Our Founding States Charters,
Proclamations & State Constitutions
DELAWARE CONSTITUTION:
1776 Article XXII: Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust….shall….make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit: "I, ____________, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration. "
MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION:
1780 Stated, "We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence, an opportunity to form a compact;…. And devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design,…. Establish this Constitution.
The Governor shall be chosen annually; and no person shall be eligible to this office, unless at the time of his election…. He shall declare himself to be of the Christian religion."
Chapter VI, Article I, "All persons elected to State office or to the Legislature must make and subscribe the following declaration, viz. "I, ____________, do declare, that I believe the Christian religion, and have firm persuasion of its truth."
NEW ENGLAND CONFEDERATION CONSTITUTION:
1643, As covenanted together by the colonists of New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts & Connecticut, stated,
"The Articles of Confederation between the plantations under the government of Massachusetts, the plantations under the government of New Plymouth, the plantations under the government of Connecticut, and the government of New Haven with the plantations in combination therewith:
Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the gospel."
NEW HAMPSHIRE PROCLAMATION:
1786, Governor John Langdon made this official proclamation to the State,
"A Proclamation For A Day of Public Fasting and Prayer Throughout this State: Vain is the acknowledgement of A Supreme Ruler of the Universe, unless such acknowledgements influence our practice, and call forth those expressions of homage and adoration that are due to his character and providential government, agreeably to the light of nature, enforced by revelation, and countenanced by the practice of civilized nations in humble and fervent application to the throne for a needed mercies, and gratitude for favors received.
It having been the laudable practice of this State, at the opening of the Spring, to set apart a day for such denomination, to assemble together on said day, in their respective places of public worship; that the citizens of this State may with one heart and voice, penitently confess their manifold sins and transgressions, and fervently implore the divine benediction, that a true spirit of repentance and humiliation may be poured out upon all orders and degrees of men, and a compete and universal reformation take place……..
…..and above all, that he would rain down righteousness upon the earth, revive religion, and spread abroad the knowledge of the true GOD, the Saviour of man, throughout the world….."
CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION:
1639, Foreasmuch as it has please the Almighty God by the wise disposition of His divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the inhabitants ……do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be as one public State or Commonwealth, and do, for ourselves and our successors and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into Combination and Confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus which we now profess….. Which, according to the truth of the said Gospel, is now practiced among us; as also, in our civil affairs to be guided and governed according to such laws, rules, orders and decrees."
