John Dickinson (1732-1808), was not only a signer of the Constitution of the United States of America, but was a member of the Continental Congress and the writer of the first draft of The Articles of Confederation. He served as the President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, in addition to being an accomplished lawyer, planter and state legislator.

He was the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1773, and known for giving generously to the Friends (Quakers) in Philadelphia for their educational pursuits.

Dickinson wrote persuasive letters regarding the soundness of Christian evidences and the authority of Scripture. - Milton E. Fowler, John Dickinson: Conservative Revolutionary (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), p. 287. M. E. Bradford, Religion & The Framers: The Biographical Evidence (Marlborough, NH: Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1991), p. 8. He campaigned for the passage of the Constitution by writing a series of letters which he signed “Fabius.” This greatly contributed to Delaware and Pennsylvania being the first two states to ratify the Constitution.

John Dickinson is best remembered as “the Penman of the Revolution.” His popular pamphlets gained wide circulation and became very influential in the cause of freedom. Some of his most famous ones were: Petition to the King, 1771, The Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 1774, and The Declaration of the cause of taking up arms, 1775. His most stirring pamphlet was his Letter from a Farmer in Pennsylvania:

“But while Divine Providence, that game me existence in a land of freedom, permits my head to think, my lips to speak, and my hand to move, I shall so highly and gratefully value the blessing received as to take care that my silence and inactivity shall not give my implied assent to my act, degrading my brethren and myself from the birthright, wherewith heaven itself “hath made us free.” . . .

“I pray GOD that he may be pleased to inspire you and your posterity, to the latest ages, with a spirit of which I have an idea, that I find a difficulty to express.” - Forrest McDonald, ed., Empire and Nation (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1962, pp. 15,17. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), pp. 156-157.

In the Continental Congress of 1776, John Dickinson courageously bid farewell to the government of England:

“The happiness of these Colonies has been, during the whole course of this fatal controversy, our first wish; their reconciliation with Great Britain are next: ardently we have prayed for the accomplishment of both.

“But if we must renounce the one or the other, we humbly trust in the mercies of the Supreme Governor of the universe that we shall not stand condemned before His throne if our choice is determined by that law of self-preservation which his Divine wisdom has seen fit to implant in the hearts of His creatures. - 1776. Charles Stille, The Life and Times of John Dickinson (New York: Burt Franklin, 1968), pp. 187-188. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), pp. 157-158.

John Dickinson met with his other delegates from Pennsylvania less than two months before the Declaration of Independence was signed to suggest requirements for the members of the Convention to subscribe to before being seated. One of the recommended stipulations was the following declaration:

“I do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by Divine inspiration.” - Charles Stille, The Life and Times of John Dickinson (New York: Burt Franklin, 1968), pp. 185. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), pp. 157.