In God We Trust

[Gabriel]

Something that came up over the 4th....
From this:
Radical, anti-religious advocates”
Atheists threaten to sue after Ontario council votes to add ‘In God We Trust’ to city seal



News from the Pacific Justice Institute

On June 2, the Ontario city council voted unanimously to include the national motto, “In God We Trust,” in a semicircle above the city seal in the council chambers of city hall. The effort to post the national motto was spearheaded by Councilman Alan Wapner, who is Jewish and considers the motto nonsectarian. However, the move did not go undisputed. Annie Laurie Gaylor, atheist and co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, threatened legal action against the council.

“This is worth a court battle,” Gaylor stated, “because it has an impact up close and personal. An atheist person can go before the City Council, and that’s staring you in the face.”

The Pacific Justice Institute sent a letter to the Ontario City Council offering to represent the city should it come under attack for its decision. PJI has in the past and continues to defend our nation’s religious heritage from attacks by those who wish to erase that history. In the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, PJI has successfully defended “In God We Trust” printed on our national currency from attacks by atheist Michael Newdow in the case Newdow v. Lefevre. In March of this year, the Ninth Circuit unanimously agreed with PJI’s position that the motto is constitutional.

“There is overwhelming Supreme Court case law supporting the display of the national motto,” said Michael Peffer, chief attorney of PJI’s office in Southern California, who sent the letter to the Ontario City Council. “‘In God We Trust’ is an inclusive, nonsectarian motto that people of all faiths and beliefs can rally behind.”

“‘In God We Trust’ is our official national motto and has been on our currency for more than a hundred years,” stated Brad Dacus, president and founder of PJI. “It is preposterous for anyone to legally challenge a city council’s decision to display the national motto. So long as these radical, anti-religious advocates continue to threaten the motto, we will be there to defend our nation’s religious heritage.”




What is the earliest origin of this expression in the history of our country?
When did it become our national motto?

Gb

[Mary's boy]

I always thought that it came from the "Star Spangled Banner". I confess that I looked up the words to the song,
and in the fourth stanza is the phrase: And this be our motto: "In God is our trust". The song was writtedn by Francis Scott Key in 1814. This is not the exact quote of the motto, but I don't know of anything that predates 1814. As to when the exact quote was adopted as the national motto, I don't have a clue.

[JohnK]

I think John Adams said something to the effect of, "we have staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments." This carries some of the sentiment of "In God We Trust." The line from The Star Spangled Banner that Mary's Boy cited is the earliest "close match" I can think of.

As for adoption as our official motto, I would guess sometime between 1880 and 1920.

[Gabriel]

Good job, MB!
http://www.allabouthistory.org/in-god-we-trust.htm
I like the Jefferson quote found here:

"The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time" and asked ‘Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?’"

Regarding how it came to be on our currency....
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-s ... rust.shtml