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Macomb, IL – Rich Egger's guest is Charles Allen of Nauvoo. He is author of the new book Journey of Promise: West From Sempringham. The book explores the idea that America was founded for a divine purpose.
Allen said the ancient village of Sempringham, England is where the Massachusetts Bay Company was organized in 1627. Three years later the company arrived in North America and became the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Allen said Native Americans played in important role in the theory that the US was founded for divine purposes. He said Benjamin Franklin was fascinated by five tribes in the northeast that co-existed for hundreds of years with no jails or sheriffs.
Allen said Franklin was also impressed by the two-house form of government operated by the tribes.
While Allen believes the US was founded for a divine purpose, he acknowledged the nation's flaws. A portion of his book examines the Puritan colony executions of those accused of being witches, and what it took to work through the issue and put an end to the witchcraft trials. Allen said a "far more mature thinking" developed as colonists resolved the matter.
The book covers 18 centuries. He said the King James Bible is central to his conclusions. Allen said his book was released this year to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.