PRESIDENT PAYS TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS ASBURY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 15, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge spoke at the unveiling of a statue to Francis Asbury*. The President said...
"We cannot depend upon the Constitution to do the work of religion."
Mr. Coolidge also said....
"The government...never gets ahead of the religion of a country," and described religion as "the foundation of this Government."
The President characterized Francis Asbury as "the John Wesley of the Western World."
*Francis Asbury (1745-1865) was born in Staffordshire, England & became one of the 1st two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. FA traveled on horseback spreading the gospel. He preached more than 17,000 sermons.
JFK+50 NOTE
President Coolidge was spot on about the Constitution and religion. According to the Library of Congress, the U.S. Constitution "says little about religion." The only reference is the prohibiting of "religious tests" for federal office holders.
Many delegates to the Constitutional Convention were "committed federalists" who did not believe religion to be "within the domain of the national government." They also feared the insertion of religion into the document would be "politically controversial."
While there is little doubt of the importance of religion in the founding of the United States, our government is based on the separation of church and state. We are free to worship, or not worship, as we please.
SOURCES
"Faith of Our Forefathers," Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Religion, Not Law, Basis Of Reform, Coolidge Asserts," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 15, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
