On this day in 1776 the Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted. But not until an amendment was made and accepted to the 16th article. The man pushing for the amendment was young James Madison.
I’m going to read the original article and then its amendment. Listen carefully – because for thousands of Baptists in Virginia their religious freedom depended on the wording:
The original 16th article – “That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, and not by force or violence; and, therefore, that all men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise or religion, according to the dictates of conscience, unpunished and unrestrained by the magistrate, unless, under the color of religion, any man disturb the peace, the happiness, or the safety of society; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity for each other.”
Upon Madison’s insistence, the amendment read – “That religion, or the duty which we owe our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed 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.”
The difference between the article and the amendment is the difference between the free exercise of religion and toleration by a government which has usurped the authority of God.