Welcome to Call to Decision 

 American Minute with Bill Federer

 July 23

 Roger Sherman was the only person to sign all four of America's
 founding documents: the Articles of Association-1774, the Declaration
 of Independence-1776, the Articles of Confederation-1777, and the U.S.
 Constitution-1787.

 At age 19, Roger Sherman's father died and he supported his family as
 a shoe cobbler, helping two younger brothers attend college and become
 clergymen.

 Roger Sherman was a surveyor and merchant, but when a neighbor needed
 legal advice, he studied to help, only to be inspired to be a lawyer.

 Roger Sherman was elected a state senator, a judge and a delegate to
 the Continental Congress.

 He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and gave instructions
 to an embassy to Canada:

 "That all civil rights and the right to hold office were to be
 extended to persons of any Christian denomination."

 Roger Sherman made 138 speeches at the Constitutional Convention, and
 in the first session of Congress, thought a First Amendment
 unnecessary, as religion was under each individual States'
 jurisdiction.

 Elected a U.S. Senator at age 70, Roger Sherman died JULY 23, 1793.
 Inscribed on his tomb is:

 "He ever adorned the profession of Christianity which he made in
 youth and...died in the prospect of a blessed immortality."