David Barton

We live in a republic thus highly favored of heaven, and under a social compact from which so many benefits result: and whilst these considerations should animate us with exalted sentiments of patriotism  they ought above all to inspire us with becoming gratitude to the great ruler of nations, on whose favor all our happiness depends. George Clinton, Revolutionary General; Governor of New

And I do hereby call upon the people to offer to our Almighty and all-gracious God, through our Great Mediator, our sincere and solemn prayers for his Divine assistance and the influences of His Holy Spirit. Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut

We can only depend on the all powerful influence of the Spirit of God, whose Divine aid and assistance it becomes us as a Christian people most devoutly to implore. Therefore I move that some minister of the Gospel be requested to attend this Congress every morning at o’clock sic during the sessions in order to open the meeting with prayer. Elias Boudinot, President of Congress

Let us therefore implore Him to continue his benedictions upon our beloved country, and to grant us unanimity, patriotism, and wisdom, to pursue, at this important session, the most essential interest of this State and of the union. Daniel Tompkins, Governor of New York; Vice President of the U.S.

Numerous similar calls for public prayer were regularly issued by our Founding Fathers and by the Congress. This fact was so clear that it evidently caused the Court to refrain from even raising the issue of historical precedent. As the dissent noted, the Court’s decision was “conspicuously bereft of any reference to history.”

This statement, however, was not completely accurate. Justice Souter, in his concurring opinion, had acknowledged that the Founders allowed, encouraged, and participated in such prayers; but he then accused the Founders of not understanding the meaning of the Constitution they themselves had authored. Souter complained:

Let us enter on this important business under the idea that we are Christians on whom the eyes of the world are now turned. Let us earnestly call and beseech him for Christ’s sake to preside in our councils. Elias Boudinot, President of the Continental Congress

The ethics, doctrines, and examples furnished by Christianity exhibit the best models for the laws. Dewit Clinton, Introduced the Twelfth Amendment; Governor of New York; U.S. Senator

An early House Judiciary Committee affirmed the Founders’ lack of pluralistic intent when it declared:

Christianity was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants. The Founders did respect other religions; however, they neither promoted pluralism nor intended that the First Amendment do so. Although the Court’s decision in this case was favorable in the sense that tax exemptions for churches were preserved, the ruling demonstrated a major inconsistency by the Court: it upheld tax exemptions because of their historical precedent. As the Court explained:

In resolving such questions of interpretation “a page of history is worth a volume of logic.”  The more long-standing and widely accepted a practice, the greater its impact upon constitutional interpretation.

However, Justice William Douglas, who had voted to remove tax exemptions from churches, pointed out in his dissent that the Court’s reliance on history and precedent to arrive at its conclusion in this case was the very practice it had avoided in previous First Amendment cases. He noted, for example, that although school prayer had been as equally a long-standing historical tradition as tax exemptions, this had not prevented it from being declared unconstitutional. The Walz case, despite its favorable ruling, had introduced yet another new and different purpose to the First Amendment by claiming its intent was to promote pluralism. Stone v. Graham, 1980

Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion and the duties of man towards God. Gouverneur Morris, Penman and Signer of the Constitution

The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind. Benjamin Rush Signer of the Declaration In my view, the Christian religion is the more important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed. No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people. Noah Webster

The attainment of knowledge does not comprise all which is contained in the larger term of education. A profound religious feeling is to be instilled and pure morality inculcated under all circumstances. All this is comprised in education. Daniel Webster

Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament, without note or comment, be read and taught as Divine revelation in the college school its general precepts expounded, its evidences explained and its glorious principles of morality inculcated?  Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly asfrom the New Testament? Joseph Story, U.S. Supreme Court, Father of American Jurisprudence

I cannot omit this occasion of inviting your attention to the means of instruction for the rising generation. To enable them to perceive and duly to estimate their rights; to inculcate correct principles and habits of morality and religion, and thus to render them useful citizens, a competent provision for their education is all essential. Daniel Tompkins, Governor of New York; Vice President of the U.S.

Bad examples to youth are rarer in America, which must be comfortable consideration to parents. To this may be truly added, that serious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated, but respected and practised. Atheism is unknown there; infidelity a disbelief in the Scriptures and in Christianity rare and secret; so that persons may live to a great age in that country, without having their piety shocked by meeting with either an atheist or an infidel. While there was some anti-organized-religion sentiment among the Founders e.g., Thomas Paine, Ethan Allen, Charles Lee, Henry Dearborn, those with such views numbered very few among the total number o f Founding Fathers. In fact, even a cursory examination of the Founders’ own declarations in their last wills and testaments provides convincing evidence of the strong religious beliefs evident among so many of them. Observe:

Principally and first of all, I recommend my soul to that Almighty Being who gave it and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins. Samuel Adams, Signer of the Declaration

Firstly I commit my Soul into the hands of God, its great and benevolent author. Josiah Barlett, Signer of the Declaration

First and principally, I commit my Soul unto Almighty God. David Brearley, Signer of the Constitution

Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity. John Dickinson, Signer of the Constitution

I resign my soul into the hands of the Almighty who gave it in humble hopes of his mercy through our Savior Jesus Christ. Gabriel Duvall, Selected as Delegate to Constitutional Convention; U. S. Supreme Court