The Principle and Reason For Tithing Found In
The Original State Constitutions
This first example shows the near
universal sentiment held by the founders of the nation. This was once
considered the most important political speech made to the nation. It
used to have its own textbook about it for the public schools. It is
easy to see why the international left, at war with principles the
United States was founded upon for century now; with its minions
dominating the public school systems; loath to quote the "father" of the
nation.
... With slight shades
of difference, you have the same Religion, Manners, Habits & political
Principles.... ( What religion and principles would this be?)
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 &
citizens. (Did the father of the nation very courteously just
call those who seek to subvert Biblical Christianity foes of the
nation?) The mere Politician, equally with the pious man ought
to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their
connections with private & 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 & experience both forbid us to expect that National
morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
(Exactly the presumption made by many "educated" Americans.)
'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary
spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less
force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend
to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation
of the fabric. (Again, you can see why this speech is no longer
acceptable dialogue in government run schools systems dominated by
irreligious and leftist Americans.)
Promote then as
an object of primary importance, Institutions for the general diffusion
of knowledge (In those days
all universities and public schools were
created and ran by churches and this is what the President was referring
to.) where In proportion as the structure of a government
gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion
should be enlightened. Observe good faith & justice towards all
Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality
enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally
enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant
period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel
example of a People always guided by an exalted justice & benevolence.
(Here we have the father of the nation, in principle, using his
own words, validating and supporting the divine enlightenment of the
nations citizens and the method, (in principle) of its
attainment.)
Who can doubt that in the course of time and things the fruits of such a
plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by
a steady adherence to it? Can it be, that Providence has not connected
the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at
least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature.
Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices. (He and his peers
who were highly educated on this matter and had 6000 years of human
history to prove to anyone willing acknowledge this that an
unenlightened and sinful people will not maintain freedom, but sink into
despotism and slavery.)
The inducements of interest for observing that conduct
will best be referred to your own reflections & experience. With me, a
predominant motive has been to endeavor to gain time to our country to
settle & mature its yet recent institutions, and to progress without
interruption, to that degree of strength & consistency, which is
necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes
Though in reviewing the incidents of my Administration, I am unconscious
of intentional error--I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not
to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever
they may be I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the
evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that
my Country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that after
forty five years of my life dedicated to its Service, with an upright
zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion,
as myself must soon be to the Mansions of rest. .... I shall carry it
with me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows that
Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of its beneficence--that
your Union & brotherly affection may be perpetual--that the free
constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly
maintained--that its Administration in every department may be stamped
with wisdom and Virtue--that, in fine, the happiness of the people of
these States, under the auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by so
careful a preservation and so prudent a use of this blessing as will
acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the
affection--and adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger to it.
This is off topic but the last line of this speech is of
particular importance to a main theme of this website. "The
applause, affection and the adoption of every nation on earth."
How could the founders of the United States who were far more educated
in scriptural and historical matters than the best of todays pastors and
teachers actually believe that the whole world would adopt the Biblical
principle and the form of government the newly founded United
States? After all doesn't Bible prophecy decree the world will get worse
and worse, fall into greater and greater vice and be conquered by evil?
Apparently, the general understanding of Bible prophecy was different
than what most Christians have accepted in the last 100 years. Who is
right? Well the proof should be in the fruits. The founders of North
America and the free nations of Northern Europe created something that
never existed in the world before them. They ended what had been the
perpetual rule of kings and emperors and later ended another perpetual
evil, legal human slavery. (In perpetuity, almost half the worlds
population were legal slaves of others.) In other words they ended
despotic ancient world and gave us a new world. So great was this
accomplishment that westerners have almost completely forgotten the
insanity, dysfunction and death that reigned in the ancient world. Yet
modern Christians, even though they are the largest minority in the
western nations; with their version and understanding of "Bible"
prophecy, can barley hold on to their freedom. In fact they are
dominated both politically and culturally by a radical and tiny minority
of of anti-Christ leftists in their nations. The fruit of what is
accepted as truth as to what the future holds is evident. A radical
re-examination of what Bible prophecy actually teaches is in order, You
can find that in many articles on this site.
Now we'll look at a few original state
constitutions that acknowledged tithing in principle, (not the letter)
to support the ministries that create and impart knowledge and virtue in
their citizens.
How Some States Experimented With Tithing as
Principle.
When looking at
these original state constitutions from the founding era it would be a
mistake to look upon them as the establishment of religion in the way
that subject is manipulated today. A full explanation of this is on the
page that lists
The Original State Constitutions. It is also noteworthy that
these states experimented with this and later, for whatever reason,
forsook the practice in favor of people voluntarily supporting or not
supporting their churches. The reasons this practice was stopped however
was not because of the first amendment to the USA constitution which
restricted the federal government, not the states. That these things are
noted on this page is not an endorsement by Wordservice.org for the
collection of taxes for churches. It is simply to show how some in the
past experimented with what role civil government could play in the
principle of tithing for the support of Gods work in the earth. This
author would consider the experiment a failure and completely outside
the scope of civil government. However, because Wordservice.org does not
endorse the collection of taxes to support the work of the Gospel
certainly does not mean it supports a "secular" government. The
current federal and state government's use of a socialist
politically based scientism as the established "religion" of the state
to further the interests of the international leftist movement and its
war against those who accept Biblical principle is to be regarded as
pure evil.
The State of Maryland 1776
XXXIII. That, as it is the duty of every man to
worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all
persons, professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to
protection in their religious liberty; wherefore no person ought by any
law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious
persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice; unless, under
color of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety
of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others,
in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be
compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to
maintain any particular place of worship, or any particular ministry;
yet the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general and equal
tax for the support of the Christian religion; leaving to each
individual the power of appointing the payment over of the money,
collected from him, to the support of any particular place of worship or
minister, or for the benefit of the poor of his own denomination, or the
poor in general of any particular county:
The State of Massachusetts 1780
We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts,
acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great
Legislator of the universe, in affording us, in the course of His
providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud,
violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and
solemn compact with each other, and of forming a new constitution of
civil government for ourselves and posterity; and devoutly imploring His
direction in so interesting a design, do agree upon, ordain, and
establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government as
the constitution of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Article I. All
men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and
unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying
and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing,
and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their
safety and happiness.
Art. II. It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society,
publicly and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great
Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt,
molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for
worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates
of his own conscience, or for his religious profession or sentiments,
provided he doth not disturb the public peace or obstruct others in
their religious worship.
Art. III. As the happiness of a people and the good order and
preservation of civil government essentially depend upon piety,
religion, and morality, and as these cannot be generally diffused
through a community but by the institution of the public worship of God
and of the public instructions in piety, religion, and morality:
Therefore, To promote their happiness and to secure the good order and
preservation of their government, the people of this commonwealth have a
right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require,
and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the
several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies-politic or
religious societies to make suitable provision, at their own expense,
for the institution of the public worship of God and for the support and
maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion, and
morality in all cases where such provision shall not be made
voluntarily. And the people of this commonwealth have also a right to,
and do, invest their legislature with authority to enjoin upon all the
subject an attendance upon the instructions of the public teachers
aforesaid, at stated times and seasons, if there be any on whose
instructions they can conscientiously and conveniently attend. Provided,
notwithstanding, That the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other
bodies-politic, or religious societies, shall at all times have the
exclusive right and electing their public teachers and of contracting
with them for their support and maintenance. And all moneys paid by the
subject to the support of public worship and of public teachers
aforesaid shall, if he require it, be uniformly applied to the support
of the public teacher or teachers of his own religious sect or
denomination, provided there be any on whose instructions he attends;
otherwise it may be paid toward the support of the teacher or teachers
of the parish or precinct in which the said moneys are raised. And every
denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably and as good
subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of
the law; and no subordination of any sect or denomination to another
shall ever be established by law.
Art. XVIII. A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the
constitution, and a constant adherence to those of piety, justice,
moderation, temperance, industry, and frugality, are absolutely
necessary to preserve the advantages of liberty and to maintain a free
government. The people ought, consequently, to have a particular
attention to all those principles, in the choice of their officers and
representatives; and they have a right to require of their lawgivers and
magistrates an exact and constant observation of them, in the formation
and execution of the laws necessary for the good administration of the
commonwealth.
CHAPTER V.--THE UNIVERSITY AT CAMBRIDGE, AND
ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERATURE, ETC.
Section 1.--The University Article I. Whereas our wise and pious
ancestors, so early as the year [1636], laid the foundation of Harvard
College, in which university many persons of great prominence have, by
the blessing of God, been initiated in those arts and sciences which
qualified them for the public employments, both in church and State; and
whereas the encouragement of arts and sciences, and all good literature,
tends to the honor of God, the advantage of the Christian religion, and
the great benefit of this and the other other United States of
America....
Art. III. And whereas by an act of the general court of the colony of
Massachusetts Bay, passed in the year [1642], the governor and deputy
governor for the time being, and all the magistrates of that
jurisdiction, were, with the President, and a number of the clergy, is
the said act described, constituted the overseers of Harvard College;
and it being necessary, in this new constitution of government, to
ascertain who shall be deemed successors to the said governor, deputy
governor, and magistrates, it is declared that the governor,
lieutenant-governor, council, and senate of this commonwealth are, and
shall be deemed, their successors; who, with the president of Harvard
College, for the time being, together with the ministers of the
congregational churches in he towns of Cambridge, Watertown,
Charlestown, Boston, Roxbury and Dorchester, mentioned in the said act,
shall be, and hereby are, vested with all the powers and authority
belonging, or in any way appertaining, to the overseers of Harvard
College: Provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the
legislature of this commonwealth from making such alterations in the
government of the said university as shall be conducive to its
advantage, and the interest of the republic of letters, in as full a
manner as might have been done by the legislature of the late province
of the Massachusetts Bay.
Section 2.--The Encouragement of Literature,
etc. Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among
the body of the people, being necessary for the preservation of their
rights and liberties; and as these depend on spreading the opportunities
and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and
among the different orders of the people, it shall be the duty of
legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this
commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences,
and all seminaries of them; especially the university at Cambridge,
public schools, and grammar-schools in the towns; to encourage private
societies and public institutions, rewards and immunities, for the
promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades,
manufactures, and a natural history of the country; to countenance and
inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public and
private charity, industry and frugality, honesty and punctuality in
their dealings; sincerity, and good humor, and all social affections and
generous sentiments, among the people.
The Northwest Ordinance
Purportedly, the same day the 1st
amendment was passed by the federal government; they also passed the
Northwest Ordinance. Following the same principle of the support of
schools and universities that in those days were 100% church founded and
run with the idea of keeping the citizens educated and moral. The
Northwest Ordinance promised new states would be granted federally owned
land for the purpose of being used for the support of those 100% church
run schools.
A Sec. 13. And, for extending the fundamental
principles of civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon
these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected; to fix and
establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions, and
governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said
territory: to provide also for the establishment of States, and
permanent government therein, and for their admission to a share in the
federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as
early periods as may be consistent with the general interest:
Sec. 14. It is hereby ordained and declared by the authority aforesaid,
That the following articles shall be considered as articles of compact
between the original States and the people and States in the said
territory and forever remain unalterable, unless by common consent, to
wit:
Art. 1. No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner,
shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious
sentiments, in the said territory.
Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of
education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall
always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall
never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property,
rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in
just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice
and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs
being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.
Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the
said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted: Provided, always, That any person
escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed
in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully
reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or
service as aforesaid.
The State Of New Hampshire 1792
ART. IV. Among the natural rights, some are in
their very nature unalienable, because no equivalent can be given or
received for them. Of this kind are the rights of conscience.
ART. V. Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship
God according to the dictates of his own conscience and reason; and no
person shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty, or
estate for worshipping God in the manner most agreeable to the dictates
of his own conscience, or for his religious profession, sentiments, or
persuasion; provided he doth not disturb the public peace or disturb
others in their religious worship.
ART. VI. As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical
principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and
will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due
subjection; and as a knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated
through a society by the institution of the public worship of the Deity,
and of public instruction in morality and religion; therefore, to
promote those important purposes the people of this State have a right
to empower, and do hereby fully empower, the legislature to authorize,
from time to time, the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or
religious societies within this State, to make adequate provisions, at
their own expense, for the support and maintenance of public protestant
teachers of piety, religion, and morality. Provided notwithstanding,
That the several towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious
societies, shall at all times have the exclusive right of electing their
own public teachers, and of contracting with them for their support and
maintenance. And no person, or any one particular religious sect or
denomination, shall ever be compelled to pay toward the support of the
teacher or teachers of another persuasion, sect, or denomination. And
every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves quietly and as
good subjects of the State, shall be equally under the protection of the
law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another
shall ever be established by law. And nothing herein shall be understood
to affect any former contracts made for the support of the ministry; but
all such contracts shall remain and be in the same state as if this
constitution had not been made.
SEC. LXXXIII. Knowledge and learning generally
diffused through a community, being essential to the preservation of a
free government; and spreading the opportunities and advantages of
education through the various arts of the county being highly conducive
to promote this end, it shall be the duty of the legislatures and
magistrates, in all future periods of this government, to cherish the
interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries and public
schools; to encourage private and public institutions, rewards, and
immunities for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce,
trade, manufactures, and natural history of the country; to countenance
and inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public
and private charity, industry and economy, honesty and punctuality,
sincerity, sobriety, and all social affections and generous sentiments
among the people
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