This week in Christian history: ‘Father of Connecticut’ dies; ‘Cross of Gold’ speech; ex-slave ordained

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, July 05, 2020

William Jennings Bryan gives “Cross of Gold” speech — July 8, 1896

Former United States Secretary of State and Democratic presidential hopeful William Jennings Bryan. | (Photo: Public Domain)

This week marks the anniversary of when notable fundamentalist Christian William Jennings Bryan gave his famous “Cross of Gold” speech before the Democratic National Convention.

While the issue he was debating was a secular one — should silver be the standard for American currency rather than gold — Bryan laced his oratory with religious imagery.

“We shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold,” he famously declared.

“The humblest citizen in all the land when clad in the armor of a righteous cause is stronger than all the whole hosts of error that they can bring. I come to speak to you in defense of a cause as holy as the cause of liberty — the cause of humanity.”