Chapter 7 The Black Regiment

Important points summarized, as follows: pages 189-215

“The seventh thing every Christian should know about the founding of America is that many of the clergy in the American colonies preached liberty. The pulpits of New England were especially important in helping to bring about independence. Long before the general population understood the threat to American liberty, some colonial ministers saw what was coming and boldly spoke out about it from the pulpits.”

The title black regiment needs explaining. It was the black color of the robes the ministers wore that gave rise to the term the Black Regiment. These colonialists, who were organized under the Black Regiment to protect their towns from the British at a moment’s notice,  were called Minutemen.

The Minutemen were usually laymen from a particular church, led by their minister or deacon. They conducted military drills after Sunday services. Rev. Jonas Clark, for example,  was in charge of the Minutemen in Lexington, Massachusetts, who were attacked in the first conflict of the Revolutionary War.

Many people today, especially those on the left, don’t realize that the many of the first settlers of New England were devout Christians. They also downplay the pivotal role that the Great Awakening had in preparing the Colonialists for Independence.

Although there were many in the Black Regiment from other colonies and regions, it was the New England pulpit.. to which this honorary designation was given…. John Adams observed, ‘The Philadelphia ministers ‘thunder and lighten every Sunday against George III’s despotism.’

More important than the freedom of religion is the freedom to change one’s religion. England wanted to do impose their will on the colonies. The British Parliament intended to impose upon all the American colonies membership in the Episcopal (or Anglican) Church. All the hardships the Pilgrims, Puritans, Quakers, Presbyterians, and Huguenots had endured to escape religious persecution would have been all for nought had England imposed such a requirement on America.

Although the Minutemen were poorly equipped volunteers, they used a unique and effective form of warfare for their day. Wars in the late 1700’s were customarily fought by lining up armies in columns in the open field and shooting at one another until one army retreated. During the Revolutionary War, the British army would line itself up, but the Minutemen, instead… chose to hide behind trees or hills and fight from there.

The danger today to our freedoms is as important today as it was when we broke away from England. The pulpits of America need to preach on returning our country to the Biblical values we were based on so real freedom can continue.