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ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

Religious

SECTION 15. No person shall in time of peace be required to perform any service to the public on any day set apart by his religion equality. as a day of rest.

TEXAS.

ARTICLE I. BILL OF RIGHTS.

Ratified Feb. 17, 1876.

Religious

SECTION 6. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own con- liberty. sciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship. SECTION 7. No money shall be appropriated or drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any sect or religious society, theological or religious seminary; nor shall property belonging to the State be appropriated for any such purposes.

ARTICLE VII.- EDUCATION

. . .

THE PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.

SECTION 5. And no law shall ever be enacted appropriating any part of the permanent or available school fund to any other purpose whatever; nor shall the same or any part thereof ever be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian. school.

UTAH.

ARTICLE 1.- DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

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SECTION 1. INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHTS. All men have the inherent and inalienable right to . . . worship according to the dictates of their consciences; communicate freely their thoughts and opinions, being responsible for the abuse of that right. SECTION 4. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. The rights of conscience shall never be infringed. The State shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office of public trust or for any vote at any election; nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror on account of religious belief or the absence thereof. There shall be no union of church and state, nor shall any church dominate the State or interfere with its functions. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise, or instruction, or for the support of any ecclesiastical establishment.

Article X, Sec. 13, prohibits State aid to sectarian schools.

Public

funds not to be used for purposes.

sectarian

School funds not to be used for sectarian purposes.

Adopted

Nov. 5, 1895.

Inherent

rights.

Religious liberty.

Established July

10, 1793.

Religious

liberty.

Sabbath observance and denominational worship declared to be a duty.

Religious and educational societies to be encouraged

and protected.

In effect July 10, 1902.

Religious liberty.

Religious liberty.

Absurdity of state

churchism.

VERMONT

CHAPTER I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

ARTICLE 3. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings, as in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of God; and that no man ought to, or of right can, be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of his conscience; nor can any man be justly deprived or abridged of any civil rights as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments or peculiar mode of religious worship; 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 rights of conscience in the free exercise of religious worship. Nevertheless, every sect or denomination of Christians ought to observe the Sabbath, or Lord's day,' and keep up some sort of religious worship, which to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God.

SECTION 41.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

All religious societies, or bodies of men, that may be hereafter united or incorporated for the advancement of religion and learning, or for other pious and charitable purposes, shall be encouraged and protected in the enjoyment of the privileges, immunities, and estates, which they in justice ought to enjoy, under such regulations as the General Assembly of this State shall direct.

VIRGINIA.

ARTICLE I. BILL OF RIGHTS.

SECTION 16. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging 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; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.

ARTICLE IV. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

SECTION 58. . . No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. And the Gen

As well might the state say that " every sect or denomination of Christians ought to baptize, partake of the Lord's supper, offer prayer three times a day, and read their Bibles regularly."

eral Assembly shall not prescribe any religious test whatever, or con- Religious preferences fer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination, prohibited. or pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people of any district within this State, to levy on themselves or others any tax for the erection or repair of any house of public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry; but it shall be left free to every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contract as he shall please.

SECTION 59. The General Assembly shall not grant a charter of incorporation to any church or religious denomination, but may secure the title to church property to an extent to be limited by law.

WASHINGTON.

Ratified 1889.

ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

Adminis

oaths.

SECTION 6. The mode of administering an oath, or affirmation, shall be such as may be most consistent with and binding upon the tration of conscience of the person to whom such oath, or affirmation, may be administered.

SECTION 11. Absolute freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief, and worship, shall be guaranteed to every individual, and no one shall be molested or disturbed in person or property, on account of religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the State. No public money or property shall be appropriated for, or applied to, religious worship, exercise, or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment. No religious qualification shall be required for any public office or employment, nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror, in consequence of his opinion on matters of religion, nor be questioned in any court of justice touching his religious belief to affect the weight of his testimony.

ARTICLE IX.- EDUCATION.

SECTION 4. All schools supported wholly or in part by the public funds shall be forever free from sectarian control or influence.

Religious liberty.

No sectarian control.

ARTICLE XXVI. COMPACT WITH THE UNITED STATES.

The following ordinance shall be irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of this State:

First, That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and that no inhabitant of this State shall ever be molested in "toleration' person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

Perfect

secured.

Fourth, Provision shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of systems of public schools free from sectarian control, which shall be open to all the children of said State.

Ratified

Aug. 22, 1872.

WEST VIRGINIA.

Political

ARTICLE III. BILL OF RIGHTS.

SECTION 11. Political tests, requiring persons, as a prerequisite to and religious the enjoyment of their civil and political rights, to purge themselves

tests pro

hibited.

Religious liberty.

Ratified March, 1848.

by their own oath of past alleged offenses, are repugnant to the principles of free government, and are cruel and oppressive. No religious or political test oath shall be required as a prerequisite or qualification to vote, serve as a juror, sue, plead, appeal, or pursue any profession or employment; nor shall any person be deprived by law of any right or privilege because of any act done prior to the passage of such law.

SECTION 15. No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever; nor shall any man be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, or otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or beliefs; but all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion; and the same shall in no wise affect, diminish, or enlarge their civil capacities; and the Legislature shall not prescribe any religious test whatever, or confer any peculiar privileges or advantages on any sect or denomination, or pass any law requiring or authorizing any religious society, or the people of any district within this State, to levy on themselves or others any tax for the erection or repair of any house for public worship, or for the support of any church or ministry, but it shall be left free for every person to select his religious instructor, and to make for his support such private contract as he shall please.

WISCONSIN.

Religious liberty.

Religious tests prohibited.

ARTICLE 1.- DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

SECTION 18. The right of every man to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed, nor shall any man be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, against his consent. Nor shall any control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishments or modes of worship. Nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of religious societies or religious or theological seminaries.

SECTION 19. No religious tests shall ever be required as a qualification for any office of public trust under the State, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity, in consequence of his opinions on the subject of religion.

ARTICLE X.- EDUCATION.

SECTION 3. The Legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of district schools, . . and no sectarian instruction shall be allowed therein.

SECTION 6. Provision shall be made by law for the establishment of a State university, . . . and no sectarian instruction shall be allowed in such university.

Sectarian instruction prohibited.

WYOMING.

ARTICLE 1. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

SECTION 7. Absolute, arbitrary power over the lives, liberty, and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.

Adopted

Nov. 5,

1889.

Recognition of rights.

Religious

SECTION 18. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship without discrimination or preference shall be for- liberty. ever guaranteed in this State, and no person shall be rendered incompetent to hold any office of trust or profit, or to serve as a witness or juror, because of his opinion on any matter of religious belief whatever; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State.

SECTION 19. No money of the State shall ever be given or appropriated to any sectarian or religious society or institution.

ARTICLE VI. SUFFRAGE.

SECTION 1. The rights of citizens of the State of Wyoming to vote and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Both male and female citizens of this State shall equally enjoy all civil, political, and religious rights and privileges.

ARTICLE VII. EDUCATION.

SECTION 12. No sectarian instruction, qualifications, or tests shall be imparted, exacted, applied, or in any manner tolerated in the schools of any grade or character controlled by the State, nor shall attendance be required at any religious service therein, nor shall any sectarian tenets or doctrines be taught or favored in any public school or institution that may be established under this Constitution.

ORDINANCE.

SECTION 2. Perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of this State shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

Equality

of rights.

Schools

to be free

from sectarianism.

Perfect "toleration.'

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