Michael P. Farris, Esq.
Chairman &
General Counsel

John Jay

Volume 64, Program 2 Airdate: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 Originally Aired: Tuesday, May 12, 1998

Many of the men and women responsible for the founding of America were taught at home by their parents. Yesterday on Home School Heartbeat, we highlighted the life of Patrick Henry. Today, Mike Farris shares the life of another homeschooled patriot.

Michael Farris:

After our Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution, they had to submit it to the states for ratification. In order to persuade the states to ratify the federal constitution, three great men wrote The Federalist Papers, a stirring defense and explanation of America's founding document. John Jay, the eighth child of Peter and Mary Jay, was one of the authors of the book that convinced the states to ratify the Constitution.

When John was a young child, his mother taught him the rudiments of English and Latin. At the age of 14, John Jay entered college, and upon graduation was apprenticed as a lawyer. His law training later allowed him to become the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court.

John Jay's parents were staunch Christians and profoundly influenced their son's character in addition to his academic training. John's parents were careful to educate their children in the Word of God. John Jay later said, "In forming and settling my beliefs relative to the doctrine of Christianity, I adopted no articles from creeds, but such only as, on a careful examination, I found to be confirmed by the Bible."

We can thank John Jay's parents for raising a godly son who served his country with the kind of moral leadership we so desperately need today. I'm Michael Farris.