By 1914 the world’s European colonial powers were so entangled in complicated treaty alliances that if triggered by a single political incident, they might invariably ignite a powder keg leading to a multinational war. On the stage of international affairs, saber-rattling had become the diplomatic norm, and with the expansion of colonial powers around the globe, these tensions created a very unstable world. Such instability and fear-fueled an arms race with technological innovations to develop the first weapons of mass destruction in history. Was a Great War -- a world war -- to be inevitable?  There was certainly a clear and present danger to world peace heretofore unseen. In the United States, however, a man who refused to accept the inevitability of war served as America’s senior diplomat. He believed in peace and in the effectiveness of mediation for international disputes. While the world went into full-scale production of combat weaponry, this man was literally melting them down.

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares.” This ancient biblical prospect of peace envisioned by the prophet Isaiah was the inspiration for William Jennings Bryan, the U.S. Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson. Byran, a devout Presbyterian was gifted with the art of persuasion and guided by biblical principles of human dignity, peace, and hope. Bryan traveled the world in pursuit of treaty agreements. The Bryan Treaties were a bilateral agreement for the “advancement of peace” and stipulated a conciliation process between signatories.  Remarkably, he was able to negotiate at least 30 treaties with world nations that bound them to pursue honest arbitration before descending into war. With a pearl of salt-of-the-earth wisdom that is so often lacking on the political stage, Bryan simply believed that cooler heads would prevail. Thirty countries agreed. In a day that was rapidly darkening under the encroaching clouds of a world war, to get thirty nations to slow down to leave room for settlement was no small feat. William Jennings Bryan was no small man. 

A moment ago, I mentioned that while the world went into full-scale production of combat weaponry, one man was melting them down. That’s because ahead of his diplomatic efforts in 1913 and ‘14, Bryan asked the U.S. War Department to meltdown decommissioned swords in order to literally turn them into plowshares. Well, mini-ones at least. Bryan, you see, had prepared to give each of the treaty signatories a commemorative paperweight in the shape of a plowshare. It was a gift that would serve as a symbol of biblical peace and a tangible token of hope for the nations. Each paperweight was inscribed with Isaiah 2:4, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares.” Additionally,  on one side of the paperweight was inscribed, “Nothing is final between friends”, and on the other, “Diplomacy is the art of keeping cool.” 

In retrospect, the infamous Guns of August 1914 prevailed, and a second World War followed after that. Yet Bryan’s efforts for peace were motivated by a faith that guides liberty toward justice. His ideals appealed to what Lincoln famously described as “our better angels.” In calling nations to the biblical prospect of world peace, he raised the sights of the possible. Was his idealism an illusion? Or is it possible for nations to embrace a biblical ideal for peace without illusions? In this fallen world, perhaps, as it has been said, there are times when peace can only be found on the other side of war. Regardless, Bryan was right believing that only the cool heads can know when those inevitable moments are. Bryan’s opposition to America’s entry into World War One led to his resignation as Secretary of State in 1915. But, his influence carried on. Not the least of which was in the form of thirty paperweights that sat on desks of nations -- reminders of the prophet’s promise of a better world to come. They were an act of faith guiding liberty toward justice.

The famous names of James Fenimore Cooper and Daniel Day-Lewis are now linked by a classic novel turned blockbuster movie. The author and actor are each best known for bringing the epic romance, The Last of the Mohicans, to life. But, you may be interested to discover that these famous three-name personalities are connected to another man…with a simple name. The work that made James Fenimore Cooper and Daniel Day-Lewis famous may have never come to be without the contribution of the American founder John Jay. 

John Jay was a leader whose knowledge of the Bible and expertise in law along with his love for liberty made him an American patriot and central actor in the First and Second Continental Congresses. In fact, during the First Congress Jay’s appeal to the British people for liberty and justice on behalf of the American colonies would later be referenced by Thomas Jefferson. The sage of Monitcello described Jay’s “Address to the People of Great Britain”  as “a production certainly of the finest pen in America”. Although attempts at peaceful diplomatic conciliation were ultimately rejected by the Parliament and the Crown, Jay’s efforts to avoid the bloodshed of war are legendary. 

Jay’s overt contributions to the cause of Independence were in leadership, statecraft, and diplomacy. But, make no mistake about the power of his pen. For example, late in 1776 and just months after independence was declared, the Continental Army had suffered multiple defeats including the loss and evacuation of New York City. Washington’s leadership was challenged and his rag-tag army was on the run across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. Things looked bleak for the cause. Yet in these dire circumstances Jay’s faith in the cause was unwavering. He delivered a sermon-like message to the legislature of New York to bolster their spirits and rally their resolve with reference to a story from the Hebrew Bible saying, “If then, God hath given us freedom, are we responsible to him for that, as well as other talents? If it be our birthright, let us not sell it for a mess of pottage, nor suffer it to be torn from us by the hand of violence! If the means of defence are in our power and we do not make use of them, what excuse shall we make to our children and our Creator?” Jay’s words were like shots of adrenaline to the beleaguered patriots. Washington rallied his army to a counterattack by crossing the Delaware River and making the famed victory at the Battle of Trenton.

Such were his public leadership efforts. But, there were covert and clandestine actions too. Things got even more interesting. You see, John Jay was also a spymaster and coordinated both espionage and counterespionage activities in New York.  That’s right, the future Chief Justice of the United States, Governor of New York, and later president of American Bible Society…ran a spy ring during the Revolutionary War. 

And this brings us back to James Fenimore Cooper. You see, five years before he wrote his renowned book, “The Last of the Mohicans”, Cooper published his breakthrough best-selling novel, “The Spy”. The storyline of this novel was based on declassified information obtained from Jay in a personal interview with Cooper. As it turns out, Jay’s son Judge William Jay was a personal friend of Cooper’s and arranged an interview for the budding author at the Jay homestead in Bedford, NY. “The Spy” was a hit, Cooper’s career was launched, and as they say, the rest is history. 

Faith and Liberty Rediscovered features conversations that investigate the people behind historically significant events in American history while also exploring the direct connection between faith and liberty in America from its founding to today. All from the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center which is located in the heart of our nation’s birthplace: On Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Together, We’ll bring history to life in a fun and accessible way by leveraging relevant segments, guests, and exploring topics that allow us to discover our Nation’s history in a fresh and new format. Be sure to subscribe in the podcast platform of your choice.