Georgia (January 2, 1788) was the 4th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Georgia, adopted 1777, stated:
<Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.> 1788GA001
<Article VI. All members of the Legislature shall be of the Protestant religion....The representatives shall be chosen out of the residents in each county...and they shall be of the Protestant religion.> 1788GA002
<Article LVI. All persons whatever shall have the free exercise of their religion; provided it not be repugnant to the peace and safety of the State; and shall not, unless by consent, support any teacher or teachers except those of their own profession.> 1788GA003
The Constitution of the State of Georgia, adopted 1798, stated:
<Article IV, Section 10. No person within this State shall, upon any pretense, be deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping God...nor shall any person be denied the enjoyment of any civil right merely on account of his religious principles.> 1788GA004
The Constitution of the State of Georgia, adopted 1945, stated:
<Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.> 1788GA005
<Article I, Section 2-112. All men have the natural and inalienable right to worship God, each according to the dictates of his own conscience.> 1788GA006
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1788GA001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Georgia, 1777, Constitution, Preamble. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 169; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq. Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentation of America's Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 155. Gary DeMar, America's Christian History: The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Publishers, Inc., 1993), p. 65.
1788GA002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Georgia, 1777, Constitution, Article VI. 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), p. 235. 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), p. 162. Gary DeMar, "Censoring America's Christian History" (Atlanta, GA: The Biblical Worldview, An American Vision Publication-American Vision, Inc., July 1990), p. 7.
1788GA003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Georgia, 1777, Constitution, Article LVI. 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), p. 162. Gary DeMar, "Censoring America's Christian History" (Atlanta, GA: The Biblical Worldview, An American Vision Publication-American Vision, Inc., July 1990), p. 7.
1788GA004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Georgia, 1798, Constitution, Article IV, Section 10. 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. 162-163.
1788GA005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Georgia, 1945, Constitution, Preamble. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 169; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq.
1788GA006. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Georgia, 1945, Constitution, Article 1, Section 2-112. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 169; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq.