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Do you know the Preamble for your state? . . .

Alabama 1901,  Preamble
We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of  Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..

 Alaska 1956, Preamble

 We, the people of  Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this  great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble

 We, the people of the  State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble

 We, the people of the  State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our  own
form of government...

California 1879, Preamble

 We, the  People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom... 

Colorado 1876, Preamble

 We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for  the Supreme Ruler of Universe... 

Connecticut 1818, Preamble

. The People of  Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in   permitting them to enjoy.

 Delaware 1897, Preamble

 Through  Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving  their Creator according to the dictates of
 their  consciences.

 Florida 1885, Preamble

 We, the people of the  State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...

 Georgia 1777, Preamble

 We, the  people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do  ordain and establish this Constitution...

Hawaii 1959,  Preamble

 We , the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish  this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble

 We, the people of the  State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

I Illinois 1870, Preamble

 We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

 Indiana 1851, Preamble

 We,  the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free  exercise of the right to choose our form of government.

 Iowa  1857, Preamble

 We, the People of the St ate of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme  Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on
Him for  a continuation of these blessings, establish this  Constitution.

Kansas 1859, Preamble

 We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble

 We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...

Louisiana 1921, Preamble

 We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

 Maine 1820, Preamble

 We the  People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign  Ruler of the Universe in affording us an
opportunity .. And imploring His aid  and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble

 We, the people of the  state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious  liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble

 We...the people of  Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe
In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction .

 Michigan 1908, Preamble

 We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the  blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.

Minnesota,  1857, Preamble

 We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our  civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its 
blessings:

Mississippi 1890, Preamble

 We, the people of  Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Al mighty God, and invoking His  blessing on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people  of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and  grateful for His goodness .
 Establish this  Constitution...

Montana 1889, Preamble

 We, the people of  Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..

Nebraska 1875, Preamble

 We, the people,  grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this  Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble

 We the people of the  State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V

 Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own
conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble

  We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil  and religious liberty which He hath so long
 permitted us to enjoy, and looking  to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

New Mexico 1911,  Preamble

 We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the  blessings of liberty..

New York 1846, Preamble

 We, the people  of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to  secure its blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble

 We the  people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign  Ruler of Nations, for our civil,
 political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of  those...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble

 We , the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious  liberty, do ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble

 We the people of  the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its  blessings and to promote our common...

Oklahoma 1907,  Preamble

 Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and  perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this

Oregon  1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. 

 All men shall be secure in the  Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their  consciences

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble

 We, the people of  Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious  liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance....

Rhode Island  1842, Preamble

 We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty  God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so
long permitted us to  enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

South Carolina,  1778, Preamble

 We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for  our liberties, do ordain and establish this  Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble

 We, the people of  South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties
.
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. 

That all men have a natural  and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of  their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble

 We the People of the  Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of  God.   

 Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life  and liberty, we establish this Constitution.

Vermont 1777,  Preamble

 Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it  to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the
Author of Existence  has bestowed on man .

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, 

XVI  Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason  and that it is the mutual duty of all to
 practice Christian Forbearance, Love  and Charity towards each other

Washington 1889, Preamble We  the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the  Universe for our liberties, do ordain this
Constitution

West  Virginia 1872, Preamble

 Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings  of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia  reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God  ...

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble

 We, the people of Wisconsin,  grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic  tranquility...

Wyoming 1890, Preamble

 We, the people of the  State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution..

After reviewing  acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is faced with the  prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!  If you found this to be "Food for thought" copy and send to as many as you think  will be enlightened as I hope you were. (Please note that at no time is anyone  told that they MUST worship  God.)

"Those  people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." - William  Penn

BLESSED  IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD ... 
PSALM  33:12 

GOD  BLESS AMERICA 

 

 

James Madison (Father of the Constitution) 

and Thomas Jefferson

Original Intent

James Madison expressed some of the more extreme views on the relationship between government and religion in his later writings and official documents, one being the Detached Memoranda, written around 1817. But his opinions of his later life were at a direct variance to his earlier opinions, and to many of his actions as a Virginia statesman and as president. He and Jefferson’s Virginia Statute of 1786 is misinterpreted today to represent “separation of church and state”, when in actuality its purpose was to secure religious expression equally for all denominations. As president, Madison signed a federal bill that gave financial aid to a Bible Society for the mass distribution of Bibles, and he also issued several proclamations for national days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving. Together, Jefferson and Madison proposed bills in Virginia such as “A Bill for Saving the Property of the Church Heretofore by Law Established,” “A Bill for Punishing Disturbers of Religious Worship and Sabbath Breakers,” “A Bill for Appointing Days of Public Fasting and Thanksgiving,” and “A Bill Annulling Marriages Prohibited by the Levitical Law and Appointing the Mode of Solemnizing Lawful Marriage.” Jefferson authored a work entitled The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, and while president, approved several measures assigning federal financial aid for Christian Missionaries to the Indians, and signed three separate laws to appropriate government land, again, for the use of Christian Missionaries to evangelize Indians. As a result of their disdain for religious tyranny (but not for “pure” religion in general), these two men were intent upon creating and maintaining a government free from the dictates of any one religious sect, but they were not religion-hostile. Both Jefferson and Madison supported the real purpose of the First Amendment … to prevent the Federal Government from establishing a national denomination. And Jefferson particularly felt that it was the right of the states alone and individually to establish and/or deal with religion as they saw fit. 

References:

David Barton, Original Intent, The Courts, the Constitution, & Religion, (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 2000), p. 203. 

 The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1853), Twelfth Congress, Second Session, p. 1325: “An Act for the relief of the Bible Society of Philadelphia. Be it enacted, &c., That the duties arising and due to the United States upon certain stereotype plates, imported during the last year into the port of Philadelphia, on board the ship Brilliant, by the Bible Society of Philadelphia, for the purpose of printing editions of the Holy Bible, be and the same are hereby remitted, on behalf of the United States, to the said society: and any bond or security given for the securing of the payment of the said duties shall be cancelled. Approved February 2, 1813.” 

James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897 (Published by Authority of Congress, 1899), Vol. I, pp. 512-513, June 19, 1812; pp. 532-533, July 23, 1813; p. 558, November 16, 1814; pp. 560-561, March 4, 1815.

James Madison, The Papers of James Madison, Robert A Rutland, editor (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973), Vol. VIII, pp. 396. 

Henry S. Randall, The Life of Thomas Jefferson (New York: Derby & Jackson, 1858), Vol. III, pp. 451-452. For an alternative view of the purpose of this book, see Jefferson’s Extracts from the Gospel’s, Dickinson W. Adams, editor (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983), p. 28, n. 87.

American State Papers, Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Claire Clarke, editors (Washington, D. C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832), Vol. IV, p. 687. 

 Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Seventh Congress (Washington, D. C.: Gales and Seaton, 1851), p. 1332, “An Act in Addition to An Act, Entitled, ‘An Act in Addition to an Act Regulating the Grants of Land Appropriated for Military Services, and for the Society of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel Among the Heathen’ ”; Seventh Congress, Second Session, p. 1602, “An Act to Revive and Continue in Force An Act in Addition to An Act, Entitled, ‘An Act in Addition to an Act Regulating the Grants of Land Appropriated for Military Services, and for the Society of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel Among the Heathen,’ and for Other Purposes”; and Eighth Congress, p. 1279, ”An Act Granting Further Time for Locating Military Land Warrants, and for Other Purposes.” 

 

    

 

The Opinions expressed at the No Problem Ranch 

ARE THE ABSOLUTE OPINIONS OF IT'S OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, AND LIVESTOCK!