Delaware (December 7, 1787) was the 1st State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Delaware, adopted 1776, stated:
<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 Testaments to be given by divine inspiration."(until 1792)> 1787DE001
The Constitution of the State of Delaware, adopted 1831, stated:
<It is the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the public worship of the Author of the Universe; and piety and morality, on which the prosperity of communities depends, are thereby promoted....
No power shall or ought to be invested in or assumed by any magistrate that shall in any case interfere with...the free exercise of religious worship.> 1787DE002
The Constitution of the State of Delaware, adopted 1897, stated:
<Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.> 1787DE003
<Article I, Section 1. It is the duty of all men frequently to assemble together for the public worship of Almighty God; and piety and morality, on which the prosperity of communities depends, are hereby promoted.> 1787DE004
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1787DE001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Delaware, 1776, Constitution, Article XXII, oath of office authored by George Read and Thomas McKean; until 1792. The Constitutions of the Several Independent States of America, Published by Order of Congress (Boston: Norman & Bowen, 1785), pp. 99-100. Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S. 143 US 457, 469-470 (1892). Benjamin Franklin Morris, The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States (Philadelphia, PA: L. Johnson & Co., 1863; George W. Childs, 1864), pp. 233-234. Frances Newton Thorpe, ed., Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies now or heretofore forming the United States, 7 vols. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905; 1909; St. Clair Shores, MI: Scholarly Press, 1968), Vol. I, p. 142. M.E. Bradford, A Worthy Company (NH: Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1982), p. x. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), pp. 180-181. "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 3. Gary DeMar, "Censoring America's Christian History" (Atlanta, GA: The Biblical Worldview, An American Vision Publication-American Vision, Inc., July 1990), p. 7. Gary DeMar, America's Christian History: The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Publishers, Inc., 1993), pp. 67-68.
1787DE002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Delaware, 1831, Constitution, Article I. Frances Newton Thorpe, ed., Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies now or heretofore forming the United States, 7 vols. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905; 1909; St. Clair Shores, MI: Scholarly Press, 1968). Edwin S. Gaustad, Neither King nor Prelate-Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826 (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993), pp. 161-162. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 168; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq. Gary DeMar, God and Government, A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta, Georgia: American Vision Press), Vol. 1, pp. 164-165. Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S., 143 U.S. 457, 469-470. Recorded in The State of Delaware Executive Proclamation of November 14-20, 1993, as "Christian Heritage Week," signed by Governor Thomas R. Caper, and Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Courtesy of Bruce Barilla, Christian Heritage Week Ministry (P.O. Box 58, Athens, W.V. 24712; 304-384-7707, 304-384-9044 fax).
1787DE003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Delaware, 1897, Constitution, Preamble. Frances Newton Thorpe, ed., Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies now or heretofore forming the United States, 7 vols. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905; 1909; St. Clair Shores, MI: Scholarly Press, 1968). Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 168; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq. Edwin S. Gaustad, Neither King nor Prelate-Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826 (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993), pp. 161-162. Gary DeMar, God and Government, A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta, Georgia: American Vision Press), Vol. 1, pp. 164-165. Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S., 143 U.S. 457, 469-470. Recorded in The State of Delaware Executive Proclamation of November 14-20, 1993, as "Christian Heritage Week," signed by Governor Thomas R. Caper, and Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Courtesy of Bruce Barilla, Christian Heritage Week Ministry (P.O. Box 58, Athens, W.V. 24712; 304-384-7707, 304-384-9044 fax).
1787DE004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Delaware, 1897, Constitution, Article I. Frances Newton Thorpe, ed., Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies now or heretofore forming the United States, 7 vols. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1905; 1909; St. Clair Shores, MI: Scholarly Press, 1968). Edwin S. Gaustad, Neither King nor Prelate-Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826 (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993), pp. 161-162. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 168; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq. Gary DeMar, God and Government, A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta, Georgia: American Vision Press), Vol. 1, pp. 164-165. Church of the Holy Trinity v. U.S., 143 U.S. 457, 469-470. Recorded in The State of Delaware Executive Proclamation of November 14-20, 1993, as "Christian Heritage Week," signed by Governor Thomas R. Caper, and Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Courtesy of Bruce Barilla, Christian Heritage Week Ministry (P.O. Box 58, Athens, W.V. 24712; 304-384-7707, 304-384-9044 fax).