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Category: Letters & Documents

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, October 29, 1775

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, October 29, 1775

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John Adams October 29, 1775 Unlike Madison and Jefferson, Adams for many years believed that taxpayer support of religion – the approach taken in New England – was a good idea. There is, in the human Breast, a social Affection, which extends to our whole Species. Faintly indeed; but in some degree. The Nation, Kingdom, or Community to which We belong is embraced by it more vigorously. It is stronger still towards the Province to which we belong, and in…

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Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, November 18, 1775

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, November 18, 1775

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John Adams November 18, 1775 November 18. 1775 Your kind Letter of the 5th. Inst. came to Hand yesterday by Captain McPherson. I admire your skill in Phisiognomy, and your Talent at drawing Characters, as well as that of your Friend Marcia from whom at the same Time I received several important Characters, which you shall one day see. I agree with you in your sentiments that there is Reason to be diffident of a Man who grossly violates the…

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Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, September 16, 1774

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, September 16, 1774

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John Adams September 16, 1774 Early in the Continental Congress, it was proposed that the delegates begin the day in prayer. Some members objected since there were now so many different denominations represented. How could they find someone who could represent them all? Sam Adams (not known for his religious tolerance), broke the logjam by saying that even though he was Congregationalist, he could accept an Episcopalian preacher. His cousin, John Adams, recounts the scene. Having a Leisure Moment, while…

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Diary of John Adams, November 30, 1804

Diary of John Adams, November 30, 1804

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John Adams November 30, 1804 Adams explains how a controversy over a preacher drove him away from choosing the ministry as a career. Bryant had been driven away as a minister for promoting the idea that good works could influence salvation. Between the Years 1751 when I entered, and 1754 [i.e. 1755] when I left Colledge a Controversy was carried on between Mr. Bryant the Minister of our Parish and some of his People, partly on Account of his Principles…

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Diary of John Adams, March 07, 1756

Diary of John Adams, March 07, 1756

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John Adams March 7, 1756 Adams believes in a free market of religious ideas, in which the best ones emerge from an open discussion. Heard Mr. Maccarty all day. Spent the Evening and supped at Mr. Greenes, with Thayer. Honesty, Sincerity and openness, I esteem essential marks of a good mind. I am therefore of opinion, that men ought, (after they have examined with unbiassed judgments, every System of Religion, and chosen one System on their own Authority, for themselves)…

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Diary of John Adams, February 22, 1756

Diary of John Adams, February 22, 1756

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John Adams February 22, 1756 February 22 SUNDAY. Suppos a nation in some distant Region, should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. Every member would be obliged in Concience to temperance and frugality and industry, to justice and kindness and Charity towards his fellow men, and to Piety and Love, and reverence towards almighty God. In this Commonwealth, no man would impair his health by Gluttony,…

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Diary of John Adams, February 21, 1765

Diary of John Adams, February 21, 1765

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John Adams February 21, 1765 Found in his diary, this was a draft of a longer essay on cannon and feudal law. It was a Resolution formed by a sensible People almost in despair. [The Puritans’ decision to leave England and settle in America.] They Puritans had become intelligent in general, and some of them learned but they had been galled, and fretted, and whipped and cropped, and hanged and burned. In short they had been so worried by Plagues…

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Diary of John Adams, February 13, 1756

Diary of John Adams, February 13, 1756

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John Adams February 13, 1756 Adams doesn’t think much of the idea that Christ wiped away the sins of others. pleasant morning. Saw my classmates Gardner, and Wheeler. Wheeler dined, spent the afternoon, and drank Tea with me. Supped at Major Gardiners, and ingag’d to keep School at Bristol, provided Worcester People, at their insuing March meeting, should change this into a moving School, not otherwise. Major Greene this Evening fell into some conversation with me about the Divinity and…

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Diary of John Adams, February 02, 1756

Diary of John Adams, February 02, 1756

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John Adams February 2, 1756 Suppos a nation in some distant Region, should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. Every member would be obliged in Concience to temperance and frugality and industry, to justice and kindness and Charity towards his fellow men, and to Piety and Love, and reverence towards almighty God. In this Commonwealth, no man would impair his health by Gluttony, drunkenness, or Lust-no…

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Diary of John Adams, August 14, 1796

Diary of John Adams, August 14, 1796

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John Adams August 14, 1796 Adams lays out the mechanics of why religion is particularly effective at promoting morality. The Weather hot and dry. One great Advantage of the Christian Religion is that it brings the great Principle of the Law of Nature and Nations, Love your Neighbour as yourself, and do to others as you would that others should do to you, to the Knowledge, Belief and Veneration of the whole People. Children, Servants, Women and Men are all…

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