FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS: Justice Joseph Story on the Purpose of the First Amendment
(QUICK READ) — “The real object of the First Amendment was not to countenance, much less to advance Mohammedanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity, but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects [denominations] and to prevent any national ecclesiastical patronage of the national government.” – Joseph Story, Supreme Court Justice from 1811 to 1845, Commentaries on the Constitution (1833)
Many of the quotes reprinted in HillFaith’s “The Faith of The Founders” weekly series of posts are compiled from Benjamin F. Morris’ classic work, “The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States.” Morris, an historian and pastor, published the first edition more than a century ago.
Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States of America.
Quotations are also compiled from Mark Strand, author of the Daily Inspirations email he shares on request here and that HillFaith highly recommends to all congressional aides, be they working on Capitol Hill or in a state or district office back home.
Mark Strand was for 16 years President of the Congressional Institute, and he is a former fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics. He was also a 24-year veteran congressional staffer, including four years as Chief of Staff to Sen. James Talent (R-Missouri).
And quotations featured in FAITH OF THE FOUNDERS are compiled from James H. Hutson’s “The Founders on Religion: A Book of Quotations.” Hutson’s work is of particular interest as he is the former Chief of the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress. He is also the author of “Religion and the Founding of the American Republic.”