Fundamental Constitutions of the Carolinas (1663) were drawn up by the philosopher, John Locke, at the request of Sir William Berkeley and the seven other lord proprietors of the colony. It stated:
<No man shall be permitted to be a freeman of Carolina, or to have any estate of habitation within it that doth not acknowledge a God, and that God is publicly and solemnly to be worshiped.> 1663FC001
<[No person may use] reproachful, reviling, or abusive language [against any religion.]> 1663FC002
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1663FC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Fundamental Constitutions of the Carolinas, 1663. John Locke, A Collection of Several Pieces of Mr. John Locke Never Before Printed or Not Extant in His Works (London: J. Bettenham for R. Francklin, 1720), pp. 1, 45, 46. Supreme Court Justice David Josiah Brewer, who served 1890-1910, in his work, The United States-A Christian Nation (Philadelphia: The John C. Winston Company, 1905, Supreme Court Collection). The World Book Encyclopedia, 18 vols. (Chicago, IL: Field Enterprises, Inc., 1957; W.F. Quarrie and Company, 8 vols., 1917; World Book, Inc., 22 vols., 1989), Vol. 12, p. 5736, Vol. 15, p. 7591.
1663FC002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Fundamental Constitutions of the Carolinas, 1663. John Locke, A Collection of Several Pieces of Mr. John Locke Never Before Printed or Not Extant in His Works (London: J. Bettenham for R. Francklin, 1720), pp. 1, 45, 46.