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New Jersey Constitution of 1776

New Jersey Constitution of 1776

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

New Hampshire Constitution of 1784

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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

Mayflower Compact, 1620

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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

The Body of Liberties of the Massachusets Collonie in New England

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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

Trial of Anne Hutchinson

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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

The Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1691

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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

The Charter of Massachusetts Bay, 1629

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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

Massachusetts Constitution of 1780

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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

Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780

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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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The Charter of Maryland, 1632

The Charter of Maryland, 1632

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Maryland 1632 Charles, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, king, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents come, Greeting. II. Whereas our well beloved and right trusty Subject Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, in our Kingdom of Ireland, Son and Heir of George Calvert, Knight, late Baron of Baltimore, in our said Kingdom of Ireland, treading in the steps of his Father, being animated with a laudable, and pious Zeal for…

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