Religious Freedom Archive

Charter of the Colony of New Plymouth Granted to William Bradford and His Associates : 1629

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

New Plymouth 1629 To all to whom these presents shall come greetinge: Whereas our late sovereigns lord king James for the advancement of a collonie and plantacon in the cuntry called or knowne by the name of New Englande in America, by his highnes letters patients under the greate scale of Englande bearingedate att Westminster the third day of November in the eighteenth yeare of his highnes raigne of England, &c. did give graunte and confirms unto the right honoble…

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New Jersey Constitution of 1776

May 31, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive

New Jersey 1776 Articles 18 and 19 outlawed a religious establishment, prohibiting the use of tax dollars to support any religion. However it limited public office to Protestants. XVIII. That no person shall ever, within this Colony, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; nor, under any pretence whatever, be compelled to attend any place of worship, contrary to his own faith and judgment; nor shall…

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New Hampshire Constitution of 1784

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

New Hampshire 1784 The New Hampshire constitution provided broad religious rights for all Christians (not just Protestants). It allowed for and encouraged taxpayer support of religion but also said that no person should have to support a church with which they did not agree. IV. Among the natural rights, some are in their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or received for them. Of this kind are the RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.V. Every individual has a natural and…

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Mayflower Compact, 1620

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Mayflower Passengers 1620 IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence…

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The Body of Liberties of the Massachusets Collonie in New England

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Masschusetts 1641 Excerpts of the early Puritan laws related to religion The free fruition of such liberties Immunities and priveledges as humanitie, Civilitie, and Christianitie call for as due to every man in his place and proportion without impeachment and Infringement hath ever bene and ever will be the tranquillitie and Stabilitie of Churches and Commonwealths. And the deniall or deprivall thereof, the disturbance if not the ruine of both.We hould it therefore our dutie and safetie whilst we…

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Trial of Anne Hutchinson

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Massachusetts Court 1637 Anne Hutchinson was a reputable Boston matron who began holding meetings after church to discuss the day’s sermons or the Bible. It was deemed a direct assault on the official church. Theologically, she believed that the Puritans emphasized good works too much and put insufficient emphasis on grace. She was brought before the general court, where her accusers were also her judges. She declared that the local clergy lacked inspiration from God, and asked what laws she’d…

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The Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1691

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Massachusetts Bay 1691 WILLIAM & MARY by the grace of God King and Queene of England Scotland France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith &c To all to whome these presents shall come Greeting Whereas his late Majesty King James the First Our Royall Predecessor by his Letters Patents vnder the Greate Seale of England bearing date at Westminster the Third Day of November in the Eighteenth yeare of his Reigne did Give and Grant vnto the Councill established at…

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The Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1629

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Massachusetts Bay 1629 CHARLES, BY THE, GRACE, OF GOD, Kinge of England, Scotland, Fraunce, and Ireland, Defendor of the Fayth, &c. To all to whome theis Presents shall come Greeting. WHEREAS, our most Deare and Royall Father, Kinge James, of blessed Memory, by his Highnes Letters-patents bearing Date at Westminster the third Day of November, in the eighteenth Yeare of His Raigne, HATH given and graunted vnto the Councell established at Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the planting,…

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Massachusetts Constitution of 1780

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Massachusetts January 1, 1780 It was the right as well as the duty” to worship “the Supreme Being.” While some states were moving to end the practice of having official, taxpayer-supported “established” religion, Massachusetts continued with the practice. They did, however, become more pluralistic In the sense that before the war, state support went mostly to the Congregational Church, the ancestors of the Puritans. This constitution allowed and encouraged taxpayers to provide “the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers…

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Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780

May 27, 2017 Religious Freedom Archive Comments 0 Comment

Massachusetts April 9, 1821 Art. VI. Instead of the oath of allegiance prescribed by the constitution, the following oath shall be taken and subscribed by every person chosen or appointed to any office, civil or military, under the government of this commonwealth, before he shall enter on the duties of his office, to wit:”I, A. B., do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and will support the constitution thereof. So help…

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