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Delaware
Colonial Charter, 1701.
The
Delaware Charter of 1701 contains remarkable provisions
for religious freedom. Quite possibly, the delegates
who wrote the Charter were heavily influenced by the
tolerant attitudes of Pennsylvania. Prior to 1701, Delaware
was part of Pennsylvania. Following its autonomy in
1701, Delaware remained under the governor of Pennsylvania.
RJ&L
Religious Institutions Group
BECAUSE
no People can be truly happy, though under the greatest
Enjoyment of Civil Liberties, if abridged of the Freedom
of their Consciences, as to their Religious Profession and
Worship: And Almighty God being the only Lord of Conscience,
Father of Lights and Spirits; and the Author as well as
Object of all divine Knowledge, Faith and Worship, who only
doth enlighten the Minds, and persuade and convince the
Understandings of People, I do hereby grant and declare,
That no Person or Persons, inhabiting in this Province or
Territories, who shall confess and acknowledge One
almighty God, the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the World;
and professes him or themselves obliged to live quietly
under the Civil Government, shall be in any Case molested
or prejudiced, in his or their Person or Estate, because
of his or their consciencious Persuasion or Practice, nor
be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious Worship,
Place or Ministry, contrary to his or their Mind, or to
do or suffer any other Act or Thing, contrary to their religious
Persuasion.
AND
that all Persons who also profess to believe in Jesus
Christ, the Saviour of the World, shall be capable (notwithstanding
their other Persuasions and Practices in Point of Conscience
and Religion) to serve this Government in any Capacity,
both legislatively and executively, he or they solemnly
promising, when lawfully required, Allegiance to the King
as Sovereign, and Fidelity to the Proprietary and Governor,
and taking the Attests as now established by the Law made
at Newcastle, in the Year One Thousand and Seven
Hundred, entituled, An Act directing the Attests
of several Officers and Ministers, as now amended and
confirmed this present Assembly.
BUT,
because the Happiness of Mankind depends so much upon the
Enjoying of Liberty of their Consciences, as aforesaid,
I do hereby solemnly declare, promise and grant, for me,
my Heirs and Assigns, That the First Article of this
Charter relating to Liberty of Conscience, and every Part
and Clause therein, according to the true Intent and Meaning
thereof, shall be kept and remain, without any Alteration,
inviolably for ever.
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