Cambridge

Originally called New Towne, Cambridge, MA is a very interesting place. It is here taht Harvard College was founded in 1636 by the Puritans who wanted to make sure taht there was not an uneducated minister in the pulpits of America. Their first president, Henry Dunster, was a godly man who was known for setting the Psalms to music. The second president, Calvin Chancey, was a fiery preacher much in the mold of an Elijah. A college student upon hearing a passionate message by the 80 year old Chancey said, "Sir, you preach so hard that one day you will die in the pulpit" to which Chancey replied, "It would be an honor to do so." Chancey was also a man of prayer who had it said of him that "He spends more time talking to God than he does to man." Such were the beginnings of a school designed to aid and educate the pastoral leadership of our nation.

But such is not the case today. In the 1800's, Harvard turned to Deism, and then went off into transcendetalism, through the influence of men like Bronson Alcott (Louisa Mae's father, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthone and others. In the 1880's chapel services were deemed voluntary where for over 250 years they had been mandatory. Though truly one of the finest academic universities in the world today, it has become a hotbed for liberalism with predictions of over 85% of the student population and faculty having strong leanings to the left.

What a shame when we forget our heritage and the purpose for which this school was founded.

Another place in Cambridge of extreme interest in the Cambridge Commons. It is here, at what is now termed "Washington's Elm" that George Washington took command of the colonial troops for the fighting of the Revolutionary War. He hadn't wanted the appointment when asked to serve, in fact, when John Adams nominated him at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, he quietly left the room. But here he was, on July 3, in the middle of the Commons, arriving after a three day rain which left the place a literal quagmire. Troops discouraged, no place to stay, no food, no ammunition, it was said that Washington would have had no one to command had he dismissed those who were too young to serve, too old to serve, or those of bad character. But he immediately instilled within them the self-discipline and order to fight the battle ahead. He banned all cursing and made it mandatory that all men attend regular chapel services. He began building there supply of amunition and eventually would send Henry Knox to Ft. Ticonderoga to bring back cannon which would be used almost a year later to drive out the British from Boston. He gave the Revoltuionary army what it needed - leadership, self-discipline and a sense of orderly purpose.

Amazingly enough, that's what we need today in order to take a stand for what is right in our daily lives. Galatians 5:1 exhorts us to "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Paul also wrote to Timothy and said that no man who is in the battle entangles himself with the affairs of this life so that he might please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier.

May we be that good soldier, disciplined, trained and ready for our Commander-in-Chief's use. Let us not be entangled with the selfish pursuits of man, but let us walk in obedience to the truth of the Word of God which sets us free.