The Mystery Man

By Jerry Stewart
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We’ve all heard the story of the 56 delegates who came together in Philadelphia on July the fourth, 1776 to declare our nation's freedom. But did you know there was another man there that day? A mystery man that to this day, who he was, where he was from, even his name remains a mystery. President Ronald Reagan spoke about his unknown stranger in a speech given on July the third 1981, and this is what he said:

"As the debate raged on for hours the issue of independence remained in doubt. These were honorable men. Still, to sign the Declaration of Independence seemed such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with cries of ‘treason.’

Then it is said one unknown man rose to speak. He was neither young nor strong of voice; Yet he spoke with such conviction that he mesmerized the hall. He cited the grievances that had brought them to this moment. His voice failing he said: "They may turn every tree into gallows, every hole into a grave, yet the words of this parchment must never die. To the mechanic in the workshop, they will speak hope. To the slaves in the mine…freedom.

Sign that parchment. Sign even if in the next moment a noose is placed around your neck. For this Declaration of Independence will be the textbook of freedom, the Bible of the rights of man forever."

It is said that after that powerful speech, the delegates were so inspired that they no longer delayed and each stepped forward to sign that Declaration of Independence. Later, when they wanted to congratulate the stranger for his powerful speech, he was mysteriously gone, and no one ever found out who this man was. Was he an angel? Sent from God? We’ll never know. But, we do know this. For our nation to survive today each of us must step forward, stand up for what we know to be right and pledge our own lives and sacred honor.

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