Bringing back the black robed regiment
Dan Fisher is a 61-year-old pastor from Edmond, Okla., who has become a student of American history and in particular regarding our founders and shapers of America from the Revolution through the Constitution. Dan and his wife, Pam, have been in North Idaho the past week giving their presentation on pastors during the early 18th century in America and were nick-named “the black-robed regiment.” My wife, Jane, and I were fortunate to hear Dan’s presentation at church on Sunday and then meet up with he and Pam for a couple hours over coffee. Here is a summary of the questions we asked Dan about what he has learned from his studies of the revolutionary period.
Dan, how was the clergy and church influential in our American Revolution?
Surprisingly many people don’t realize without the influence of the clergy there probably would not have been a revolution — or at least with the outcomes that we see today. First, we had the “great awakening” in the early part of the 1700s with preachers like George Whitfield and John Wesley. Their preaching united the colonies together and unified them about their beliefs on the church and government. This spread to dozens of churches and preachers who educated their congregations about the Bible and natural law and the rights given to all men. Without these two events most historians agree there was no revolution.
Many pastors went on to form their own militias and became officers in the army. They were an integral part of the leadership Washington depended upon.
I am sure for many this is new history. What was the reaction of the British when faced with these ideas being spread to the population in general?
This was recognized by the British that the churches and pastors were a huge problem. We see portions of sermons that ended up in documents like the Declaration of Independence. In fact, many of the clergy were members of their legislatures, were part of the Continental Congress, signers of the Declaration and helped write the Constitution.
We have been taught that the revolution centered around “no taxation without representation” and that was an issue. But the basic ideals of freedom, self government and freedom of religion were the central issues of the revolution and the majority of the pastors were abolitionists or anti-slavery.
We were so impressed with how professional your presentation was. You are dressed up in full costume and have brought for display actual muskets used at places like Bunker Hill, crossing the Delaware and other artifacts. How did this come about?
This happened gradually and we became friends with collectors and dealers and over the past few decades have purchased items you might only see in a museum This is one of the highlights for people to bring their family to the presentation.
After listening to your message on Sunday I know that a key part of that is to encourage the clergy to have a voice in the public square including politics. How do you react when people object stating it is a violation of “church and state”?
Good question, but first we need to remind everyone that “separation of church and state” is not in the Constitution. The 1st Amendment is there to prevent the government in interfering with the church and freedom of religion. I have been a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, ran as a candidate for governor and have been outspoken from the pulpit on moral and cultural issues that the church has a clear interest in.
We would encourage all of those in the pulpit to educate their flock not only about the issues but their rights as free citizens.
You have produced some very professional videos, a book and other materials that can educate on these topics. You also noted that you and your wife lead educational tours to Gettysburg, Boston and Plymouth and also Washington D.C. If people wanted to get information on your materials, speaking or tours, how do they do that?
Go to our website, https://www.danfisherbrr.com, there is contact information there. I am still a full-time co-pastor of a church but am available to speak at churches, events or schools. I will be speaking Sunday at Cocolalla Cowboy Church at 10 a.m. if anyone would like to see the presentaion.
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” — Proverbs 29:2
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Bob Shillingstad’s columns appear Saturdays in The Press. Email Bob: bjshill@mac.com
