It’s ironic that the church is in hiding as April 19 was Patriot’s Day, the anniversary of the “shot heard round the world” (April 19, 1775). It was the day the American War for Independence began.
That day, being warned of approaching British troops Dr. Joseph Warren dispatched Paul Revere to Lexington and Concord with the news. Then, Pastor Jonas Clark alerted his male church members in Lexington that the British Army was on its way to seize the colonists’ weapons and to arrest patriot leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock.
Both men were hidden in Pastor Clark’s home with a dozen armed guards outside. Others (75-80) from the church were staged with muskets on Lexington Green when more than 800 British troops appeared at day break.
According to eyewitnesses, British soldiers opened fire on the militiamen without warning immediately killing eight of Pastor Clark's people. The Minutemen took cover and returned fire. These were the first shots of the Revolutionary War.
Ironically, in light of the lukewarm church today this took place on Lexington Green, which was located in the shadow of the church building where the men worshipped each Sunday. The men that were guarding Adams and Hancock escorted them out of harm's way shortly before the troops’ appearance.
The heroic efforts of Pastor Clark and his brave church saved the lives of Adams and Hancock. Eight courageous men gave their lives protecting the leaders who would become two of America's greatest Founding Fathers. It is not exaggeration to say that Pastor Jonas Clark and his men are as important to the story of America's independence as any of our Founding Fathers.
The eight heroes who died that day are: Robert Munroe, Jonas Parker, Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harrington, Jr., Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, and John Brown, all of Lexington, and Mr. Porter of Woburn.
When the British troops marched forward to cross the Concord Bridge, hundreds of colonists arrived to defend it. An intense battle ensued as the British troops were routed and then retreated to Boston. America's War for Independence had begun.
The key aspects of this historic day are often hidden by historians: 1) it was an attempted gun confiscation by the British troops that ignited America's War for Independence, and 2) it was a pastor and his congregation that accounted for most of the "Minutemen" who engaged in the initial skirmish of the Revolution.
The church was at the hub of the rebellion. Brave pastors of Colonial America were the children of the Pilgrims.
James Caldwell, John Peter Muhlenberg, Joab Houghton, and Jonas Clark among others are remembered as patriots and preachers whose inspiration, leadership and personal sacrifice led to the United State of America.
James Caldwell was called ‘The Rebel High Priest’ or ‘The Fighting Chaplain.’ The British hated Caldwell so intensely that they murdered his wife, Hannah, in her own home, as she sat with her children on her bed. Later, a fellow American was bribed by the British to assassinate Caldwell. Americans loyal to the British burned both his house and church building.
When news of the Bunker Hill fight reached Virginia, John Peter Muhlenberg preached a sermon from Ecclesiastes chapter three to his congregation. He reminded the people that there was a time to preach and a time to fight. He said that, for him, the time to preach was past and it was time to fight. He then removed his vestments and stood before his congregants in the uniform of a Virginia colonel.
Muhlenberg eventually became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army, and then, major general. He participated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Yorktown. He went on to serve in both the US House of Representatives and US Senate.
Joab Houghton was in the Hopewell (New Jersey) Baptist Meeting House before services when he received information regarding the battles at Lexington and Concord. He stopped people before entering the building to explain the news of the battles.
He said slowly to a somber crowd, “Men of New Jersey, the red coats are murdering our brethren of New England! Who follows me to Boston?” And every man in the audience stepped out of line, and answered, “I!” It is recorded that there was not a coward or a traitor at the old Hopewell Baptist Meeting-House that day.
When you read of the Minutemen of Lexington, those were members of Jonas Clark’s church. "It would not be beyond the truth to assert that there was no person at that time and in that vicinity – not only no clergyman but no other person of whatever calling or profession, who took a firmer stand for the liberties of the country, or was more ready to perform the duties and endure the sacrifices of a patriot, than the minister of Lexington.”
Does this species of clergymen still exist today or did it pass like the dinosaurs?
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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