Rush by Stephen Friend and Apple Dumplings
First, the recipe was really good! I was trying to find a traditional Philadelphia recipe. This was as close as I could get (adapted from a Pennsylvania Dutch recipe).
Recipe: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/apple-dumplings-with-sauce/
Last month, while reading American Eden, I first heard about Dr. Benjamin Rush. While reading the book, Mount Vernon’s George Washington Library tweeted out this book which I immediately bought (the book study interview is at the bottom of this page). When the book came in the mail, I was astounded at how big it was; however, once I started reading it, I was completely engaged. The book is written that is not only easy to read but keeps the reader engaged.
Dr. Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father who did more than sign the Declaration of Independence. He was a medical doctor whose ways were somewhat debatable (bloodletting) but one whose heart and passion led to many reforms in the mental health system. This book entwines history with the medical field and the impact he made on both. There is too much to discuss; however, I did take ten pages of notes which I will be sharing (not all, of course). I hope you will find some of these notes interesting. Note: I put page numbers where you can find this information in the book.
1) In 1776, Rush was appointed to the Philadelphia Committee which tried to enact price controls to fight skyrocketing costs of provisions and imported goods. Dr. Rush, who had studied the costs/implications of price controls in previous history, was adamant against enforcing price controls. He is quoted as saying “men do not become wise by the experience of other people…even our own experience does not always produce wise conduct, though the lessons for that purpose are sometimes repeated two or three times.” (pg. 142)
How often do we say “History repeats itself.” I love how he states that there is history that can teach us a lesson but so many times we don’t adhere, thus taking multiple times of failure before becoming wise. He later was quoted saying that “price controls is nothing but an opiate. It may compose the continent for a night, but she will soon awaken again to a fresh sense of her pain and misery.” (this quote on pg. 195)
2) After confirming Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote to Dr. Ben Rush and stated “For political integrity is the rarest virtue in the whole world.” TRUTH!!!! Adams later gave Rush a lecture on how private and public integrity do not always go together. (pg. 163)
3) Eldrin Gerry was a signer of the Declaration of Independence…hence the word “gerrymandering.” (pg. 163)
4) The American GI haircut can be attributed to Dr. Rush (who studied a German/French military leader)…he believed that keeping the hair cut short (buzz cut) would prevent lice and sickness caused by wet heads.
5) Thomas Paine: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” The American Crisis…written to encourage Washington’s army who were freezing, to re-enlist. (pg. 175)
6) We all have heard about Washington crossing the Delaware. Charles Willson Peale (whom many of us have heard of due to his portrait of GW) had crossed the Delaware River but couldn’t land due to ice. He had to row back. GW’s group was the first to cross the Delaware River (800 feet). Dr. Rush was with another group (Philadelphia group) that eventually was able to cross as well.
7) April 1777, Dr. Rush was appointed surgeon general and laid out a plan on how soldiers should care for themselves to stay in better health. (pg. 200)
8) NOW FOR SOMETHING ALL HISTORY/GOVERNMENT TEACHERS SHOULD KNOW (which I didn’t)…
Prior to the Constitutional Convention, a new magazine was created that published essays about political/government philosophies. Dr. Ben Rush published an essay where he proposed a bicameral legislature (two chambers): in one chamber, each state would get one vote and in the other chamber, it would be based on population. He also believed states should not print their own money and no terms limits (he thought why remove someone from office right when they were becoming qualified). I think that last part is hilarious. I truly do not believe he would have thought that an individual should serve in a role for 30-40 years like many in Congress today. If he could only foresee the future…
Now, John Adams will also publish an essay (because he was going to be away in France during convention) that would support the bicameral legislature as well. What I find interesting is this: those of us who teach early American history or Government teach about the New Jersey Plan (each state gets one vote) and Virginia Plan (based on population) and how the “Great Compromise” brought both together (to create the system we have today). What blew my mind is the fact that these ideas were put forth by Adams and Rush long before the Convention. If I ever taught Government again, I would teach this differently. Rush and Adam could not debate at the Convention because Adams was in France and Rush wasn’t a delegate. I guess those representing the states took their positions and argued for that position (I may email the author with that question). It is sad, however, that textbooks present a “cheap” version of this instead of attributing the ideas to these two guys (many were throwing around ideas and these two did not come up with these ideas…they just publicly made known their thoughts and why…Society of Promoting Political Inquiries was formed to discuss these different theories).
9) Although Rush did not take part of the Constitutional Convention, he did live in Philadelphia and dined with many who were at the convention. Dr. Rush was one to encourage Jonas Phillip (who was Jewish) to push for Article 6 – that no religious test shall be required as qualifications of office.
10) Dr. Rush strongly pushed for public education for everyone. He always reflected on the separation of church and state. He also reflected on balance of religion in secular education.
11) (pg. 313) He believed in the separation of church and state AND that no one should take an oath based on religion. He was appointed to be a Pennsylvania delegate on ratifying the Constitution. He wanted to have a prayer before the meeting started. When he was questioned if this went against his belief in separation of church and state, he stated no because having a prayer at a meeting was not the same as have a legislator swear an oath to Jesus and the Bible.
My thoughts…it seems that many today have taken this concept of “separation of church and state” to the extreme, far more radical that what Rush (and Jefferson) would have believed. As a public school teacher, I have to be very careful about what I wear and say that would reflect my religious views. I have studied some case law that discussed teachers not wearing a cross necklace because, as a government employee, that would be the teacher “establishing”/supporting a religion. I remember prayer used to be held at the beginning of my school’s football games until a parent complained (in my School Law class last year, I read some additional cases on that). My opinion… many today should stop quoting our Founders’ thoughts on separation of church and state to support these radical extremes because, personally, I do not think our Founders would have agreed with the use of their words for today’s actions. Use other “evidence” to support thoughts and reasons.
12) Adams and Rush were best friends but viewed politics differently (Rush aligned more with Jefferson). When debating (through written letters) who should become the first Supreme Court Chief Justice, Rush mentioned to Adams maybe they should not discuss anything unless they were in agreement. Adams wrote back saying, “You and I will not cease to discuss political questions: but We will agree to disagree, whenever We please, or rather whenever either of Us thinks he has reason for it.” LOVE IT! So many today think saying “let’s agree to disagree” is a chicken way of getting our of an argument. It isn’t. Relationships should be valued above agreement on a political issue. There comes a time when differences should just be admitted.
13) During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, Rush (who, as physician, saw the loss of life) wept and prayed through OT Psalms – two in particular Psalm 102 and Psalm 37 (two much needed today). In a letter to his wife, Julia, he wrote: Remember the difference between the law and the gospel. The former only commands us “to love our neighbors as ourselves,” but the latter bids us love them better than ourselves.”
14) In 1795, Rush turned down an offer to oversee the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia because (as one reason) he knew how “the print media had become voracious in its appetite for controversy.” AMEN!!!!
15) William Cobbet “Peter Porcupine” created a gazette that slandered Dr. Rush. Cobbet would write vile and false articles about Rush. Rush later sued Cobbet for slander. This became the first test of the First Amendment. The trial started in Dec. 1799 (Rush-Cobbet trial). On the second day of the trial, Washington died. One of the doctors attending Washington was a medical student under Rush. Rush won his slander lawsuit.
16) Rush was the one that eventually got Adams and Jefferson reunited. For over a year, Rush wrote back and forth to Adams and Jefferson about the importance of reconciling their former friendship. They eventually did and wrote over 200 letters after Rush died (Rush died before they did…Adams and Jefferson died on the very exact day – July 4 – 50th anniversary of declaring independence).
17) Another fascinating tidbit…many of us have heard of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. What I (and probably you) did not know was that Dr. Ben Rush was the thought and movement behind Common Sense. Rush wanted to publish something but knew anything that he published would hurt his medical practice. He had befriended Thomas Paine (that friendship was later severed) who said he would write something. For months, Paine wrote and Bush edited and gave insights. Eventually, Common Sense was published.
Last, some quotes that I love and think are very applicable today…
A letter from Adams to Rush – Feb. 1805: “Is the present State of the Nation Republican enough? Is virtue the principle of our Government? Is honor? Or is ambition and avarice adulation, baseness, covetousness, the thirst of riches, indifference concerning the means of rising and enriching, the contempt of principle, the Spirit of party and of faction, the motive and the principle that governs? These are Serious and dangerous questions; but serious men ought now to flinch from dangerous questions.” (pg. 425)
Statement from Rush to his son Richard Rush (concerning getting into politics): “If no scruples of conscience forbid them to bear arms, I would recommend to them rather to be soldiers than politicians…In battle men kill, without hating each other; in political contests men hate without killing, but in hatred they commit murder every hour of their lives.” (pg. 431)
A letter from Rush to Adams concerning a letter Rush had sent Washington during Revolution, a letter that would strain their relationship (read book to find out 😏): “When Calvin heard that Luther had called him ‘a Child of the devil,’ he coolly replied, ‘Luther is a Servant of the most high God.’ In Answer to the epithet which G. Washington has applied to me [‘black-hearted scoundrel’], I will as coolly reply, He was the highly favoured instrument whose patriotism and name contributed greatly to the establishment of the independence of the United States.” (pg. 463)
When someone says something that hurts us, how do we respond? With anger? Some good food for thought…
And to end which sums up the book…
Adams words comparing Rush and Ben Franklin: “Dr. Rush was a greater and better Man than Dr. Franklin: Yet Rush was always persecuted and Franklin always adored…Why is not Dr. Rush placed before Dr. Franklin in the Temple of Fame? Because Cunning is more powerful Divinity, than Simplicity. Rush has done infinitely more good to America than Franklin. Both deserved a high Rank among Benefactors to their Country and Mankind; but Rush by far the highest.” (pg. 485)
Happy Reading!
Stephen Fried’s discussion on Rush
Recovering the Founding Legacy of Dr. Benjamin Rush with Stephen Fried (click to listen to a book talk)
