 Noah
Webster had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War; was elected
to the Connecticut General Assembly for 9 terms; and the Legislature of
Massachusetts for three terms.
Noah Webster first published his Webster's Dictionary on APRIL 14, 1828.
This 26-year project with 30,000 new definitions, standardized spelling and gave American English its identity.
Proving unprofitable, the rights were purchased after his death by George and Charles Merriam.
In the preface of his original edition, Noah Webster wrote:
"In
my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the
first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be
instructed...
No truth is more evident to my mind than that the
Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to
secure the rights and privileges of a free people."
Noah Webster concluded:
"To
that great and benevolent Being...who has borne me and my manuscripts
in safety across the Atlantic, and given me strength and resolution to
bring the work to a close, I would present the tribute of my most
grateful acknowledgments."
Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary defined "Property" as:
"The
exclusive right of possessing, enjoying and disposing of a thing;
ownership. In the beginning of the world, the Creator gave to man
dominion over the earth...
It is one of the greatest blessings of civil society that the property of citizens is well secured."
Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary defined "Religion" as:
"A
belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of His
will to man, in man''s obligation to obey His commands, in a state of
reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God...
The
practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and
without reference to his will or commands, is not religion."
Noah Webster wrote to James Madison, October 16, 1829:
"The Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government...
I
am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist
and be durable, in which the principles of that religion have not a
controlling influence."
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment