Commercial Providence
Encyclopedia
Commercial Providence: The Secret Destiny of the American Empire is a book written by Patrick Mendis
in which he puts forward a new theory about the original conviction and commercial vision of the Founding Fathers of the United States
. The foreword to the book is written by Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
, president emeritus of the George Washington University
.
and Benjamin Franklin
) who collectively held an ancient belief that America’s Special Providence was associated with a more secular idea of God, i.e., what they called “Nature’s God.” At the birth of the United States, the Founders maintained “God [Providence] had favored their undertakings,” or Annuit Coeptis, as shown on the Great Seal of the United States. These founding architects were building a monument to “Nature’s God” as they understood it when they designed the nation’s capital to correspond with three stars that form a celestial triangle in the sky above Washington, D.C.
The author states that within this triangle lies the Virgo constellation, which had a great deal of symbolic importance to Masonic leaders like Washington, Franklin, Paul Revere
, and others who had intimate knowledge of Freemasonry
and symbolism.
As in astrology and Wisdom traditions, the author describes that Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, innovation and communication. He then documents that the founding architects of the nation's capital expressed this esotoric notion in symbolism that America would also be led by commerce. Dr. Mendis argues that not only did the city planners incorporated this astrological and esoteric knowledge into the architectural design of Washington, but they also embedded this founding ideology into the U.S. Constitution and its Commerce Clause by designing our "global nation" to be a “Commercial Republic” in which the Union was joined together through trade and commerce—not religion, as is frequently debated today.
, “out of many, one.” In his theory, Dr. Mendis, an affiliate professor of public and international affairs at George Mason University
, connects all of these seemingly lesser-known historical facts and present-day evidence to explain America’s evolving role in the world—from the voice of dissent to a powerful force for the export of American idealism through commerce with foreign nations. Professor Mendis summarizes the book with a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville
in his Democracy in America
(1835): “Providence has given us a torch which our forefathers did not possess, and has allowed us to discern fundamental causes in the history of the world which the obscurity of the past concealed from them.” To that end, the theory of Commercial Providence is a masterful deciphering of the founding ideas and ideals shared by the Freemasons and their notion of Universal Brotherhood and symbolism, which has indelibly marked both the capital architecture and national governance.
In a book review for Academic Librarians in the CHOICE magazine, Professor W. C. Johnson at Bethel University writes:
Patrick Mendis
Patrick Mendis is an educator, diplomat, author, and executive in government service. He taught MBA/MPA as well as international trade and American foreign policy courses at the University of Minnesota, University of Maryland University College, and Yale University before joining the U.S....
in which he puts forward a new theory about the original conviction and commercial vision of the Founding Fathers of the United States
Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
. The foreword to the book is written by Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg was the 15th President of George Washington University, serving from 1988 to 2007. On August 1, 2007, he retired from the presidency and became President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service.- Background :...
, president emeritus of the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.
Origin and Summary of the Theory
The author proposes a theory of Commercial Providence that links directly to the Founding Fathers (especially George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
) who collectively held an ancient belief that America’s Special Providence was associated with a more secular idea of God, i.e., what they called “Nature’s God.” At the birth of the United States, the Founders maintained “God [Providence] had favored their undertakings,” or Annuit Coeptis, as shown on the Great Seal of the United States. These founding architects were building a monument to “Nature’s God” as they understood it when they designed the nation’s capital to correspond with three stars that form a celestial triangle in the sky above Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The author states that within this triangle lies the Virgo constellation, which had a great deal of symbolic importance to Masonic leaders like Washington, Franklin, Paul Revere
Paul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
, and others who had intimate knowledge of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and symbolism.
As in astrology and Wisdom traditions, the author describes that Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, innovation and communication. He then documents that the founding architects of the nation's capital expressed this esotoric notion in symbolism that America would also be led by commerce. Dr. Mendis argues that not only did the city planners incorporated this astrological and esoteric knowledge into the architectural design of Washington, but they also embedded this founding ideology into the U.S. Constitution and its Commerce Clause by designing our "global nation" to be a “Commercial Republic” in which the Union was joined together through trade and commerce—not religion, as is frequently debated today.
The American Project Born of Freemasonry
Mendis notes that the 2009 historic scene at the joint-session of Congress—where mixed race President Barack Obama flanked working class Vice President Joe Biden and female Speaker Nancy Pelosi—can also be seen as a dramatic testament to the “ancient hope” manifested through Commercial Providence and E Pluribus UnumE pluribus unum
E pluribus unum , Latin for "Out of many, one", is a phrase on the Seal of the United States, along with Annuit cœptis and Novus ordo seclorum, and adopted by an Act of Congress in 1782...
, “out of many, one.” In his theory, Dr. Mendis, an affiliate professor of public and international affairs at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, connects all of these seemingly lesser-known historical facts and present-day evidence to explain America’s evolving role in the world—from the voice of dissent to a powerful force for the export of American idealism through commerce with foreign nations. Professor Mendis summarizes the book with a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis de Tocqueville
Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America and The Old Regime and the Revolution . In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in...
in his Democracy in America
Democracy in America
De la démocratie en Amérique is a classic French text by Alexis de Tocqueville. A "literal" translation of its title is Of Democracy in America, but the usual translation of the title is simply Democracy in America...
(1835): “Providence has given us a torch which our forefathers did not possess, and has allowed us to discern fundamental causes in the history of the world which the obscurity of the past concealed from them.” To that end, the theory of Commercial Providence is a masterful deciphering of the founding ideas and ideals shared by the Freemasons and their notion of Universal Brotherhood and symbolism, which has indelibly marked both the capital architecture and national governance.
In a book review for Academic Librarians in the CHOICE magazine, Professor W. C. Johnson at Bethel University writes: