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CHURCH & STATE
Behold! Newsletter - November, 1993
by Robert W. Wangrud
Copyright November, 1993
In the early days of the American Republic the several States, except Louisiana, adopted the Christian doctrine as the supreme law of the State. The several States termed this Christian law the Common-law. To protect encroachment upon the common-law of the several States by the new federal government the First Article In Amendment (Bill of Rights) was incorporated into the national Constitution.
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"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." First Article in Amendment, Constitution for the United States of America. |
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This article in amendment prevents Congress from establishing a national religion. Nor could Congress establish laws governing the common-law jurisdiction of the several States. First off, Congress was composed of members from all of the States. For Congress to proclaim the national religion to be the Baptist doctrine would be resented by the representatives who were of other Christian doctrines (sects).
For example, the word person was used instead of slave so the word slave would not be odious to the ears of some Americans of different doctrines.
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"In regard to using the word 'persons' in this section, and elsewhere, when slaves were meant and spoken of LUTHER MARTON has the following remark in his letter to the Legislature of Maryland:
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'The design of this clause is to prevent the general Government from prohibiting the importation of slaves; but the same general reason which caused them to strike out the word "national," and not admit the word "stamp," influenced them to guard against the introduction of the word slaves. They anxiously sought to avoid any expression which might be odious in the ears of Americans; although they were willing to admit into their system the things which the expression signified.' It fully recognized slaves to be property, though it does not contain the word. Mr. Sherman liked 'a description' better than the term, which was not pleasing to some people. Mr. Madison was unwilling to use the term slaves in the Constitution or even to suggest the idea that they were property; though he spoke of them as property in debate and elsewhere, and owned them as property. He would have the idea, but would not suggest the idea. The word slaves would be disagreeable to men like Quakers ..." From The Sectional Controversy, p. 21, by William Chauncey Fowler, LL.D. (1865). |
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Bear it in mind the Bill of Rights only regulated the power of the national government before the unconstitutional promulgation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
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"The Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution" - Preamble to the Resolution of September 29, 1789, 1 Stat. 97., purposing the Bill of Rights. Also see Barron for Use of Tierman v. Mayor and City Council of City of Baltimore, (1833), 7 Pet. (32 U.S.) 243, 8 L.Ed. 672. |
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Once the Bill of Rights were considered, restrictions on the several States, purviewed through the Fourteenth Amendment, did the federal courts begin to rule that unchristian doctrines were not punishable by State laws.
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"...Part of the expanded application of the Constitution has resulted from judicial interpretation of the fourteenth amendment. It has been through a fairly recent development that the restrictions imposed on Congress by the first ten amendments have been absorbed into the fourteenth and interpreted to limit the States..." U.S.C.A. Amend. 14. |
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The reason for these decisions is, the First Article in Amendment does not allow Congress to make law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting a free exercise thereof. If you still don't get it, by applying the federal Bill of Rights to the several States, the States lost the ability to declare Christian Law, the law of the Holy Bible, the supreme law of the State. In other words, now the several States could not make law respecting an establishment of unchristian religions or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Unchristian religions are within purview of the Fourteenth Amendment, which recognizes all unchristian doctrines as valid, which, in turn, includes the establishment of totally unchristian religions. Abolish the Fourteenth Amendment and you abolish the federal Bill of Rights being imposed on the several States. The States could then declare the common-law the supreme law of their States as they once did without congressional intervention.
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"We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION:" Constitution of New Jersey (1844), Preamble. |
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"We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the sovereign ruler of nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those blessings to us and our posterity, do, for the more certain security thereof and for the better government of this State, ordain and establish this constitution." Constitution of North Carolina (1868), Preamble. |
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"The people of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good providence of God in having permitted them to enjoy a free government, do, in order to more effectually define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights, and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors, hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of civil government:" Constitution of Connecticut (1818), Preamble. |
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"We, the people of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good constitution in this State, for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:" Constitution of Maryland (1851), Declaration of Rights. |
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"In order effectually to secure the religious and political freedom established by our venerated ancestors, and to preserve the same for our posterity, we do declare that the essential and unquestionable rights and principles hereinafter mentioned shall be established, maintained and preserved, and shall be of paramount obligation in all legislative, judicial and executive proceedings." Constitution of Rhode Island (1842), Article 1, (Declaration of Certain Constitutional Rights and Principles). |
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"And whereas we are required, by the benevolent principles of rational liberty, not only to expel civil tyranny, but also to guard against that spiritual oppression and intolerance wherewith the bigotry and ambition of weak and wicked priests and princes have scourged mankind, this convention doth further, in the name and authority of the good people of this State, ordain, determine, and declare that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever hereafter be allowed, within this State, to all mankind: Provided, that the liberty of conscience, hereby granted, shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State." Constitution of New York (1777), Article 38. |
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"No person, who acknowledges the being of a God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this commonwealth." Constitution of Pennsylvania (1790), Article 9, Section 4. |
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"There shall be no establishment of one religious sect in preference to another; no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust; and no person shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right merely on account of his religious principles." Constitution of New Jersey (1844), Article 1, Section 4. |
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"As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as knowledge of these, is most likely to be propagated through a society by the institution of the public worship of the DEITY, and of public instruction in morality and religion; ... |
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"Provided notwithstanding, That the several towns, parishes, bodies-corporate, or religious societies, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their own public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and maintenance ... |
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"And every denomination of Christians demeaning themselves quietly, and as good subjects of the state, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another, shall ever be established by law ..." Constitution of New Hampshire (1784), Article 1, Section 6. |
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"No preference shall be given by law to any Christian sect or mode of worship." Constitution of Connecticut (1818), Article 1, Section 4. |
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"That all persons and religious societies who acknowledge that there is one God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, and that God is publicly to be worshiped, shall be freely tolerated, The Christian Protestant religion shall be deemed, and is hereby constituted and declared to be, the established religion of this State. That all denominations of Christian Protestants in this State, demeaning themselves peaceably and faithfully, shall enjoy equal religious and civil privileges....the following five articles, without which no agreement or union of men upon pretense of religion shall entitle them to be... esteemed as a church of the established religion of this State: 1st. That there is one eternal God, and a future state of rewards and punishments; 2nd. That God is publicly to be worshiped; 3rd. That the Christian Religion is the true religion; 4th. That the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of divine inspiration, and are the rule of faith and practice; and, 5th. That it is lawful and the duty of every man being thereunto called by those that govern, to bear witness to the truth....." Constitution of South Carolina (1778), Article 38. |
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"Any person may be elected a senator who shall... And any person may be elected a member of the house of delegates who shall... Provided, That all persons holding lucrative offices, and ministers of the gospel, and priests of every denomination, shall be incapable of being elected members of either house of assembly." Constitution of Virginia (1830), Section 7. |
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"There shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this State in preference to another; and no clergyman or preacher of the gospel, or any denomination, shall be capable of holding any civil office in this State, or of being a member of either of the branches of the legislature, while they continue in the exercise of the pastoral function." Constitution of Delaware (1776), Article 29. |
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"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." Constitution of North Carolina (1776), Article 31. |
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"And whereas the ministers of the gospel are by their profession dedicated to the service of God and the cure of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their function, therefore no minister of the gospel or public preacher of any religious persuasion, while he continues in the exercise of his pastoral function, and for two years after, shall be eligible either as governor, lieutenant-governor, a member of the senate, house of representatives, or privy council in this State." Constitution of South Carolina (1778), Article 21. |
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"And whereas the ministers of the gospel are, by their profession, dedicated to the service of God and the care of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their function; therefore, no minister of the gospel, or priest of any denomination whatsoever, shall, at any time hereafter, under any pretence or description whatever, be eligible to, or capable of holding, any civil or military office or place within this State." Constitution of New York (1777), Article 39. |
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"And whereas the ministers of the gospel are, by their profession, dedicated to the service of God and the cure of souls, and ought not to be diverted from the great duties of their function; therefore, no minister of the gospel or priest of any denomination whatsoever, shall at any time hereafter, under any pretence or description whatever, be eligible to or capable of holding, any civil or military office or place within this State." Constitution of New York (1821), Article 7, Section 4. |
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"....no minister of the gospel or priest of any religious denomination, no salaried officer of any banking corporation or company, and no attorney for the commonwealth shall be capable of being elected a member of either house of assembly...." Constitution of Virginia (1850), Section 7. |
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"....the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of GOD, and for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion, and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily....
"And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law." Constitution of Massachusetts (1780), Article 3. |
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"Whereas our wise and pious ancestors, so early as the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-six, laid the foundation of Harvard College, in which university many persons of great eminence have, by the blessing of GOD, been initiated in those arts and sciences which qualified them for public employments, both in church and state; and whereas the encouragement of arts and sciences, and all good literature, tends to the honor of GOD, the advantage of the Christian religion, and the great benefit of this and the other United States of America,..." Chapter V (University of Cambridge...) Constitution of Massachusetts (1780), Section 1 Article 1. |
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"All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no man can, of right, be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent; no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and no preference shall ever be given, by law to any religious establishments or modes of worship." Constitution of Pennsylvania (1790), Article 9, Section 3. |
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"No person shall be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshiping Almighty God..." Article I (Rights & Privileges) Constitution of New Jersey (1844), Section 3. |
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"That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other." Constitution of Virginia (1776), Section 16. |
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"Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience and reason; and no person shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty, or estate for worshiping God in the manner most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession, sentiments, or persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace or disturb others in their worship." Constitution of New Hampshire (1792), Article 5 (Part First Bill of Rights). |
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"It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshiping GOD in the manner and reason most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession of sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their worship." Constitution of Massachusetts (1780), Article 2 (Part the First Declaration of the Rights). |
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"The exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be free to all persons in this State, provided that the right hereby declared and established shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or to justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the State." Constitution of Connecticut (1818), Article 1, Section 3 (Declaration of Rights). |
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"Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; and all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens, or by civil incapacitations, tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness; and whereas a principal object of our venerable ancestors, in their migration to this country and their settlement of this state, was, as the expressed, to hold forth a lively experiment, that a flourishing civil state may stand and be best maintained with full liberty in religious concernments;..." Constitution of Rhode Island (1842), Article 1, Section 3. |
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"The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this State to all mankind; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State." Constitution of New York (1821), Article 7, Section 3. |
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"As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due subjection; and as a know ledge of these is most likely to be propagated through a society by the institution of the public worship of the Deity,..." Constitution of New Hampshire (1792), Article 6. |
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"Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust, before taking his seat, or entering upon the execution of his office, shall take the following oath, or affirmation, if conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, to wit:
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"'I, A B, will bear true allegiance to the Delaware State, submit to its constitution and laws, and do no act wittingly whereby the freedom thereof may be prejudiced.'
"And also make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit:
"'I, A B, do profess faith in God the Father, and Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.'
"And all officers shall also take an oath of office." Constitution of Delaware (1776), Article 22. |
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"Any person chosen governor, lieutenant-governor, councillor, senator, or representative, and accepting the trust, shall, before he proceed to execute the duties of his place or office, make and subscribe the following declaration, viz:
"'I, A B, do declare, that I believe the Christian religion, and have a firm persuasion of its truth; and that I am seized and possessed, in my own right, of the property required by the constitution, as one qualification for the office or place to which I am elected.'" Chapter VI (Oaths and Subscriptions;...) Constitution of Massachusetts (1780), Article 1. |
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"That no person, who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State." Constitution of North Carolina (1776), Article 32. |
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"Every person entitled to vote shall take the following oath or affirmation, if required, viz:
"'I, A B, do voluntarily and solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I do owe true allegiance to this State, and will support the constitution thereof; so help me God.'" Constitution of Georgia (1777), Article 14. |
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"When any affair that requires secrecy shall be laid before the governor and the executive council, it shall be the duty of the governor, and he is hereby obliged, to administer the following oath, viz:
"'I, A B, do solemnly swear that any business that shall be at this time communicated to the council I will not, in any manner whatever, either by speaking, writing, or otherwise, reveal the same to any person whatever, until leave given by the council, or when called upon by the house of assembly; and all this I swear without any reservation whatever; so help me God.'" Constitution of Georgia (1777), Article 30. |
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"That every person, appointed to any office of profit or trust, shall, before he enters on the execution thereof, take the following oath; to wit: 'I, A B, do swear, that I do not hold myself bound in allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and that I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland;' and shall also subscribe a declaration of his belief in the Christian religion." Constitution of Maryland (1776), Article 55. |
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"All general officers shall take the following engagement before they act in their respective offices, to wit: You _______ being by the free vote of the electors of this State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, elected unto the place of _______ do solemnly swear (or affirm) to be true and faithful unto this state, and to support the constitution of this state and of the United States; that you will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties of your aforesaid office to the best of your abilities, according to law; So help you God. Or, this affirmation you make and give upon the peril of the penalty of perjury." Constitution of Rhode Island (1842), Article 9, Section 3. |
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As you read these articles in the several State Constitutions, do you see any references outside of the Christian trinity? The sovereignty of the States protected the Christian doctrine. The federal/national government had no power to regulate religion. Should a cult (not of the Christian faith) begin to publicly practice in one of these States they would be charged and punished accordingly.
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"The people of this state, in common with the people of this country, profess the general doctrines of Christianity, as the rule of their faith and practice." The People v. Ruggles, 8 Johnsons NY Common Law Reports 290, 294, 295. |
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As a matter of law, Christianity was to be the foundational influence in all the social, political and economic aspects of the social compact and government formed; Christianity was to completely define and determine the very organization and structure of the government.
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"Christianity, general Christianity, is and always has been a part of the common law of Pennsylvania..." Updegraph v. The Commonwealth, 11 Sergeant & Rawles Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reports 400. |
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"The distinguished commentator on the laws of England informs us, that upon the foundations of the law of nature and the law of revelation, all human law depends, 1 Blackstone's Commmentaries 42. The municipal law looks to something more than merely the protection of lives, and liberty, and the property of our people. Regarding Christianity a part of the law of the land, it respects and protects its institutions; and assumes likewise to regulate the public morals and decency of the community." Bell v. The State, (1851) 1 Swan (Tenn) 42, 44. |
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The moral, ethical and spiritual force of Christianity was so interwoven into the fabric of the Republic that one could not be separated from the other without destroying both. Thus, the ancient common-law adopted as the foundation of the American Republic, being fully predicated upon the Christian revelation of the Scriptures and the divine commandments therein, was rightfully referred to as "Christian common-law.
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"Every system of law known to civilized society generated or had as its component one of three well known systems of ethics, pagan, stoic, or Christian. The common-law draws its subsistence from the latter, its roots go deep into that system, the Christian concept of right and wrong or right and justice motivates every rule of equity. It is the guide by which we dissolve domestic frictions and the rule by which all legal controversies are settled." Strauss v. Strauss, (1941) 3 So. 2d 727, 728. |
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Thus the Colonists "Established" their State constitutions within the principles of the common-law (as measured against the Bible) to assure that the nation would be a Christian Republic.
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"The Christian religion is the established religion by our form of government and all denominations are placed on an equal footing and equally entitled to protection in their religious Liberty." Runkel v. Winemiller, et al., 4 Hc. Mch. |
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What does Justice Chase mean "The Christian religion is the established religion by our form of government?
Isn't it true that Christians believe that our Father is composed of three co-equal parts in one whole; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost? Isn't this a major tenet of the Christian faith? The Constitution of Delaware (1776) clearly points out that this is a part of the Christian faith embraced by our forefathers. It requires that the following declaration be made before assuming office.
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"I A B, do profess faith in God the Father, and Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration." Delaware Constitution (1776), Article 22. |
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"By the Common Law and by the Bible, which is the foundation of the Common Law..." Wylly v. Collins, (1851) 9 Ga 223, 237. |
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The Christian doctrine even established our form of government.
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"The Christian religion is the established religion by our form of government and all denominations are placed on an equal footing and equally entitled to protection in their religious Liberty." Runkel v. Winemiller, et al., 4 Hc. Mch. |
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To add to this case a State to be in Republican form must also have senatorial districts, legislative districts, and judicial districts to follow the three in one Christian doctrine. How is it the provisional State of Washington has no judicial districts? Just one of the points that shows it is not a Republic form of Government and violates Article 4, Section 4, of the National Constitution.
Recently, I received a series of tapes from Brother Dixon of the October 4, 1993 A.C.U.C. lectures, regarding U.S. Attorney Jane Reno, by Jack Thompson, a Florida Attorney. While he gives names, dates and places accusing Reno of being a lesbian, he further states his support of the civil rights of his black friends.
The problem is Reno could never have been a judicial State attorney under the Common-law jurisdiction of Florida. Thus, Reno would never have been considered for the position of Attorney General of the United States. But, since the supposed ratification of the 14th and 19th amendments of the National Constitution, now applying the First Article in Amendment to the States within their purview, Reno or any other pervert can disregard Christian law (Common-law) and be put into any office.
It is hypocrisy of Mr. Thompson to challenge Reno's right to serve and not in the same breath attack the 14th and 19th amendments that allows Reno to retain the office.
If Mr. Thompson was really serious he should be more concerned with his white brethren and help lift the oppression of the federal government enforcing the Bill of Rights on the several States and thereby restoring State sovereignty. Under State sovereignty the States can once again make Christian law (Common-law) the supreme law of the State. Until this is done the Christian churches will never be free to teach the word of our Father in their churches, nor school their children in the true Christian faith. It's time to face the truth Mr. Thompson and get the First Amendment off the backs of the Christian churches, not try to seek protection under the First Amendment through purview of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The First Article in Amendment is fine and works well when only when it's applied to the federal government, which is the original and only purpose of the First Article in Amendment. Mr. Thompson is a product of the judeo-Christian doctrine and the false doctrine of law school. Mr. Thompson does not see the whole truth of the problem as he is more interested in his concern for the statutory civil rights of his black brothers that he is of the unalienable rights of his white brethren.
While I applaud his guts to denounce Reno, I cannot applaud his lack of knowledge to tell the complete truth.
In closing, just to make sure the readers understand this article, the First Article in Amendment prevents the Congress from passing all laws on the subject of religion, etc. When the First Article in Amendment is applied to the several States it prevents the States from passing any laws on the subject of religion, etc. As you can see, the people of the several States could pass laws on the subject of religion, free speech, etc., in the State Constitutions. That's how they kept it under Christian doctrine of the Father, his Son and the Holy Spirit.
Today, the idea that the State legislatures could pass codes punishing queers, unchristian cults, abortionists and the like, is unheard of. But, under the original intent of the organic law, this was commonplace. The truth of the matter is the judeo-Christian churches and judeo-Christian people don't have the guts to defend Christian law in the face of the cults and satanic people in this country.
Our forefathers (those known as "We The People") did have the guts to enforce Christian law against all unchristian doctrines. They passed laws against interracial marriages, homosexuals, and abortions which they called homicide. They enacted laws that established only one race to be Citizens and upheld Christian law. Until the church leaders come to these hard truths, the churches of today will never win against the unchristian pagan forces coming against them. The preachers must abandon the false doctrine they have developed under misinterpretation of the New Testament. Until they do, the antichrist will continue to bury them in their own hypocrisy.
Reprints of this article and other articles of Behold! Newsletter are available from Jerry.
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