early days before the war of 1776, countless hundreds of men were paying a dear price to practice their faith.)
On that day, Henry saw a Baptist pastor tied to a flogging pole in the town square of Culpeper . His crime was that of preaching without a license. As that young Virginia attorney (Patrick Henry) stood there and watched that pastor beaten until his back was raw, something clicked inside. All through his ride home, that event was focused on his mind and heart.
Upon arriving home, he penned a few words. Then, at St. John’s Episcopal Church on March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood to speak to an august body debating the necessity for separation from England and the implications of freedom. There, those words came clear that he had penned at home. With that event fresh in his mind, Patrick Henry said:
“Tis life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery, Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me give me liberty, or give me death.”
Countless hundreds and thousands have arisen to those words, ready to stamp out the shackles of tyranny. But remember, it took one Baptist pastor, wiling to pay the price.
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ReplyDeletehis speech was just give me liberty or give me death.
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