Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)--The Christian Patriot

[Dwyer]

Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)–The Christian Patriot

Francis Scott Key is best known as the author of our national anthem. His father had served as an officer with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Francis was born on August 1, 1779 in Frederick Coun*ty (now Carroll County), MD, studied law, and began his practice in Frederick, MD (1801) where he practiced only briefly before moving on to Georgetown, D.C. (1802). By 1814, Key had appeared many times before the U.S. Supreme Court. Here in Washington, he also served as United States district attorney for three terms, holding that office at the time of his death . . .

As a deeply committed layman in the Protestant Episcopal Church, he held lay reader’s license, and for many years read the service and visited the sick. One of the greatest contributions he made to America was the advancement of the Sunday school. Not only did he teach a Sunday school class at his church, Key also served as manager and vice president of the American Sunday School Union from its inception in 1824 until his death in 1843. The American Sunday School Union was responsible for establishing thousands of churches across America. Many churches and cemeteries today bear the name “Union” because of their origin in the American Sunday School Union.

In spite of the success that he achieved in life, Key never forgot to praise the Lord for his faithfulness. In 1832, he wrote the hymn, “Before the Lord We Bow” for a Fourth of July celebration. But the hymn for which he is most widely known first appeared in 1823. It appeared first of all in a little hymnal published by Dr. William Muhlenberg, also of the Protestant Episcopal Church. That same year (1823) Key and Muhlenberg both were appointed to a committee to prepare a new hymn-book for their Church. Though not well-known, Key’s hymn, “Lord, With Glowing Heart I’d Praise Thee” is a spiritual biography of one among many founding Fathers of America who took seriously their responsibility to Jesus Christ. Representative of this truth is the simple phrase in the second (sic; it’s actually the last) stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner, “In God is our trust.”

http://christianheritagefellowship.com/francis-scott-key-1779-1843/

Key’s Christian convictions were intense and influenced all his relations and actions. At one time, in 1814, he even considered entering the ministry. Though he decided to remain in his law career, his Christian beliefs continued strong and his Christian work active throughout his life. Among those whose faith Key’s help sustained was John Randolph of Roanoke. Randolph had had his faith shaken by reading Voltaire and other Enlightenment authors. In a letter to Randolph, Key wrote his own views, which still contain excellent apologetic advice for today:
*
I don’t believe there are any new objections to be discovered to the truth of Christianity, though there may be some art in presenting old ones in a new dress. My faith has been greatly confirmed by the infidel writers I have read. Men may argue ingeniously against our faith, as indeed they may against anything – but what can they say in defense of their own – I would carry the war into their own territories, I would ask them what they believe – if they said they believed anything, I think that they might be shown to be more full of difficulties and liable to infinitely greater objections than the system they oppose and they were credulous and unreasonable for believing it. If they said they did not believe anything, you could not, to be sure, have anything further to say to them. In that case they would be insane, or at best ill qualified to teach others what they ought to believe or disbelieve . . .*

Although written to rejoice in the victory of the moment, the last stanza describes what Key the Christian hoped would be a constant characteristic of his beloved country:

Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust!

christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/francis-scott-keys-anthem-11630370.html

Defense of Ft McHenry Text:

ww2.mpt.org/station_relation/FSK/Images/Hi_Res/Defense_of_Ft_McHenry.jpg

 

[anon67074017]

He did a good job defending his country’s religious values. It is too bad that he owned slaves though.

 

[ClearWater]

:thumbsup::yup::bounce::clapping:

 

[RPRPsych]

:thumbsup::yup::bounce::clapping:

Agreed!

(By the way, ClearWater, how do you manage to get that row of smilies to work? Whenever I try to do it, it shows the first five correctly, and bugs out for the sixth one. )

 

[WJeffrey]

He did a good job defending his country’s religious values. It is too bad that he owned slaves though.

Owning slaves was both legal and acceptable behavior when Key was alive. It is easy to cast aspersions from the vantage point of life in a society where no one was alive when the last slave was granted freedom.

Since we all come from common ancestry, it is very likely that everyone alive is descended from slave owners.

When Key was alive, there was nothing wrong with owning slaves. Given his background, it would be odd if he didn’t own slaves. Applying the standards of 2016 morality to someone who lived when our country was founded is unfair and does a disservice to a person of integrity.

 

[randomuser]

Owning slaves was both legal and acceptable behavior when Key was alive. It is easy to cast aspersions from the vantage point of life in a society where no one was alive when the last slave was granted freedom.

Since we all come from common ancestry, it is very likely that everyone alive is descended from slave owners.

When Key was alive, there was nothing wrong with owning slaves. Given his background, it would be odd if he didn’t own slaves. Applying the standards of 2016 morality to someone who lived when our country was founded is unfair and does a disservice to a person of integrity.

And speaking from today’s perspective, I dread having to hear “Star Spangled Banner” today. Why can’t “God Bless America” or “America The Beautiful” or even the now-public-domain “This Land Is Your Land” be our anthem? If (a.) Lady Gaga is quite literally one of the only people who sing the darn song, and (b.) yes, it was written by a slave-owner, why CAN’T we get a better national anthem?

 

[Exiled_Child]

And speaking from today’s perspective, I dread having to hear “Star Spangled Banner” today. Why can’t “God Bless America” or “America The Beautiful” or even the now-public-domain “This Land Is Your Land” be our anthem? If (a.) Lady Gaga is quite literally one of the only people who sing the darn song, and (b.) yes, it was written by a slave-owner, why CAN’T we get a better national anthem?

This Land Is Your Land would be a terrific national anthem. I love that idea, and I would be proud if that were our anthem. And you’re right, there’s no reason we can’t change it. Presentism or not, slavery cannot be justified by saying it was legal in the past. I look at historical American figures like Thomas Jefferson, for instance, and I feel sick to my stomach I’m so contemptuous of them. The man let his own children live in slavery. Hypocrisy-wise, Francis Scott Key falls into roughly the same category. And it isn’t as though he couldn’t have known better, because America was filled with Abolitionists who went to great lengths to clearly and lucidly shine a light on the practice of slavery. Key chose to very, very actively fight them, using all of his political power, for his entire life. I’d rather a good American were honored.

 

[jeannetherese]

Owning slaves was both legal and acceptable behavior when Key was alive. It is easy to cast aspersions from the vantage point of life in a society where no one was alive when the last slave was granted freedom.

Since we all come from common ancestry, it is very likely that everyone alive is descended from slave owners.

When Key was alive, there was nothing wrong with owning slaves. Given his background, it would be odd if he didn’t own slaves. Applying the standards of 2016 morality to someone who lived when our country was founded is unfair and does a disservice to a person of integrity.

This argument seems to suggest that right and wrong are relative to history and culture.
Slavery wasn’t right because it was legal and was practiced and it didn’t become wrong because it was outlawed.
Slave owners feared retribution for treating humans as property. They created laws to try to keep slaves ignorant, patrolled to help prevent escapes and uprisings. Diary entries speak to fears that eventually, there might be a high price to pay for mistreating these people.

 

[WJeffrey]

Since everyone alive is descended from slave owners because we share a common ancestry, should we diminish the work product of everyone who has ever lived?

If a person grew up in a family that owned slaves, and all of their friends and relatives owned slaves, why would that person think that there was anything wrong with slavery? It is all they have ever known.

I suppose that we shouldn’t celebrate Barack Obama, because he believed and proclaimed to the entire nation that marriage was a union between a man and woman.

Obviously, Barack Obama must have been a bigot. Do you think he should step down from the Presidency since he was an outspoken opponent of civil rights for gays?

 

[jeannetherese]

If a person grew up in a family that owned slaves, and all of their friends and relatives owned slaves, why would that person think that there was anything wrong with slavery? It is all they have ever known.

An yet, some chose to free their slaves. Might that be a tacit admission that freedom is preferable to slavery and that people (including those who hold other in slavery) might be able to reason their way to such a conclusion?

 

[WJeffrey]

An yet, some chose to free their slaves. Might that be a tacit admission that freedom is preferable to slavery and that people (including those who hold other in slavery) might be able to reason their way to such a conclusion?

Should Barack Obama step down from the Presidency because of his bigoted actions? Any accomplishment of his is obviously tarnished due to his treatment of gays before he was elected and after he was in the white house. He was outspoken in his denial of civil rights for gays.

So should Obama step down?

 

[jeannetherese]

Hi WJeffrey,
I would rather not derail your thread on Francis Scott Key with a discussion of Mr. Obama, beyond noting that bearing false witness is wrong.
I am able to respect Mr. Keys’ musical compositions, while also noting that, like so many of us, he did things he should not have done.
Mr. Keys’ slaveholding was wrong. This fact does not undermine his musical gifts, but it seems reasonable to acknowledge both his gifts and his flaws- the damage he has done to others as well as the beauty of his musical legacy.
May God bless you.
jt

 

[WJeffrey]

I agree. I feel much the same about hypocrisy which was my point. This discussion was about Francis Scott Key and his wonderful music. Mr. Key was an excellent patriot. We are very fortunate as a nation to have his wonderful national anthem. It is an excellent poem and song. I am sure that 500 years from now people will reflect with pride on our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. God bless you abundantly as well. J

 

[randomuser]

I agree. I feel much the same about hypocrisy which was my point. This discussion was about Francis Scott Key and his wonderful music. Mr. Key was an excellent patriot. We are very fortunate as a nation to have his wonderful national anthem. It is an excellent poem and song. I am sure that 500 years from now people will reflect with pride on our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. God bless you abundantly as well. J

Well, I’m not proud of the Star Spangled Banner. I wish our national anthem could be “America The Beautiful” or “God Bless America” or “This Land Is Your Land.” 500 years from now, people will still be scratching their heads as to why a country with a serious gun-violence problem would want as their anthem a song about bombs and killing people. It’s not a wonderful anthem – and if Lady Gaga is literally one of the only people who can sing it properly, that should tell you something.