Maryland Constitution (November 11, 1776):
ARTICLE 33: That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all persons, professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty;
wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice; unless, under color of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others, in their natural, civil, or religious rights;
nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any particular place of worship, or any particular Ministry;
yet the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general and equal tax for the support of the Christian religion; leaving to each individual the power of appointing the payment over of the money, collected from him, to the support of any particular place of worship or minister, or for the benefit of the poor of his own denomination, or the poor in general of any particular county: but the Churches, chapels, glebes, and all other property now belonging to the Church of England, ought to remain to the Church of England forever.
And all acts of Assembly, lately passed, for collecting monies for building or repairing particular Churches or chapels of ease, shall continue in force, and be executed, unless the Legislature shall, by act, supersede or repeal the same: but no county court shall assess any quantity of tobacco, or sum of money, hereafter, on the application of any vestrymen or Church-wardens; and every incumbent of the Church of England, who hath remained in his parish, and performed his duty, shall be entitled to receive the provision and support established by the act, entitled "An act for the support of the clergy of the Church of England, in this Province," till the November court of this present year to be held for the county in which his parish shall lie, or partly lie, or for such time as he hate remained in his parish, and performed his duty.
ARTICLE 34. That every gift, sale, or devise of lands to any minister, public teacher or Preacher of the Gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for, any minister, public teacher or Preacher of the Gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination; and every gifts of sale of goods or chattels to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, or to or for such support, use or benefit; and also every devise of goods or chattels to, or to or for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teacher or Preacher of the Gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination, without the leave of the legislature, shall be void;
except always any sale, gift, lease or devise of any quantity of land not exceeding two acres, for a Church, meeting, or other house of worship, and for a burying ground, which shall be improved, enjoyed or used only for such purpose or such sale, gift, lease or devise shall be void.
ARTICLE 35. That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this State, and such oath of office, as shall be directed by this Convention or the Legislature of this State, and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion.
ARTICLE 36...The manner of administering an oath to any person, ought to be...by the attestation of the Divine Being. And that the people called Quakers, those called Dunkers, and those called Menonists, holding it unlawful to take an oath on any occasion, ought to be allowed to make their solemn affirmation, in the manner that Quakers have been heretofore allowed to affirm...
ARTICLE 55. That every person, appointed to any office of profit or trust, shall, before he enters on the execution thereof, take the following oath; to wit:
"I, A. B., do swear, that I do not hold myself bound in allegiance to the King of Great Britain, and that I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland;" and shall also subscribe a declaration of his belief in the Christian religion.
SECTION 61. That every judge...shall take the following oath, or affirmation, to wit,
"I A. B. do swear, or affirm, that I...will in all things execute the office of judge of the said elections according the best of my knowledge, without favor or partiality. So Help Me God."
That every clerk, before he enters any vote on the polls, shall take the following oath, to wit, "I A. B. do declare, that I will well and faithfully, without favor, affection, or partiality, execute the office of clerk of the elections for.....county, the city of Annapolis, or Baltimore-town, according to the best of my knowledge. So Help Me God."> 1776CM001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1776CM001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Maryland Constitution, November 11, 1776.