George Washington on Religious Freedom

[deborahjross]

Via sardonicus, a wonderful site with quotations and history.

The original of Washington’s Letter to the Hebrew Congregations of Newport, Rhode Island is small in size, but its impact on American life is immense. In 340 well-chosen words, the Letter reassures those who had fled religious tyranny that life in their new nation would be different, that religious “toleration” would give way to religious liberty, and that the government would not interfere with individuals in matters of conscience and belief. Quoting the Bible’s Old Testament, Washington writes, “every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.” He continues:

For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support. (1790)

Comments

[sardonicus.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you found it as interesting as I did. It was definitely a bit of American history I knew nothing of.