“In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament, that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little pains to prevent them. We profess to be republicans, and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government, that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity, by means of the bible; for this divine book, above all others, favors that equality among mankind, that respect for just laws, and all those sober and frugal virtues, which constitute the soul of republicanism.” – Dr. Benjamin Rush, “A Defense of the use of the Bible as a school book. Addressed to the Rev. Jeremy Belknap of Boston”

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also a member of the Sons of Liberty, considered by John Adams as top 3 most influential founding fathers, served as Surgeon General for the Continental Army, member of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, known as the Father of American Psychiatry, Father of American Medicine, Father of Public Schools Under the Constitution, founding member of America’s first Bible Society, and helped begin the American Sunday School movement.

“To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.” – Calvin Coolidge Presidential message, December 25, 1927

Christmas 1923 was the first Christmas that the White House displayed a National Community Christmas Tree. President Coolidge was also given a button that turned on the 2,500 green, red and white electric lights.