exclusively spiritual. Christianity state power; and, as his weapons were spiritual, and . were only designed to have influence upon the judgment and hearts of men, we are persuaded that if mankind were left in the quiet possession of their inalienable religious privileges, Christianity, as in the days of the apostles, would continue to prevail and flourish in the greatest purity, by its own native excellence and under the all-disposing providence of God. Government properly secular. We would also humbly represent that the only proper objects of civil government are the happiness. and protection of men in their present state of existence, the security of the life, liberty, and the property of the citizens, and to restrain the vicious and to encourage the virtuous, by wholesome laws equally extending to every individual; but that the its cognizance. duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can only be directed by reason or conviction, and is nowhere cognizable but at the tribunal of the Universal Judge. Religion exempt from State aid not wanted in religious affairs. Religious equality demanded. Therefore we ask no ecclesiastical establishment for ourselves, neither can we approve of them and grant it to others: this, indeed, would be giving exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges to one set (or sect) of men, without any special public services, to the common reproach or injury of every other denomination. And, for the reasons recited, we are induced earnestly to entreat that all laws now in force in this Commonwealth which countenance religious domination may be speedily repealed,- that all of every religious sect may be protected in the full exercise of their several modes of worship, and exempted from all taxes for the support of any church. whatsoever, further than what may be agreeable to their own private choice or voluntary obligation. This being done, all partial and invidious distinctions will be abolished, to the great honor and inter est of the State, and every one be left to stand or fall according to merit, which can never be the case so long as any one denomination is established in preference to others. That the Great Sovereign of the universe may inspire you with unanimity, wisdom, and resolution, and bring you to a just determination on all the important concerns before you is the fervent prayer of your memorialists. Signed by order of the Presbytery. JOHN TODD, Moderator. CALEB WALLACE, Presbytery Clerk. This memorial is but one among that noted series in harmony with the Virginia Declaration of Rights and Jefferson's bill for the establishment of religious freedom, which has had such an extensive influence in our subsequent constitutional history. Every State has felt its influence and the dissenters of Virginia during the close of the eighteenth century were largely instrumental in giving effect to American political principles in their times. So earnest did they become that "numbers of petitions, memorials, etc., in manuscript are on file in the archives here from religious bodies of almost every denomination, from nearly every county in this State, during the period of the revolution." Letter of Secretary of State of Virginia, to the editor, December 20, 1893. "In general, the petitions were remarkable for strength of reasoning, and elegance of expression. They breathed a pure and glowing attachment to republican principles; developed in eloquent strains those overpowering arguments in support of liberty in the abstract, which gain additional force when applied to liberty in concerns of religion; firmly, yet respectfully complained of burthens and restrictions inconsistent with equal rights; and expressed a cheering hope, that, when the many and grievous oppressions of the parent state had placed America under the necessity of breaking the fetters of tyranny, and of forming independent governments upon equitable and liberal foundations, non-conformists should be freed from all the incumbrances which a spirit of domination, prejudice, or bigotry, had interwoven with the regal system. "Taking other views of the subject, connected with the temporal interest of the community, which a full and unrestrained enjoyment of the rights of conscience could not fail to promote; with the nature of Christianity, whose native excellence required not the aid of state power and support; with the inherent rights of men, whom no authority but that of the supreme and Universal Judge can direct and bind in the manner of discharging the duty which they owe to their Creator, they Survival of the fittest. Virginia memorials. Character of Virginia memorials. April 25, 1777. Patriotism of memorialists. Declara tions of rights invalidate religious laws. RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION SUBVERSIVE MEMORIAL OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HANOVER TO To the Honorable the General Assembly of Virginia: earnestly entreated for all religious sects 'protection in the full exercise of their several modes of worship and exemption from the payment of all taxes for the support of any church whatever, farther than what might be agreeable to their own private choice or voluntary obligation!'"' Burk's "History of Virginia," volume iv (Petersburg, Virginia, 1816), pages 180, 181. England's religious laws of no force. exempting dissenters from all levies, taxes, and impositions whatsoever towards supporting the church should here be of England as it now is or hereafter may be established. Statechurch senti extant. Sound political princi We would therefore have given our honorable Legislature no further trouble on this subject, but we are sorry to find that there yet remains a variety of opinions touching the propriety of a general assessment, or whether every religious society shall be left ment still to voluntary contributions for the maintenance of the ministers of the gospel who are of different persuasions. As this matter is deferred by our Legislature to the discussion and final determination of a future assembly, when the opinions of the country in general shall be better known; we think it our indispensable duty again to repeat a part of the prayer of our former memorial: "That dissenters of every denomination may be exempted from all taxes for ples. the support of any church whatsoever, further than what may be agreeable to the private choice or voluntary obligation of every individual; while the civil magistrates no otherwise interfere, than to protect them all in the full and free exercise of their several modes of worship." We then represented as the principal reason upon which this request is founded, that the only proper objects of civil governments are the happiness and protection of men in the present state of existence, the security of the life, liberty, and property of the citizens, and to restrain the vicious and encourage the virtuous by wholesome laws equally extending to every individual; and that the duty which we owe our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can only be directed by reason and conviction, and is nowhere. cognizable but at the tribunal of the Universal Judge. To illustrate and confirm these assertions, we beg leave to observe, that to judge for ourselves, and to The rights of citizens. Religious legislation in government. engage in the exercise of religion agreeable to the dictates of our own consciences is an unalienable right, which upon the principles that the gospel was first propagated, and the reformation from popery carried on, can never be transferred to another. Neither does the church of Christ stand in need of a general assessment for its support; and most certain we are that it would be no advantage, but an injury jurious to good to the society to which we belong; and as every good Christian believes that Christ has ordained a complete system of laws for the government of his kingdom, so we are persuaded that by his providence he will support it to its final consummation. In the fixed belief of this principle, that the kingdom of Christ, and the concerns of religion, are beyond the limits of civil control, we should act a dishonest, inconsistent part, were we to receive any emoluments from any human establishments for the support of the gospel. Remon strance justified. These things being considered, we hope we shall be excused for remonstrating against a general assessment for any religious purpose. As the maxims have long been approved, that every servant is to obey his master; and that the hireling is accountable for his conduct to him from whom he receives his wages; in like manner if the legislature has any rightful authority over the ministers of the gospel in the exercise of their sacred office, and it is their duty to levy a maintenance for them as such; then it will follow that we may revive the old establishment in its former extent or ordain a new one for any sect they think proper; they are invested with a power not only to determine, but it is incumbent on them to declare who shall preach, what they shall preach; to whom, when, and at what places they shall preach ; or to impose any regulations and restrictions upon religious societies that they may judge expedient. |