On Thursday, September 26th, friends, supporters, and lovers of history gathered at Trenton’s St. Michael’s Episcopal Church for the unveiling of the David Brearley Legacy Center. The morning began with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony upon the final resting place of David Brearley, the man whose life has served as a catalyst for this historic undertaking. Prior to the wreath-laying, guests had the opportunity to hear from representatives of New Jersey’s Masonic Lodge, Harry Jackendoff, St. Michael’s Director of Programs, and even Marquis de Lafayette, whose spirit was brilliantly captured by re-enactor Michael Halbert. A milestone moment for the Trenton historical community, one could not help but feel the energy of this revolutionary scene.

Following the wreath-laying ceremony, it was time for the official ribbon cutting of the David Brearley Legacy Center. The Legacy Center will ultimately pave the way for The David Brearley Center of the American Constitution, which is currently in the conceptual planning stages. Sharing their hopes for the future of this resource, Mr. Jackendoff shared, “This is a legacy center, but what we hope is that the Constitution Center will be something that we’re going to be able to share around the country. What we’ve created here, which is based on the Museum of Faith and Democracy in Philadelphia, was inspired by what they had done. To say, we can start doing this and people can have the same educational interactions.”

Who is David Brearley and why does his legacy matter for the Trenton community? Mr. Brearley served as Chief Justice of the NJ Supreme Court in 1780 and is most remembered for his role in laying the groundwork for the legal precedents which have shaped today’s justice system. David Brearley was also the 1st Grand Master of the New Jersey Masonic Lodge. Although accomplished in many areas of his life, he is best-remembered for his role in the 1780 ruling that serves as today’s precedent to declare a law unconstitutional. Both ‘originalist’ conservatives and liberals alike can find inspiration, knowledge, and merit in the brilliant work of Mr. Brearley’s legacy.

If you’d like to discover more and be a part of bringing the Center to life, you are invited to be a part of the inaugural fundraising reception for the The David Brearley Center for the American Constitution, which will take place on Saturday, October 12th. Admission for the VIP reception is $250 per attendee, with the funds raised going towards the development of a state-of-the-art historic education facility. Attending guests will have the opportunity to hear from Donald Scarinci, Esq. author of “David Brearley and the United States Constitution”, who will offer deeper insights to the mind of this remarkable man. If you are interested in attending the fast-approaching celebration, please contact St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at (609) 392-8086 for further assistance in securing your spot.

To discover more about the David Brearley Center of the American Constitution and how you can support this important work, please visit the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church website, linked here: St. Michael’s. History is happening in Trenton every day, so let’s raise a toast to this next unfolding chapter!

The post St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Celebrates Wreath-Laying & Inaugural Ribbon Cutting For the David Brearley Legacy Center first appeared on TrentonDaily.