August 1775-Upstate South Carolina
James Steen fidgeted on the wooden pew as the sanctuary filled with people. Steen perked his ears, as utterings of solidarity or secession from England echoed around the room. Steen held back a grimace and touched the scar on his arm. Trouble was brewing and the pot was about to be stirred. Today is about enlightenment. Besides killing fellow Americans in Lexington, raising taxes and giving Steen and his fellow citizens no voice, England had instituted a state religion in South Carolina and it was not the least bit agreeable to James Steen. The Anglican Church was the sanctioned church of the state and the burdensome taxes forced on Steen and fellow colonists helped pay for the Anglican Church’s existence. Steen knew this was wrong and hoped neighbors at Thicketty Creek Church house would soon know the error of it as well.
Growing sentiment in the upstate saw these Anglicans as the devil because they were taking from everyone. Steen believed all religions should be free to worship, yet none had the right to take from others without permission. Forced support of a church removed from Presbyterian faith was evil. Fairness was a code the Steen family had lived by for generations. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth was as real to them as turning the other cheek was to others. Steen knew the angst inside him might never allow peace. As imperfect as any mortal man, he knew when wronged, the only real answer was to return the punishment so to make things right. Nevertheless, the cost would be high. Revenge never worked. It just perpetuated trouble for those who populate the future. James Steen’s family had remained steadfast Presbyterians since their removal from Scotland to Ireland and then to America. In addition, the Steen family had no kindred feelings for anything outside the teachings of the Westminster confession. Steen was staunchly Calvinist in his views. In fact as he sat at the pew at this very moment he thought of his doctrine: some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death, neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of creatures.” Steen knew he had sinned. His scars bore evidence of his hatred and it would haunt him more than he knew. When the sands of time empty, he would deal with what comes next. The reason for meeting on this sultry August day, was to inform the uniformed of the infringement of their rights. Regardless of the sentiment for or against England in this room, Steen's thoughts were the same as the visitor due on this day, The Reverend William Tennent. Steen had not yet met the Reverend William Tennent, but knew of the reputation of the grey-headed disciple and foot soldier of Jesus Christ. Tennent’s reputation from work he had done up north before making his way to Charlestown, South Carolina preceded him. In June 1775, the Provincial Congress of South Carolina had assigned Tennent and his Baptist counterpart Oliver Hart and William Drayton as overseers of a Committee of Safety, the purpose, to invoke assistance of South Carolina to resist English rule and gain independence. Tennent had been barn burning by horseback around the state in the late summer of 1775. Along the way stirring up a revival fire that was sure to spark a Great Awakening in the south in favor of independence from England. Tennant preached faith and a message of hope for everyone that inspired many otherwise tentative partisans to take up the cause of liberty. Steen knew no matter what the outcome of current affairs, a spiritual faith unseen would be the only way to sustain a beneficial change in the lives of colonists. Steen winced and his brow furrowed. The pain in his arm and back gathered like dark clouds of an oncoming storm. Steen raised his head to fix his focus on the words of Pastor Joseph Alexander. Every eye about the room transfixed on the Minister as he began his oration. For 15 minutes he memorized the gathered assembly and then in closing, “The British have no care or concern for us. We are but instruments to fill their coffers and retire their war debt. King George will continue to unduly tax us until we have nothing left.” implored Alexander. “God has given us minds to think independently. We must open our eyes to a future that allows us to govern our own affairs amongst ourselves.” The assembled throng at Thicketty Creek shuffled uneasily at this open attempt at secession. Some pale with alarm, while others smiled with glee as if they were already free of the mother country. Alexander's jaw tightened as he closed his remarks and introduced the honorable minister William Tennent. Steen looked up as the towering Tennent rose to speak. “I have traveled through the backcountry to talk with you today about our future. We are a people of thrift, kindness and hard work. Through providence, we share this ephemeral life. We walk with God daily, keeping faith in the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. We strive to enter at the straight gate, but know the sometimes crooked path that leads us home can be marred with the blood of our sins. “Tennent paused to wipe his brow, “I come before you today readily admitting the perils of violence and its many imperfections. However, God does not expect our perfection. God expects our faith and reason, in order to triumph over ordained evil. Over the past month of my travels, many of your fellow citizens have signed the pact to gain our justice. God demands we not succumb to the will of evil empire. England is consumed with greed and avarice. And let me remind you on April 19th of this very year, unprovoked, English soldiers killed our fellow citizens on the green at Lexington Massachusetts. Will we let the slaughter continue?"
Tennent continued, "Many years ago, England governed our colonies with benevolence, but growing arrogance has turned them away from what is right and fair. Britain is not our master, only God. There are times when we must render to Caesar what is Caesars. However, the rumbling guns of war have come to our colonies whether we like it or not. Our only choice now is to stand and fight, or be slaughtered by those who pretend to care for us. I do not stand before you preaching the need for no government. Alas, we do need a government, but it must be of our own choosing. Government is necessary evil for a society if for nothing but security’s sake to protect our life, liberty and property. Now were we all perfect, there would be no need for a government, because we would be just with one another and operate with an even conscience in all of our dealings as a free society. Nothing save heaven is impregnable to vice. Our sinful nature demands we have a government to protect moral virtue. The almighty hand of Providence is upon us as we band together to fight the treachery of tyranny. I implore you today to sign the association. Please bow your head and pray with me."
With every head bowed, every eye closed, Steen stole a glance around the room. He thought to himself; what is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases. To everything there is a season, a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. On this immortal August day in the year of our Lord, 1775, war is here and now.
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