Virginia Proclamation (March 13, 1994) signed by Governor George Allen declaring March 13-March 19, 1994, as "Christian Heritage Week":
<WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia states "That religion or the duty which we owe to our creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction; not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other;" and
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 stated: "It is impossible to build an empire without our Father's aid. I believe the sacred writings which say that 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it,'" (Psalm 127:1); and
WHEREAS, George Washington enunciated "animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity;" and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote: "Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?" and
WHEREAS, James Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution, advocated "the diffusion of the light of Christianity in our nation" in his Memorial and Remonstrance; and
WHEREAS, Patrick Henry quoted Proverbs 14:34 for our nation: "Righteousness alone can exalt a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people;" and
WHEREAS, George Mason, in his Virginia Declaration of Rights, forerunner to our U.S. Bill of Rights, affirmed: "That it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other;" and
WHEREAS, these, and many other truly great men and women of America, giants in the structuring of American history, were Christian statesmen of calibre and integrity who did not hesitate to express their faith;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, George Allen, Governor, do hereby recognize March 13-19, 1994 as CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
George Allen, Governor
Betsy Davis Beamer, Secretary of the Commonwealth.> 1994VA001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
1994VA001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Virginia, March 13, 1994, the State of Virginia issued an Executive Proclamation declaring March 13-March 19, 1994, as "Christian Heritage Week," signed by Governor George Allen and the Secretary of State Betsy Davis Beamer. Courtesy of Bruce Barilla, Christian Heritage Week Ministry (P.O. Box 58, Athens, W.V. 24712; 304-384-7707, 304-384-9044 fax).