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The Weight of Testimony
obeyHis will, to be grateful for His benefits, and
humbly to implore His protection, aid and
favors.... Now, therefore, do I assign and
recommend Thursday, the 26th day ofNovember
next ... that we may then all unite in rendering
unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His
kind care and protection of the people of this
country, and for all the great and various favors
which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
--George Washington,
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, 1789
Ofall the dispositions and habits which lead
to political prosperity, religion and morality are
indispensable supports.... And let us with caution
indulge the supposition that morality can be
maintained without religion
.. .
reason and
experience both forbid us to expect that national
morality can prevail in exclusion of religious
principle.
-- George Washington
This is all the inheritance I can give to my
dear family. The religion ofChrist can give them
one which will make them rich indeed.
-- Patrick Henry, 1798
Religion, or the duty which we owe to our
Creator and the manner ofdischarging it, can be
directed only by reason and conviction, not by
force or violence; and therefore all men are
equally entitled to the free exercise of religion,
according to the dictates of conscience.... It is
the mutual duty of all to practice Christian
forbearance, love, and charity towards each
other.
-- Patrick Henry
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