Robert H. Jackson Memorial Service
Rev. Eric Williams, Rector
Rev. Susan Amlaw Williams, Liturgy
Sermon: Rev. Moritz Fuchs
Gerald Heglund, Planning
St. Luke’s Church
Jamestown, New York
October 3, 2004
Intro:
In the late fall of 1945, nearly 59 years ago, a small hunting party near Nuremberg, Germany included Justice Robert H. Jackson, his son Bill, Col. Amen, Gen. Taylor, and myself. Happily for me, I was the only one to shoot a deer. That success prompted Robert H. Jackson to remark with confidence that his bodyguard could shoot accurately. Mr. Jackson himself dressed out the deer, revealing his familiarity with ways of farm and field as well as with halls of law and learning.
At his opening statement before the IMT at Nuremberg, November 21, 1945, Justice Robert H. Jackson stood with remarkable confident poise addressing the judges and the world. His background of law and history was easily evident as he eloquently presented the charges against the Nazi defendants Goering, Hess, vonRibbontrop and company. We gather today to remember Justice Robert H. Jackson who was called to his eternal reward nearly 50 years ago, October 9, 1954. His farewell salute was celebrated in this very church after a brief memorial service earlier at the Cathedral in Washington, DC.
Here, lying in state at St. Luke’s church, surrounded by his fellow justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, his family and many friends, this great statesman and praiseworthy leader was bid adieu from this earthly life. He has well-served God and our country in his several roles as solicitor general, attorney general, associate justice of the Supreme Court, and as friend and advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. For me, most notably, Justice Robert H. Jackson rose to a new prominence as chief Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trial. That was the first of the several deliberations of the IMT, the International Military Tribunal, and then national tribunals, that in succeeding years called to account lesser Nazi leaders who had been involved in their efforts to take over as much as possible of the world that was within their grasp.
In hindsight, it seems divinely directed providence for me, that Lt. Colonel John T. Corley, Commander of the 3rd Battalion 26th Infantry, assigned me at war’s end, in the summer of 1945, to protect and guard the Chief Prosecutor who was soon to arrive in Nuremberg. Mr. Jackson’s role was to be the chief organizer, prosecutor, and spokesman for our nation in close cooperation with leaders from England, France and the Soviet Union. These four nations spoke for many other nations in condemning the crimes committed by the Nazi leadership.
For nearly a year, mine was the singular and unique role of being always present in the background wherever Mr. Jackson was - at home in a suburb of Nuremberg, or at the courtroom, or at the offices of the court where so many lawyers and officers of several nations came to consult him. Armed with only a handgun and a blackjack, for a young soldier at age 20, the assignment to (protect) guard Justice Jackson was an unusual honor and privilege! That special duty assignment brought along some fringe benefits too, such as flights with Mr. Jackson to Berlin, London, Nice and Rome. Best of all, and most valuable, however, for me, was the experience at first hand, coming to know Mr. Justice Jackson.
The man was of exemplary character, evidently formed by Christian influence from his youth. His character, combined with his familiarity with culture, made him to be, as they say, “a class act.” Well read, and schooled in the real world, he was a clear thinker and well able to articulate his convictions. Evidently aware of the stature of our early American presidents and leaders, he pursued their ideals and made considerable progress incorporating those ideals in his own personal life and attitudes toward others. From him I learned how even one person can have considerable influence for good in the world. It may well be that such observation, seeing such good example, may have been unknowingly for me at that time, a contributing factor in my perception during that year that I would consider being called by God to ministry in the church.
The gospels, as the good news revealing the awesome love that the Creator God of the universe has for us humans, shown to us in the person of Jesus, surely were a foundation for the qualities that I came to admire in Mr. Justice Jackson. From his family life and academic reading of much literature, he stood out as an exemplary witness to that inspired motto, years earlier contrived for our nation to proclaim: “In God We Trust.”
“Those children who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” is what we just heard from what St. Paul wrote to Christians of Rome in the early decades of our history. St. Paul was himself in prison when he considered “the sufferings of this present time as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Mr. Jackson’s efforts in the Supreme Court and at the IMT as he sought for justice and accountability match well with what St. Paul writes, “in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God…for in hope we were saved.”
There is a confidence that comes as a gift from God as when believers commit themselves to trust in God. Psalm 121, which we just read, was written of and inspired by Almighty God centuries before God came as our Savior in the Person of Jesus. Now entitled “The Lord My Guardian,” the words of the Psalm vibrate strongly with enduring trust in God’s help: “I raise my eyes toward the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” Then comes the assurance, “God will not allow your foot to slip, your guardian does not sleep…The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is your shade at your right hand…The Lord will guard you from all evil, will always guard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and going, both now and forever.”
The clarity of thought and perception evidenced in his measured prosecution of the evil that was planned and performed by the Nazis, seems to me to come from Mr. Jackson’s basic perception of right and wrong, a clear vision of what true righteousness is all about. The ways that God wants us human beings to live as moral persons are found in God’s revelations in the Bible, centered in the Ten Commandments. Even beyond these divine directions there is a wide agreement among people of most nations down the centuries, about details of daily living that commonly are recognized as practical requirements for harmonious life.
We honor this man today because he superbly articulated some precise insights about justice and peace, and expressed them so well! Those ideas and principles are ones that are needed today to guide global humanity in our present time of frightful conflicts, dangers and wars. We need to apply and live by those principles if the greatness of our nation and the interrelated peace among nations are to survive, and hopefully even flourish. In our nation, and globally, humanity needs to step aside from the road to chaos, division and destruction, and turn instead to the ways of mutual respect, cooperation, and development of life on earth.
When I first knew Justice Jackson I was simply a youthful infantry soldier. I knew little of the Bible and very little of law, to say nothing of international law. Eight years later, as I neared completion of seminary studies, he welcomed me once as a visitor at the Supreme Court. Then a year after that, just a half a year before my ordination in 1955, he died all too early at age 62, 50 years ago.
In the meantime I had received the grace to love the Lord God much more directly and learned a lot about our Bible heritage. We had been taught in the seminary much about history and the needs of peoples all over the world, so it became clear to me that a large task was set before us. The foundation of responsible leadership that was so well exemplified in Mr. Jackson, and the call to accountability that was set before the court of IMT, inspired me to carry on, to do the best I could to help make the world a better place, a world where men and women are encouraged and enabled to be all they can be.
The good news of faith, hope and love is offered to all of us and is exemplified for us by Jesus. Along with that best and divine direction for living human life, the Lord himself as The Way, The Truth and The Life, assures us of his accompanying us all along life’s way. “Been there, done that” Jesus can say to us, no matter in what stage of life we find ourselves.
As we honor today the memory of Justice Robert H. Jackson, may we have confidence in his having served well, our Creator God and our country. May our memory of his greatness inspire us in our time to stand for and to continue to work for the freedom under God that inspired and measured his commitment.
May he have heard long ago the welcome and praise of our Maker, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May he rest in peace, and know forever the fulfillment of happiness. Amen.
Transcribed by Charlene J. Peterson, 2004