The state of religion in England in the late 1500 and early 1600’s
The Pilgrims were committed to walk out their Christian faith on a higher level
than just the Church-State politics of Rome, the Reformers, and even the
Presbyterians. Biblical Christians believed that salvation came by faith, and
not by the rituals of the established church. Their personal relationship with
Jesus Christ was the key. He was the crux of their faith. They knew Him. And
they were committed to walk with Him in a life of total commitment. This was
the Gospel. It was their top priority.
The Church of England spoke out loudly from their pulpits against their
radical idea of Christians being separated. They had no time for their
consecration to God and spoke disdainfully about their "Enthusiasm". To
these church of England this enthusiasm for God was unreal. It was mere
emotionalism. It seemed that these people were either irrational or
hypocritical or both.
As the Pilgrims sailed out to a new life in America their future was uncertain.
But they were glad of the opportunity. Over there in the New World God had
given them sanctuary. The English colonies would give them a chance for a
new life. And they would have a chance to enjoy the religious freedom which
had eluded them back in Europe and in England.
Mayflower Compact 1620
In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects
of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain,
France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith
and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern
parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of
God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body
politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends
aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal
laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be
thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which
we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th
of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England,
France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620
Signing the Mayflower Compact
Geneva Bible 1599
1st Thanksgiving Day 1621
The Pilgrims did not call this harvest festival a "Thanksgiving," although they did give thanks
to God. To them, a Day of Thanksgiving was to thank God for his provisions. It was a religious
observance
Patrick Henry (1736-1799), five-time Governor of Virginia, whose "Give me
liberty or give me death" speech has made him immortal, said: "It cannot be
emphasized too strongly, nor too often that this great nation was founded, not
by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. . . ."
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the
people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it
come to dominate our lives and interests.“
"Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants."
John Jay first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the
duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and
prefer Christians for their rulers.”
Benjamin Franklin:
"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing
proofs I see of this truth--that God Governs the affairs of men. And if a
sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an
empire can rise without His aid?“
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), third U.S. President, chosen
to write the Declaration of Independence, said: "I have little
doubt that the whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of
our Creator, and, I hope, to the pure doctrines of Jesus also."
He proclaimed that it was the God of the Bible who founded
America in his 1805 inaugural address: "I shall need, too, the
favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our
forefathers, as Israel of old, from their native land and planted
them in this country."
Yes, this is the same Thomas Jefferson that was called a deist and the author of the
separation of church and state clause (which is not in the constitution)
George Washington’s Farewell Address 1796
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In
vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these
firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere
politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to
cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with
private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the
security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of
religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of
investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge
the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.
Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education
on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both
forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion
of religious principle.
Look this up in a recent text book. This quote is often missing
God is mentioned 4 times in the Declaration of Independence
Delaware constitution of 1776:
Art. 22. Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or
appointed to any office or place of trust . . . shall . . . make and subscribe the
following declaration, to wit: "I ________, do profess faith in God the Father,
and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, Blessed
for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scripture of the Old and New
Testaments to be given by divine inspiration."
1782 Thanksgiving Proclamation
A PROCLAMATION by the United States in Congress assembly:
It being the indispensable duty of all nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty
God, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in the a time of public distress, but also in a
solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great
and signal interpositions of his Providence in their behalf; therefore, the United States in Congress
assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these states, in
the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; and the present
happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war in the course of the last year
now drawing to a close, particularly the harmony of the public councils, which is so necessary to the
success of the public cause;
The perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their
allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to sow dissension
between them divide them; the success of the arms of the United States and those of their allies,
and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and
commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these states; and the success of their arms
and those of their allies in different parts do hereby recommend it to the inhabitants of these states
in general, to observe, and recommend it to the executives of request the several states to
interpose their authority in appointing and requiring commanding the observation of the last
Thursday, in the 28 day of November next, as a day of solemn thanksgiving to God for all his
mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify their gratitude to God for his
goodness, by a cheerful obedience to his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his
influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public
prosperity and national happiness.
September 28, 1789 - First Federal Congress passed a resolution asking that the President of the United States recommend
to the nation a day of thanksgiving
New York, 3 October 1789
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful
for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by
their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving
and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God
especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and
happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People
of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that
was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for
his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and
manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and
conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for
the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for
our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty
with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for
all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler
of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public
or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national
government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws,
discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as
have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the
knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and
generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington
NOTE: John Adams and James Madison submitted similar proclamations
Washington, D.C. October 3, 1863 By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To
these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come,
others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even
the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war
of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke
their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been
respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that
theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of
wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough,
the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and
coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily
increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the
country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of
years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious
gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with
one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those
who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of
Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that
while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with
humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who
have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably
engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to
restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony,
tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln