Petition Against Assessment for Paying Teachers of Religion, 1785 - Hanover Co. VA 1785 November 17 - Hanover County, Virginia To the Honorable, the Speaker and the gentlemen of the House of Delegates- The petition of the inhabitants of the county of Hanover humbly herewith; That whereas it hath pleased your Honorable House to publish a bill obligating the inhabitants of this common wealth to pay the teachers of the Christian Religions and have requested their opinion concerning it. Your petitioners did most certainly dialect against it, believing that the legislators should not establish matters of religion nor the manor of supporting its teachers, that all matters of religion should be regulated and determined by the different religious societies and the manner of supporting it by voluntary contribution. That when ever Civil powers shall so far interfere in matters of religion as to regulate and determine the manner of divine worship or shall tax the inhabitants of this state for the support of the teachers of the Christian Religion: they have departed from the Spirit of the Gospel and from the Bill of Rights. Certain it is that our blessed savior not only without the aid of civil powers, but against all the powers of the Earth, supported and defended his Gospel for several hundred years; how strange then to have it asserted that it must fall, if not established by human law. When Christianity was first established by the first Christian King, how soon was the church overrun _____ superstition and immorality how unlike were Ministers then to what they were in time past, both in purity of doctrine and uprighteous of life.--------------------------- That Religious establishment and Government is linked together and that the latter cannot exist without the former is contrary to experience. Witness the state of Pennsylvania wherein no such establishment hath taken place; their Government stands firm and can any of the neighboring states boast of man of better morals and more upright character. But tis said Religion is taking its flight and that deison prevails this cannot be owing to the want of Religious establishment but to other causes. Let your laws punish the views of the times and let their not be wanting such man in power and authority who by their prior examples shall recommend Religion and by their faithfulness, shall stop the growth of immorality let ministers convince the world that they are moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon them that office that they seek the good of mankind and not worldly interest. Let their Doctrine be spiritual and their lives Holy then shall Religion beam forth as the sun and Deison shall be put to upon shame. Such assessment would introduce no more useful and faithful men into the ministry, those whom Divine Grace hath called to that work will esteem it their highest honor to do his pleasure. Likely it would call into the church a number of hirelings whose chief motive would be worldly interests. Our Bill of Rights which says that no power in this common wealth shall enjoy exclusive privileges except for services tendered the state, certainly forbids such tax, since this is not for services rendered to Governments which may as well exist without it. As such assessment therefore appears to be contrary to the spirit of the Gospel and the Bill of Rights and is big with permissions consequences to the church of Christ. Your petitioners trust that the wisdom and uprightness of your honorable house will ever have them entirely free in all matters of Religion and the manner of supporting its teachers. And they shall ever pray. 96 names were signed to include the following; James England William England Timothy Goodman Joseph Goodman Submitted by Dave Goodman Baltimore PC Users Group The GOODMAN Family Baltimore County Genealogical Society **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************