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Lectures

Christian Magnanimity

Alan R. Crippen, II | President & Founder, John Jay Institute

Excerpt

Just last week my wife, Michelle, and I were driving through Philadelphia’s great Fairmont Park. At 9,200 acres, it’s the nation’s largest city park. I knew that somewhere in the vast expanse of the park was a statue of personal interest to me. The Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon’s statue is there. As it turned out Michelle and I stumbled upon it just off a remote turnabout near the Horticultural Center and only a five-minute drive from the John Jay Institute’s campus. Can you believe it? The statue is a great, towering monument. With pedestal and bronze casting it’s over 20 feet tall. The statue itself is twelve and one-half feet and weighs 5,000 lbs. It was unveiled on October 20, 1876 to mark the nation’s centennial and Witherspoon’s role in the American Revolution. The ceremony was attended by a venerable who’s who of Presbyterian churchmen and public officials including: the Governor of New Jersey, Mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania legislators, various city officials and other dignitaries. In the record of proceedings it was remarked that the such a colossal statue was representative of a colossal man, indeed a magnanimous man in America’s heritage and founding.

This week in exploring the virtue of greatness or magnanimity, we’ve read some interesting authors in our Executive Leadership Seminar. This morning we discussed magnanimity as understood by the founders and modeled by George Washington. Of particular focus was Witherspoon’s 1775 sermon on Christian Magnanimity. So, to continue in this vein of exploration I thought that it would be appropriate to say a few more things about magnanimity, particularly as illuminated by Witherspoon.

Now I sometimes fantasize about Witherspoon visiting our contemporary time. What would Witherspoon think about our cultural, social, and political circumstance? What would he think about the state of the church and its diminishing influence in American society? If Witherspoon were to address us this evening, what would be his exhortation and counsel? What would Witherspoon say? If he were to return to the temporal sphere just for this occasion, what would he have to say to you not only fellow ministers of the Gospel but also as public servants – soldiers and chaplains in the Armed Forces of the United States?

Alan Crippen has had long experience educating young scholars in the political principles and spiritual values of our Founding Fathers, helping them to translate those principles and values into effective action in the public square. Because young people are immersed in a popular culture that is, in many ways, opposed to such ideals, the importance of this work cannot be overstated. The seriousness and professionalism of his Fellows speaks well of Mr. Crippen's work. I have been fortunate to have a number of Fellows on my staff and working in my Washington, DC office as interns. I have been consistently impressed-not only by the quality of their work but also by their solid understanding of our nation's founding doctrines and principles. The John Jay Institute continues to form young minds and souls in the same impressive manner."
The Honorable Sam Brownback
Former U.S. Senator
Governor of the State of Kansas