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Tag: Religious Freedom

The Rights of the Colonists by Sam Adams, 1772

The Rights of the Colonists by Sam Adams, 1772

Samuel Adams November 20, 1772 The Patriot leader here argues for religious liberty for all, except Catholics. As neither reason requires, nor religeon permits the contrary, every Man living in or out of a state of civil society, has a right peaceably and quietly to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience.”   Just and true liberty, equal and impartial liberty” in matters spiritual and temporal, is a thing that all Men are clearly entitled to, by the…

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Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1663

Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1663

Rhode Island July 15, 1663 Under the leadership of Roger Williams, Rhode Island moved toward religious freedom before the other colonies. CHARLES THE SECOND, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., to all to whome these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas wee have been informed, by the humble petition of our trustie and well beloved subject, John Clarke, on the behalf of Benjamine Arnold, William Brenton, William Codington, Nicholas Easton,…

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North Carolina Constitution of 1776

North Carolina Constitution of 1776

North Carolina 1776 Declaration of RightsXIX.   That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences.   ConstitutionXXXI. That no clergyman, or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral function.   XXXII. That no person, who shall deny the being of…

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New York Constitution of 1777

New York Constitution of 1777

New York 1777 Declaring that “the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind,” New York’s Constitution granted broad religious freedom for all faiths, though they included a fascinating clause reassuring the populace that religious freedom couldn’t be used to justify “licentiousness” or disorder. They further banned clergy from serving in public office, a way of preventing a denomination from exerting political control, though the drafters claimed this was to keep the clergy from becoming…

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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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Maryland Act Concerning Religion, 1649

Maryland Act Concerning Religion, 1649

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Maryland 1649 Though Maryland was founded as America’s lone bastion for Catholics, the state nonetheless put strong restrictions on religious freedom Forasmuch as in a well governed and Xpian Comon Weath matters concerning Religion and the honor of God ought in the first place to bee taken, into serious consideracon and endeavoured to bee settled. Be it therefore ordered and enacted by the Right Hoble Cecilius Lord Baron of Baltemore absolute Lord and Proprietary of this Province with the advise…

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Letter from Jonas Phillips to President and Members of the Constitutional Convention

Letter from Jonas Phillips to President and Members of the Constitutional Convention

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Jonas Phillips September 7, 1787 A Jew from Philadelphia writes to the Constitutional Convention urging them to reject a Pennsylvania law requiring that office holders pledge allegiance to the New Testament. With leave and submission I address myself To those in whome there is wisdom understanding and knowledge. they are the honourable personages appointed and Made overseers of a part of the terrestrial globe of the Earth, Namely the 13 united states of america in Convention Assembled, the Lord preserve…

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A Letter Concerning Toleration by John Locke

A Letter Concerning Toleration by John Locke

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John Locke The Founding Fathers were influenced by the writings of English philosopher John Locke. Now that the whole jurisdiction of the magistrate reaches only to these civil concernments, and that all civil power, right, and dominion, is bounded and confined to the only care of promoting these things; and that it neither can nor ought in any manner to be extended to the salvation of souls, these following considerations seem unto me abundantly to demonstrate. First. Because the care of…

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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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A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law by John Adams, 1765

A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law by John Adams, 1765

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John Adams 1765 Patriots equated the practices of the Church of England with that of the Catholic Church. On August 12, 1765, the Boston Gazette published an essay again linking both churches to each other, and to tyranny. The essay argued that religious canon law – “extensive and astonishing” — was created by the “the Romish clergy for the aggrandizement of their own order.” Church law enslaved people by “reducing their minds to a state of sordid ignorance and staring timidity” and…

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