> Laus Deo
>
>
>
> One detail that is never mentioned is that in D.C. there can never be a

> building of greater height than the Washington Monument
>
> With all the uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc, this is
worth
> a moment or two of your time. I was not aware of this amazing
historical
> information.
>
> On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
are
> displayed two words: Laus Deo.
>
> No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are
> totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably
couldn't
> care less.
>
> Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with
everyone
> you know. These words have been there for many years; they are 555
feet,
> 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the
Father
> of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the
District
> of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.
>
> Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight
and,
> one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the
highest
> point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation
in
> the world.
>
> So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables
and
> only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say Praise be to
God!
>
> Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James
Polk was
> President of the United States , it was not until 1888 that the
monument was
> inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to
finally
> cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo.
>
>
> 'Praise be to God!'
>
>
> From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may
take
> in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four

> major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the
> original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant .a perfect cross

> imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north, the
Jefferson
> Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln
Memorial
> to the west.
>
> A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and
state?
> Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not, in the
> Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to
carry
> a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.
>
> Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50
landings.
> As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones
share
> a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of
Baltimore;
> on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the
> 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and
> Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6.
Praise be
> to God!
>
> When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th,
1848,
> deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented
by
> the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral

> direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first
President
> of our unique democracy, 'One Nation, Under God.'
>
> I am awed by Washington's prayer for America . Have you ever read it?
Well,
> now is your unique opportunity, so read on!
>
> 'Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the
United
> States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the

> citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to
government;
> and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for
heir
> fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou
wilt
> most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love
mercy,
> and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper
of
> mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed

> religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these
things we
> can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech

> Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'
>
> Laus Deo!
>
> When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all
over
> our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God,
as it
> is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width
and
> height of 'Laus Deo!', its location, or the architects but no one who
reads
> this will be able to forget its meaning, or these words: 'Unless the
Lord
> builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches
over
> the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.' (Psalm 127: 1)
>
> It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every
sister,
> brother, father, mother or friend. They will not find offense, because
you
> have given them a lesson in history that they probably never learned in

> school. With that, be not ashamed, or afraid, but have pity on those
who
> will never see this because someone failed to send it on.

And they want to take God out of everything... they going to take the building down?

dont think so it there to stay...GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Well, I normally stay out of the religious chats due to my opinion of it. One opinion is keep it out of the government at all costs. I will address this here since it is in the general discussions. The forefathers knew from experience of the prejudice they endured in their mother countries over their religious beliefs, that religion needed to be kept out of government. I am sure that there are those who do not realize the disrespect shown to other religions by the government favoring one over others. In order for a government to be impartial to a certain religion there can be none in the government. Religion is a personal choice and should be kept in a personal place at home. That is how you keep from having a political dictatorship through religion.

ok you make a very good point, dragoness and every one is entitled to the right to choose..im not pushing my beliefs just saying its wierd how they wanna take God out of everything but there it is on the top of the memorial..