CLEVELAND — It seemed fitting that honoring the National Day of Prayer became the setting for celebrating the displaying of several historical documents – most notably the Ten Commandments – at the White County courthouse May 7.

“Pastor Jim Holmes of Helen First Baptist Church spearheaded the hanging of these documents,” said Ten Commandments Georgia in a statement. “With enthusiastic and unanimous support of the White County Board of Commissioners, White County becomes one of almost twenty counties of the 159 in Georgia to hang these documents.”

Ten Commandments Georgia, is “a non-profit, grassroots organization committed to the task of locating, educating, and motivating citizens to acknowledge God through knowing, obeying, and displaying the Ten Commandments, thereby restoring a common moral code based upon God’s laws and the founding philosophy of our country,” according to its website at www.thoushalt.org.

The group’s president, Jody Hice, serves as senior pastor of Bethlehem First Baptist while Mike Griffin, senior pastor of Liberty Baptist in Hartwell, is the executive director.

“I am very pleased to be a part of a church family and community that sees the value of publically displaying these very important documents,” said Holmes. “These documents celebrate our past, present, and our future.

“The Ten Commandments are our moral plumb line, and the others anchor us to a legacy and heritage that values and celebrates our Judeo-Christian heritage and this priceless gift of freedom … most of all, our freedom in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In addition to the Ten Commandments, the display also contains the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, Star-Spangled Banner, the national motto: “In God We Trust,” Preamble to the Georgia Constitution, Bill of Rights, and a description of the image of Lady Justice.

The historical documents are made available through Ten Commandments Georgia.

The organization has never placed the displays in government buildings, but serves as a resource for private citizens and organizations that wish to do so.