The United States Declaration of Independence closes with the phrase: "And to the support of this declaration, with a firm confidence in the protection of Divine Providence, we pledge to each other our lives, our fortune and our sacred honor." Following that line were affixed the signatures of 56 men, each of whom made a pledge of mutual commitment, reward or punishment, commitment of his own wealth, supported by the full measure of his own self-esteem and righteousness. If the attempt at independence had failed, the punishment these men would have faced would have been death. To say their oath was grim is an understatement. In the Age of Enlightenment, the nascent state that was forming in the new world looked to the actions of men to achieve what they considered one of the most sacred goals. available to human ambition: equality among all people. One force that fell out of favor of the Enlightenment was the clergy and organized religions that had proscriptions that limited men's freedom. Even the beggars of the holy orders did not escape the wrath of the Enlightenment. In the 1760s various mendicant orders, but especially the Jesuits, suffered harassment, arrest and expulsion from a number of European countries and their colonies. In the early 13th century the order of friars that would become known as The Franciscans, named after their founder Francis of Assisi, followed a path of personal and communal poverty. It was believed that through the vow of poverty they would come closer to understanding Jesus and the greater reward in the afterlife promised by their faith. Poverty freed them from the corrupting influence of material possessions. To feed, shelter and clothe themselves, the Fr...... middle of paper ...... donating to the afterlife, donors of our beggar class expect to see more immediate and tangible benefits. Since they continue to donate, one can only infer that they benefit. The fact that a luxurious lifestyle results from their donations is of little concern to the donors. Unfortunately for the country, the quid pro quo is satisfactory for both sides. The Declaration of Independence might have ended if written today by the likes of Boehner, Rangel, Blunt, and Hoyer; Senators Reid, Chambliss, Schumer, Ensign and former Senator Edwards: "And in support of this declaration, with a firm confidence in the protection of Divine Providence, and in the sure profit derived from the political supplication of the people's praise of said Providence, we mutually pledge to ourselves the lives of others, their fortunes and their sacred honors."