Presidential Prayer Kids

Benjamin Rush was a beloved physician, Surgeon-General of the Continental Army, contributing author to the Pennsylvania Constitution, and an active abolitionist. Portrait courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution.

Do you know about Dr. Benjamin Rush? He was a Founding Father who used his influence to give support to many causes in our young country. He was especially interested in those things which improved the quality of life in the Colonies--public education, Sunday School, abolition of slavery and more. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and also helped to write the Pennsylvania Constitution. Rush was also a member of the Continental Congress, and he served as Surgeon-General (the top doctor of all the doctors!) of the Continental army. In 1799 he was appointed Treasurer of the U.S. Mint. Dr. Rush was a busy man!

In order to become a doctor, Benjamin Rush had to go to Scotland to receive his training--there weren’t any medical schools in the American Colonies yet! He stayed there for quite awhile practicing medicine and studying French, Italian, Spanish and science. When he came back to Philadelphia, he opened a private practice and started teaching at the College of Philadelphia which eventually became a part of the Pennsylvania Hospital.

Dr. Rush became well known and was soon a very popular figure in the city. He used his popularity to help establish medicine (helping people with physical illness) and psychiatry (helping people who have mental illness) as important ways of caring for people in the Colonies. It may seem funny to think that someone had to help people learn about doctors and hospitals, but there were very few doctors in early America. In fact, not everyone believed there was any reason to have doctors! And the only hospitals were in Europe!

This is a photo of the oldest part of the Pennsylvania Hospital, one of our nation’s earliest hospitals. Benjamin Rush was involved with this hospital during his active practice in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Hospital.

Because of his Christian faith, Benjamin Rush believed that all people should receive kind and compassionate care for their illnesses. He often treated patients who were unable to pay for his services. This led to his starting the first free medical clinic in 1786.

Benjamin Rush had other ways of speaking out for health in the Colonies. He felt that people should avoid alcohol and tobacco. He also believed in regular exercise as a way of helping everybody to be happier and healthier.

This painting shows Christ Church, Philadelphia, which was a spiritual home to many of our Founding Fathers, including George Washington. Benjamin Rush was baptized here and is buried here. Image courtesy of Christ Church.

Unlike many of his peers, Rush believed that girls had a right to free education in just the same way that boys did. He worked with Abigail Adams to found a free school for girls in Philadelphia.

Most importantly, Benjamin Rush knew that for the newly formed country to succeed, it would have to be based on God’s rules and His principles. He believed that the Bible was the main source of truth for responsible citizens. He linked this belief with his drive to open public schools, and in 1791 Dr. Rush wrote a lengthy pamphlet entitled “A Defense of the Use of the Bible as a Schoolbook.” In this pamphlet he explained why he believed that the Bible should be taught in schools. Read his comments and see what you think about what he wrote:

It is now several months since I promised to give you my reasons for preferring the Bible as a schoolbook to all other compositions. Before I state my arguments, I shall assume the five following propositions:

That Christianity is the only true and perfect religion; and that in proportion as mankind adopts its principles and obeys its precepts they will be wise and happy.
That a better knowledge of this religion is to be acquired by reading the Bible than in any other way.
That the Bible contains more knowledge necessary to man in his present state than any other book in the world.
That knowledge is most durable and religious instruction most useful, when imparted in early life.
That the Bible, when not read in schools, is seldom read in any subsequent period of life.

When you read the things that Benjamin Rush wrote about the importance of the Bible in public schools, which of the following statements would you say are true:

QUESTION 1

True or False Even though he was a Founding Father, Benjamin Rush didn’t really believe in God. After all, most of the Founding Fathers weren’t Christians.

QUESTION 2

True or False Although he was a very well-educated man, Benjamin Rush believed that there was only one book that was the very best book when it comes to gaining wisdom about life and the world and everything else.

QUESTION 3

True or False Dr. Rush felt it was important to get children in the habit of reading the Bible while they are young, because then they would naturally keep on reading it as they grow into adults.

Illustration of the Pennsylvania Hospital courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania.

Faith-filled origins of the Pennsylvania Hospital, our first American Hospital.
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin played a big role in many of the clever and original developments that helped early America become a better and better place to live. When the Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in Philadelphia on May 11, 1751, it was our nation’s first hospital. Working with his close friend, Dr. Richard Bond, Franklin gave his support to the idea of having a hospital, and that helped all the rest of the people in Philadelphia believe that a hospital might be a good idea. Franklin and Bond wanted to make a place that would care for the sick, poor and the mentally ill who had no other care.

The quote below shows how much Ben Franklin believed that God was the One Who gave doctors their abilities and Who helped them to do their jobs. You can also see how Franklin asked for God’s help to bless the mission of the hospital:

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin courtesy of the National Gallery of Art.

“It would be a neglect of that justice which is due to the physicians and surgeons of this hospital, not to acknowledge that their care and skill, and their punctual and regular attendance, under the Divine Blessing, has been a principal means of advancing this charity to the flourishing state in which we have now the pleasure to view it. Relying on the continuance of the Favour of Heaven, upon the future endeavors of all who may be concerned in the management of the institution, for its further advancement, we close this account with the abstract of a sermon, preached before the Governors…”

Benjamin West painted this wonderful depiction of Jesus healing a man possessed. For thousands of early Americans, this was the first work fine art they saw! Image courtesy of th Pennsylvania Hospital.

Have you ever noticed how most hospitals have a motto--a statement that explains their mission? America’s godly heritage is really shown in the motto that Benjamin Franklin chose for the Pennsylvania Hospital--the words of Jesus from the story of the Good Samaritan found in the Bible in Luke 10: “Take Care of Him and I Will Repay Thee.”

Another great marker of the faith of the founders of this wonderful hospital is found in the Gallery Pavilion, where you can see artist Benjamin West's very special 1817 painting "Christ Healing the Sick in the Temple." It seems that the hospital asked the popular artist to donate a painting to help pay for a building. While in London, he painted one for the hospital, but it was so popular with people there, he had to leave it in London! Though it took years, he painted another marvelous work for the Pennsylvania Hospital, and it was very well received. When this new painting was displayed, overflow crowds paid to see it! For many Colonial Americans, this was the first work of fine art they had ever seen. It raised a great deal of money for the hospital for many years to follow!

Self portrait of Benjamin West courtesy of artroots.com.

Benjamin West was so pleased to be painting a scene that showed Jesus Christ healing a man who struggled with his health! His painting arrived on the ship “Electra” along with the following letter from the artist, who was well along in his life. He explained that he wanted to dedicate the painting to his wife:

"Benjamin West, Historical Painter to His Majesty George III, and the President of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, feels the highest satisfaction in informing the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital by having finished the picture of our Savior receiving the Lame and Blind in the Temple to heal them.

And Mr. West bequeaths the said picture to the Hospital in the joint names of himself and his wife, the late Elizabeth West, as their gratuitous offering and as a humble record of their patriotic affection for the State of Pennsylvania, in which they first inhaled the vital air -- thus to perpetuate in her native city of Philadelphia the sacred memory of that amiable lady who was his companion in life for fifty years and three months."

Some kids are afraid to go to the doctor, because sometimes important treatments hurt! But most doctors work really hard to take good care of us, making sure that we have everything we need to stay healthy and live a good life. Doctors in the Colonial era were the same way. Though they had limited knowledge compared to the vast medical information we have now, many followed the example of Jesus in reaching out to those who needed healing and help. Have you ever thought about becoming a doctor so you can bring the healing and hope of Jesus, ministering to mind and body, to those who need it? It’s a great way to serve God, and a good thing for kids who pray to consider.