God and The 13 Original State Constitutions: Delaware
Was the United States Founding a Christian Founding?
In our previous posting we went through Connecticuts Constitution in relation to God. We continue with Delaware. We dive into the locations of God in Delaware’s Constitution and Declaration of Rights from 1776.
The most interesting part to me in Delaware’s Constitution is the requirement to hold office: to “profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God…” but “no clergyman or preacher of the gospel…shall be capable of holding any civil…or of being a member of either of the branches of the legislature, while they continue in the exercise of the pastoral function.”
A Declaration of Rights
SECT. 2.
That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings; and that no man ought or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship or maintain any ministry contrary to or against his own free will and consent, and that no authority can or ought to be vested in, or assumed by any power whatever that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the right of conscience in the free exercise of religious worship.
SECT. 3.
That all persons professing the Christian religion ought forever to enjoy equal rights and privileges in this state, unless, under colour of religion, any man disturb the peace, the happiness or safety of society.
Constitution of Delaware
ART. 22.
Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust, before taking his seat, or entering upon the execution of his office, shall take the following oath, or affirmation, if conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath, to wit:
“I, A B. will bear true allegiance to the Delaware State, submit to its constitution and laws, and do no act wittingly whereby the freedom thereof may be prejudiced.”
And also make and subscribe the following declaration, to wit:
“I, A B. 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 scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.”
And all officers shall also take an oath of office.
ART. 29.
There shall be no establishment of any one religious sect in this State in preference to another; and no clergyman or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of holding any civil once in this State, or of being a member of either of the branches of the legislature, while they continue in the exercise of the pastoral function.