“America’s Sacred Destiny” by Rev. Dr. Christine Emmerling, D.D. 7/5/2026

My talk today is in celebration of America’s 250-year celebration of Independence Day, titled “America’s Sacred Destiny.” My references are from Corrine Heline’s book “America’s Invisible Guidance”, and Emmet Fox’s booklet “The Historical Destiny of the United States and The Mystery of the American Money.”

During the early years in the forming of this country there were a group of mystics, a brotherhood of the Old World, that carried a vision for the New World. It was to be a new kind of experiment, to have a government that allowed for self-governing based on self-responsibility; a new level of freedom never before allotted people. This New World was to birth the Aquarian Age, by carrying the new ideals of brotherhood, equality for all, freedom in speech and in religion.

These mystics were to bring in a New World Order of high ideals, that would eventually move across the world. They were guided by an invisible brotherhood of light, that are with us today in the invisible realms, to assist in the fulfillment of our destiny for a greater level of love in an awakened consciousness throughout the entire world. Thus fulfilling Christ Jesus’ words to his disciples “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Just imagine if we truly lived as Jesus Christ taught some 2,000 years ago. This was the vision of those early mystics. A new land to give birth to this way of living in truth and love for one another. Across Europe in Germany, England, and France these mystics, also known today as Masons, met in secret meetings to plot, pray and vision together.

Then a group of these mystics came to the New World, and settled in Pennsylvania. That early settlement grew into the village of Germantown, which became Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. These were pioneers on the double frontiers of both the physical and the spiritual. Many miracles of healing were attributed to them. Some years later after it disbanded, most of the occult library was passed into the hands of Benjamin Franklin.

Almost all of the Generals of Revolutionary fame, and the majority of our founding fathers were connected to the brotherhood order of Freemasonry. The Masonic Hall in Boston was called the “The Headquarters of the Revolution.”

Thomas Paine was arrested in London for declaring that monarchies should be abolished and all people declared free and equal. In his own words, “Free men would be good men,” and that “economic freedom must inevitably result from political freedom, and social freedom naturally follows religious freedom.” And “Real happiness can only be possible where and when men are permitted to direct their own destiny under a truly democratic government. It is then that mankind, no longer as slaves, but as free men, will inherit the earth which will then resemble the kingdom of heaven.”

Benjamin Franklin who was in London, met Thomas Paine and realized they both shared the same ideals. And, Franklin knew Paine was needed in the New World. They both set sail from London in October, 1774. In order to bring forth their new governance, these founding fathers had a task at hand to revolt against the old system that England carried on in control of the colonies.

Not everyone at that time saw the benefit of being free from England’s rule. The rich were comfortable with the current status. Thomas Paine began writing the pamphlet “Common Sense” Jan. 17, 1776. In three months 100,000 copies had been sold. This changed the hearts and minds of the people, and soon a majority of people were willing to risk their lives for their vision and beliefs for a better way of life for everyone.

Even when the revolutionary war was over, the battle was in planning and developing a new form of government. There had to be a balance, a give and take of ideals. During Thomas Jefferson’s Ministry in France, he wrote to George Washington, his Chief saying “Keep the keynote of our unique experiment in government, Freedom. The slightest deviation toward anything monarchial would eventually and surely prove the downfall of free American Government.”

Immediately after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, John Hancock appointed Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson as a committee of three to prepare a device for a Great Seal of the United States of America. It is significant to note at the outset that both the Bible and Masonry were drawn upon in the preparation of the Seal.

Among the designs submitted for consideration, one was by Benjamin Franklin depicting Moses with uplifted hand dividing the waters of the Red Sea as the Israelites were crossing over, and as these same waters were overwhelming the Pharaoh in his chariot, as they closed in behind the Israelites. Beneath was written, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.”

Thomas Jefferson’s proposal showed the Israelites journeying through the wilderness led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. While neither of these suggestions were accepted, a closely related design was adopted for the reverse side of the Seal which carries the symbol of a Pyramid. Two other committees also offered designs before the Seal in its present form was finally decided upon. After six years in its making, the seal was approved by congress on the Summer Solstice of June 20, 1782.

America’s destiny was coded into the symbolism of the American Seal, Flag, and its currency. The pyramid represents stability because of its solid shape and most difficult to overturn. Its geometrical form represents Spirit, as it is taken to be the permanent expression of a living flame - the fire principle. Its base is a square representing the four freedoms to all peoples as declared in our Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The triangle is the symbol of the human soul and Divine understanding of the principle of creation.

Then we have the pyramid with a capstone not yet lowered into place, and above it and within a triangle appears the ancient symbol of the all-seeing eye. This is the “Single Eye” of which Jesus Christ spoke. Jesus said, “When the eye is single the whole body is full of light.” This means that when we individually and on a national level put God first, everything else second, then the whole body, the whole life of that person and nation will be healthy, free and prosperous. Everything is in Divine Order.

The capstone of the pyramid is still unplaced to indicate that humanity cannot accomplish any real work of themself, but only as the instrument of God by having a single eye for true guidance and wisdom. Above the capstone is written in Latin which means “he prospered our undertaking” and below the capstone “A new order of the ages.” This backside of the Great Seal was mostly held in hiding until 1935. Believing people were now ready for this kind of symbolism it was placed upon the dollar bill as a reminder to all.

Most noted is the number 13 throughout both sides of the Great Seal; 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars, 13 feathers in the eagle’s wings, 13 arrows, 13 leaves and 13 fruit on the olive branch, and 13 stripes in the shield. Besides being the number of the original 13 colonies. The esoteric meaning of the number thirteen is the Christ consciousness; when the 12 disciples, or powers within us are awakened, the Christ consciousness comes forth as a new creation. The 1 represents leadership and new beginnings. The 3 stands for the trinity, and law of creation - Creator, Creative Action, and Creation. When the number 13 is reduced to a single digit, it becomes a four, which is a foundation completed, and a new beginning or a new order of things have commenced. That foundation is spiritual. Its keynote is transformation or death.

Thirteen is America’s destiny number. The significance of this fact lies in the nature of the forces that play through this number as they either remake or destroy. Under the thirteen there is only one way for America to go and that is onward and upward. We must continue to pioneer, not only on physical frontiers, but on the moral and spiritual fronts of the world.

The eagle on the front side represents, in the words of Shakespeare, “The eagle allows the little birds to sing.” America shall rule by freedom through helpful and friendly association, not by force of ideals. The flying eagle is the symbol of victory. The eagle by ancient legend tells that he is remarkable among birds. When a severe storm occurs, all other birds do one of two things; either they hide from the storm, or they try to fight it as long as they can. The eagle, however, does neither of these things – instead soars above the storm.

This is the practice in a Divine Science prayer treatment – we soar our consciousness above the appearance to the spiritual consciousness of peace and harmony, and to our oneness. All else falls away in the heights of consciousness.

We are reminded that our symbol of an eagle is different from all others; it is the bald-headed eagle, and wears no crown. This represents the power of direct contact with the Divine, or as we say, “The practice of the Presence of God.” The top of the head has always been used to signify the faculty of direct contact with God, such as our crown chakra. There being no crown means our own Divinity. Our own Self-realization and true dominion over our own life.

An entry in the Congressional Record at about the time of the Great Seal’s adoption describes the shield on the breast of the eagle as thus: “The thirteen pales represent the several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The pales in the Arms are kept closely united by the Chief and the Chief depends on that union and the strength resulting from it for its support to denote the confederacy of the United States of America and the preservation of the Union through Congress.”

The colors red, white and blue makes for strength and virtue. The white of purity and innocence is supported by the blue of truth and justice, and the red of courage, action and achievement. These were also the three colors placed upon the Ark of the Covenant.

It is said that the shield is unsupported, thus indicating that the strength and virtue of the nation which it represents rests on qualities to be developed within and not on props provided from without. Self reliance is a virtue essential to the realization of the democracy to which this nation was dedicated from the first.

The eagle’s head used to face the arrows until Harry S. Truman’s presidency 1945-1953, when the eagle’s head was changed to look to the claw bearing the olive branch of peace. The ideal is expressed in the floating banner held in the eagle’s beak; in English means “Many in One.” The olive carries properties that have made it an age-long symbol of healing, transformation and peace. The arrows are American, being the weapon used by the indigenous people. The official specifications require that the color of the arrows be white or gold. These colors represent Divine Spirit.

Our next symbol is our American flag born officially on June 14, 1777. It is made of these same colors of red, white and blue with thirteen stripes alternating red and white, and 13 five pointed white stars in a circle on a blue field representing a constellation, or heaven. The 5 pointed stars represents mankind, change, transformation and resurrection. The circle means continuity and everlastingness. George Washington declared the color scheme, “We take the stars from heaven, red from the mother country, separating it by white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty.” And, “that a new constellation had arisen in the west.”

We find these same great symbols on our money. In addition, our money has the words “In God We Trust.” How appropriate, that we trust in God, not the coin or piece of paper, nor the person who holds the currency or the agency who produces it, but God. For God is our true source of all prosperity. In today’s world we mostly use invisible transfers through the airways. Now that’s trust!

Today we definitely have a lot to be grateful about; we have those who worked hard to share their vision, and struggled and gave their lives to bring forth this new nation to be a shining beacon in the world. Let us not forget our nation’s spiritual roots and its commitment to the freedoms of equality, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is each person’s light shining that makes for a collective bright star. Let our light always be ignited. So it is!