Join us in the Hope that is America

One question we are asked over and over again as we retell the story of William Penn and his contributions to the founding of the United States is, “What is America?” Most are familiar with the well known principles of religious liberty, civil equality, representative government, and justice through law. This foundation established by Penn as “the seed of a nation” was duly noted by Thomas Jefferson in an 1825 tribute, saying,

“William Penn was the greatest lawgiver the world has produced, being the first, in either ancient or modern times who has laid the foundation of government in the pure and unadulterated principles of peace, reason, and right.”

History has proven that many of the epochal events that conceived this nation were born in the hearts and minds of men who convened in the city of Philadelphia. Why Philadelphia? Penn established his “City of Brotherly Love” a century before the American Revolution, before there was the thought of an independent American nation, and before men like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington took their place in our minds as America’s Founding Fathers. As a forerunner to the U.S. Constitution Penn’s constitution for Pennsylvania was so brilliant and revolutionary that it provided the framework for the United States government, but also in the potential freedom it established for all people. Thus we make the case for Penn as America’s First Founding Father whose paternal voice can speak to the moral dilemma America faces regarding the message of freedom. However, and this is a big however, in Penn’s mind the success of this nation was much more than political.

He knew full well what it meant when he said “the nations want a precedent” because no where, in no time, in ancient or modern history, was there a governmental authority that did not revert to the endemic abuse of power that is and has been the cause of so much suffering in the world. He authenticated this precedent through his relationship with Pennsylvania’s indigenous population. Best summed up in Penn’s own words, when he said, “Let us try what love will do.” It was to set an “example to the nations” that would break the existing domination systems of the Western world – systems that had been in place for over a millennia. This is the essence of the “Holy Experiment” – Love!

But to adopt a form without understanding the spirit forfeits the “holy” part of the experiment. Because a seed retains its DNA, even through generations of dormancy and neglect, a re-awakening is possible, and is exactly what is needed. We believe that returning to God’s heart from a renewed perspective on what this spiritual DNA is we may begin to know, perhaps for the first time, who we are and how to move forward as true reconcilers.

Darrell & Lorrie Fields have taken Penn’s ideas and established The Seed of a Nation as a non-profit organization in hope of restoring the integrity of the American legacy. The Seed is still alive. The Fields believe that education is the first step needed to awaken the conscience of a nation and to begin the discussion about the vision and responsibility America has to the hope of freedom in a world desperate to define it. Won’t you consider joining us as we nurture these promises planted in our national DNA. Please contact us if you wish to partner in any of our ongoing projects.