Pennsylvania (December 12, 1787)

Pennsylvania (December 12, 1787) was the 2nd State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, adopted 1776, stated:

<Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.> 1787PA001

<Frame of Government, Chapter 2, Section 10. And each member [of the legislature], before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz: "I do believe in one God, the Creator and Governour of the Universe, the Rewarder of the good and Punisher of the wicked, and I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine Inspiration."> 1787PA002

On March 1, 1780, the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania passed an Act abolishing slavery within the State.

The Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, adopted 1874, stated:

<Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.> 1787PA003

<Article I, Section 3. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences.> 1787PA004

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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.

Endnotes:

1787PA001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Pennsylvania, 1776, Constitution, Preamble. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 174; "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.

1787PA002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Pennsylvania, 1776, Constitution, Frame of Government, Chapter 2, Section 10. The Constitutions of the Several Independent States of America (Boston: Norman and Bowen, 1785), p. 81. S.E. Morison, ed., Sources and Documents Illustrating the American Revolution 1764-1788 and the Formation of the Federal Constitution (NY: Oxford University Press, 1923), p. 166. 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. 233.

1787PA003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Pennsylvania, State of. March 1, 1780, Act passed by the Pennsylvania legislature abolishing slavery within the State. Collinson Read, editor, An Abridgement of the Laws of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Printed for the Author, 1801), pp. 264-266. Preamble. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 174; "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.

1787PA004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Pennsylvania, State of. 1874, Constitution, Article I, Section 3. Charles E. Rice, The Supreme Court and Public Prayer (New York: Fordham University Press, 1964), p. 174; "Hearings, Prayers in Public Schools and Other Matters," Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate (87th Cong., 2nd Sess.), 1962, pp. 268 et seq.


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