Institutions that Consciously Reflect a Moral Idea
John Quincy Adams
American Minute from William J. Federer
President John Adams’ son, John Quincy Adams, was U.S. Minister to Russia.
In September 1811, John Quincy Adams wrote from St. Petersburg to his son, Charles: “My dear Son…You mentioned that you read to your aunt a chapter in the Bible…every evening. This information gave me real pleasure…”
John Quincy Adams continued: “So great is my veneration for the Bible, and so strong my belief, that when duly read and meditated on, it is of all books in the world, that which contributes most to make men good, wise, and happy-that the earlier my children begin to read it…the more lively and confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens of their country.”
This correspondence was published after his death as Letters of John Quincy Adams to his son, on the Bible and its Teachings.
President John Quincy Adams’ grandson was Henry Adams, an American historian. From his unique perspective of being related to some of America’s founders, Henry Adams, who died MARCH 27, 1918, wrote in his 9-volume work, History of the United States: “The Pilgrims of Plymouth, the Puritans of Boston, the Quakers of Pennsylvania, all avowed a moral purpose, and began by making institutions that consciously reflected a moral idea.”
William J. Federer is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and president of Amerisearch, Inc, which is dedicated to researching our American heritage. The American Minute radio feature looks back at events in American history on the dates they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the internet.
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