FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS: Elias Boudinot Responds to Thomas Paine
(QUICK READ) — Elias Boudinot of New Jersey was a member of the Continental Congress, then President of its successor, the Confederation Congress (1779-1783), and thus a prominent member of the Founding generation.
Elias Boudinot, former Director of the U.S. Mint, congressman and Revolutionary War hero.
Boudinot has strong ties to all of the most influential actors of the day. During the Revolutionary War, Boudinot served as an intelligence asset for General George Washington, then after the adoption of the Constitution he was elected to each of the first three Congresses. Following his congressional career, President Washington appointed Boudinot as Director of the U.S. Mint.
Boudinot was an active member of the Federalist Party, as well as a noted advocate for women’s rights and an early Abolitionist leader. A devout Christian who was a member of the Presbyterian denomination, Boudinot penned the following words in his response to Thomas Paine’s anti-Christian Deism:
“Our country should be preserved from the dreadful evil of becoming enemies of the religion of the Gospel, which I have no doubt, but would be the introduction of the dissolution of government and the bonds of civil society.” – Elias Boudinot, in his 1801 book “The Age of Revelation: Or The Age of Reason Shown To Be An Age of Infidelity.” Compiled by Mark Strand.
Many of the quotes reprinted in HillFaith’s “The Faith of The Founders” weekly series of posts are compiled from Benjamin F. Morris’ classic work, “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States.” Morris, an historian and pastor, published the first edition more than a century ago.
Quotations are also compiled from Mark Strand, author of the Daily Inspirations email he shares on request here and that HillFaith highly recommends to all congressional aides, be they working on Capitol Hill or in a state or district office back home.
Mark was for 16 years President of the Congressional Institute, and he is a former fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics. He was also a 24-year veteran congressional staffer, including four years as Chief of Staff to Sen. James Talent (R-Missouri).