"This is a Christian Nation" | [Home] || [Case List] || [Contents] || [Feedback] || [V&FT] |
"These and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation."
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Unless we are willing to conclude that the 1892 Supreme Court of the United States was supremely ignorant or supremely deceptive, we must admit that America was founded as a Christian nation, and nothing in the U.S. Constitution changed that. The Supreme Court of the United States has given us a nice survey of the Christian history of America. The words of the Court run down the left side of this page, with links to additional information on the right.
Having studied this page and the links, the modern concept of "separation of church and state" will appear utterly ridiculous.
Opinion of the Supreme CourtDon't believe us? Read it here: WestDoc service (fee service) |
Links to additional sourcesThe entire Holy Trinity opinion (V&FT web site) |
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But, beyond all these matters, no purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national, because this is a religious people. | Today, "no purpose of action for religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national, because this is a secular people." Or so it would seem. | |
This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation. | I. HistoryThe Court is correct to establish the character of our government by looking at its history. But America's history goes back before the discovery of the continent. Those who came to these shores had their own history which extended back centuries. Their history is our history. All of this history had a profound influence on the Founding Fathers. Had the Constitution been understood to be converting us from "a religious people" to a secular people, it would have been a matter of intense debate. There is no such debate. The debate was whether the federal government had the power to make the Presbyterians or the Episcopalians (etc.) a state church. The outcome of this debate is far different from that of the [non-]debate on "separation of church and state," whose outcome has been imposed on us by the courts. |
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The commission to Christopher Columbus, prior to his sail westward, is from 'Ferdinand and Isabella, by the grace of God, king and queen of Castile,' etc., and recites that 'it is hoped that by God's assistance some of the continents and islands in the [143 U.S. 457, 466] ocean will be discovered,' etc. | A. ColumbusLearn more about Christopher Columbus Understand "the Get-a-job fallacy." |
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The first colonial grant, that made to Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584, was from 'Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, Fraunce and Ireland, queene, defender of the faith,' etc.; and the grant authorizing him to enact statutes of the government of the proposed colony provided that 'they be not against the true Christian faith nowe professed in the Church of England.' | B. First Colonial Grant |
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The first charter of Virginia, granted by King James I. in 1606, after reciting the application of certain parties for a charter, commenced the grant in these words: | C. First Charter of Virginia |
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The First Virginia Charter
(1606) "live in darkness" -- Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance Instructions for the Virginia Colony (1606) |
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Language of similar import may be found in the subsequent charters of that colony, from the same king, in 1609 and 1611; and the same is true of the various charters granted to the other colonies. In language more or less emphatic is the establishment of the Christian religion declared to be one of the purposes of the grant. | D. Subsequent Charters of VirginiaThe Second Virginia Charter (1609)The Third Virginia Charter (1612)Charters of all the Colonies Laws of Virginia (1610)Laws in Virginia (1619) |
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The celebrated compact made
by the pilgrims in the Mayflower, 1620, recites:
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E. Mayflower Compact |
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The fundamental orders of Connecticut, under which a provisional government was instituted in 1638-39, commence with this declaration: 'Forasmuch as it hath pleased the Allmighty God by the wise disposition of his diuyne pruidence [143 U.S. 457, 467] so to Order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and vppon the River of Conectecotte and the Lands thereunto adioyneing; And well knowing where a people are gathered togather the word of God requires that to mayntayne the peace and vnion of such a people there should be an orderly and decent Gouerment established according to God, to order and dispose of the affayres of the people at all seasons as occation shall require; doe therefore assotiate and conioyne our selues to be as one Publike State or Comonwelth; and doe, for our selues and our Successors and such as shall be adioyned to vs att any tyme hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation togather, to mayntayne and presearue the liberty and purity of the gospell of our Lord Jesus wch we now prfesse, as also the disciplyne of the Churches, wch according to the truth of the said gospell is now practised amongst vs.' | F. Connecticut
Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641)Looking for a link to Greg Bahnsen't Introduction to John Cotton's Abstract of the Laws of New England. |
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In the charter of privileges
granted by William Penn to the province of Pennsylvania, in 1701, it is recited:
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G. Pennsylvania
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania , William Penn (1682) |
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Coming nearer to the present time, | II. Present |
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the declaration of independence recognizes the presence of the Divine in human affairs in these words: | A. Declaration of Independence | |
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Providence | |
If we examine the constitutions of the various states, we find in them a constant recognition of religious obligations. Every constitution of every one of the 44 states contains language which, either directly or by clear implication, recognizes a profound reverence for religion, and an assumption that its influence in all human affairs is essential to the well-being of the community. | B. State Constitutions |
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This recognition may be in
the preamble, such as is found in the constitution of Illinois, 1870:
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1. Illinois | |
It may be only in the familiar requisition that all officers shall take an oath closing with the declaration, 'so help me God.' | Theistic Oaths |
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It may be in clauses like that of the constitution of Indiana, 1816, art. 11, § 4: 'The manner of administering an oath or affirmation shall be such as is most consistent with the conscience of the deponent, and shall be esteemed the most solemn appeal to God.' | 2. Indiana Parallel in Kentucky |
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Or in provisions such as are
found in articles 36 and 37 of the declaration of rights of the constitution of Maryland,
(1867:)
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3. Maryland Duties vs. "Rights." "Endorsement" of worship.
Whose laws of morality?
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Or like that in articles 2
and 3 of part 1 of the constitution of Massachusetts, (1780:)
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iii. Massachusetts | |
Or, as in sections 5 and 14
of article 7 of the constitution of Mississippi, (1832:)
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iv. Mississippi
Northwest Ordinance (1787)Three things the Founding Fathers expected to be found in every school: "Religion, morality, and knowledge." |
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Or by article 22 of the
constitution of Delaware, (1776,) which required all officers, besides an oath of
allegiance, to make and subscribe the following declaration:
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v. Delaware | |
Even the constitution of the
United States, which is supposed to have little touch upon the private life of the
individual, contains in the first amendment a declaration common to the constitutions of
all the states, as follows:
--and also provides in article 1, § 7, (a provision common to many constitutions,) that the executive shall have 10 days (Sundays excepted) within which to determine whether he will approve or veto a bill. |
C. U.S. Constitution
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There is no dissonance in these declarations. There is a universal language pervading them all, having one meaning. They affirm and reaffirm that this is a religious nation. These are not individual sayings, declarations of private persons. They are organic utterances. They speak the voice of the entire people. | Official, "Organic" laws | |
While because of a general recognition of this truth the question has seldom been presented to the courts, yet we find that | No one has doubted the Theocratic character of America, so there are no court cases "deciding" this. | |
in Updegraph v. Com., 11
Serg. & R. 394, 400, it was decided that,
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Christianity basis of law Updegraph |
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And in People v. Ruggles, 8
Johns. 290, 294, 295, Chancellor KENT, the great commentator on American
law, speaking as chief justice of the supreme court of New York, said:
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Ruggles Chancellor Kent |
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And in the famous case of
Vidal v. Girard's Ex'rs, 2 How. 127, 198, this court, while sustaining the will of Mr.
Girard, with its provision for the creation of a college into which no minister should be
permitted to enter, observed:
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The Vidal Case Excerpts from the Supreme Court opinion |
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If we pass beyond these matters to a view of American life, as expressed by its laws, its business, its customs, and its society, we find every where a clear recognition of the same truth. Among other matters note the following: | III. Christian Culture |
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The form of oath universally prevailing, concluding with an appeal to the Almighty; | Oaths |
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the custom of opening sessions of all deliberative bodies and most conventions with prayer; | Legislative Prayer |
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the prefatory words of all wills, 'In the name of God, amen;' | Wills
Last Wills and Testaments of the Settlers at Plymouth |
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the laws respecting the observance of the Sabbath, with the general cessation of all secular business, and the closing of courts, legislatures, and other similar public assemblies on that day; | Sunday Closing |
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the churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet; the multitude of charitable organizations existing every where under Christian auspices; | Churches, Charities |
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the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe. | Missionaries |
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These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic [official] utterances that this is a Christian nation. | This is a Christian nation |
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In the face of all these,
shall it be believed that a congress of the United States intended to make it a
misdemeanor for a church of this country to contract for the services of a Christian
minister residing in another nation? [143 U.S. 457, 472] Suppose, in the congress that passed this act, some member had offered a bill which in terms declared that, if any Roman Catholic church in this country should contract with Cardinal Manning to come to this country, and enter into its service as pastor and priest, or any Episcopal church should enter into a like contract with Canon Farrar, or any Baptist church should make similar arrangements with Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, or any Jewish synagogue with some eminent rabbi, such contract should be adjudged unlawful and void, and the church making it be subject to prosecution and punishment. Can it be believed that it would have received a minute of approving thought or a single vote? Yet it is contended that such was, in effect, the meaning of this statute. The construction invoked cannot be accepted as correct. It is a case where there was presented a definite evil, in view of which the legislature used general terms with the purpose of reaching all phases of that evil; and thereafter, unexpectedly, it is developed that the general language thus employed is broad enough to reach cases and acts which the whole history and life of the country affirm could not have been intentionally legislated against. It is the duty of the courts, under those circumstances, to say that, however [*517] broad the language of the statute may be, the act, although within the letter, is not within the intention of the legislature, and therefore cannot be within the statute.The judgment will be reversed, and the case remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion. |
Charles Hadden Spurgeon |
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