Thomas Jefferson* and the ‘Separation of Church and State’-3

   By using the term ‘separation of church and state’ in a letter to the Danbury Baptists, did Thomas Jefferson intend to create a secular society?  Let’s continue investigating TJ’s ‘real’     thoughts, life, and heart on Christianity.
 4.In 1779, after becoming Governor of Virginia, TJ introduced several bills to the state legislature:
          i.“A bill for punishing disturbers of religious worship and Sabbath
              breakers.” This bill declared, “If any person on Sunday shall
              himself be found laboring at his own or any other trade or
              calling…except that it be in the ordinary household offices of
               daily necessity or other work of necessity or charity, he shall
              forfeit the sum of ten shillings for every such offence.”    
                          (Barton, pg169)
   In case you missed it, TJ along with two other individuals, submitted a bill that made it illegal to do certain types of work on Sunday! And, violation of this public law was punishable by a fine!
 
            ii.“A bill for appointing Days of Public Fasting and Thanksgiving”.
                This bill declared, “The power of appointing Days of Public
                Fasting and Thanksgiving…may…be  exercised by the Governor.
                Every minister of the Gospel shall, on each day so to be
                appointed, attend and perform Divine service and preach a
                sermon or discourse suited to the occasion in his church, on
                 pain of forfeiting fifty pounds for every failure, not 
                 having a reasonable excuse.”  (Barton, pg169,170)
This is one I really enjoy because I’m a preacher. This bill declares two incredulous things:

a.The ‘Governor’ of the state can declare days of Public Fasting and prayer! Please note that the law did not say a pastor, preacher, or minister of the Gospel…it said a Governor! Remember, this is a civil law of the land…not a church law!

  However, the second point caused me to laugh out loud!
b.It appears this law applies directly to preachers on those specific days of fasting and prayer determined by the Governor. If this is true, incredibly, the law states that when the Governor declares a day of fasting and prayer, preachers must organize and hold church services, and then preach a message suited to the reason of the Governor’s declaration…or be fined!!! Note, the fine applied to each time the preacher refused to preach!
 
Oh my!!! I love it!!!
 
            iii.“A Bill annulling marriages prohibited by the Levitical law and
                 appointing the mode of solemnizing Lawful marriage.” This
                 bill stated, “Marriages prohibited by the Levitical law shall be
                 null; and persons marrying contrary to that prohibition and co-
                 habitating as man and wife, convicted thereof in the General
                 Court, shall be fined from time to time until they separate.” 
                                (Barton, pg169,170)
This bill actually has written into its body the terms “Levitical law” and “Levitical  marriage”. Are you aware of the origin of the term “Levitical”? Of course you do--The book of Leviticus in the the Bible!  This bill will send contemporary liberals into a frenzy! Yet, its origin was Governor Thomas Jefferson, who eventually became, President Thomas Jefferson!!
I repeat…as Governor—TJ personal introduced these Bills to the state legislature!!!
 
5.“In 1780, Governor TJ ordered an official state medal to be created with the motto: “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God!” The origin of this statement was Samuel Rutherford’s Lex Rex(1644).”  Later, TJ also incorporated this same motto for his personal seal! (Barton, pg170)
 
6. “In 1789 Jefferson was secretary of state to President George Washington. One of his assignments was to construct Washington D.C. In 1795, newspapers reported on his progress, “City of Washington, June 19. Is it with much pleasure that we discover the rising consequence of our infant city. Public worship is now regularly administered at the Capitol, every Sunday morning at 11:00, by Reverend Mr Ralph.”  (Barton, pg171)
  Here is the question—who approved this worship service? There can only be on correct answer—the one who was in charge—Thomas Jefferson!
 
These facts may be new to you…but they are irrefutable facts of history! On the contrary, TJ was no deist, nor atheist, nor did he attempt to establish a secular government and society!  Somebody has been fibbing to us!!! I wonder who?
 
 
*Facts in this tidbit taken from historian David Barton’s incredible book “The Jefferson Lies”, which possesses over 2000 footnotes!!
 
Quotebit
"If no other consideration had convinced me of the value of the Christian life, the Christlike work which the Church of all denominations in America has done during the last thirty-five years for the elevation of the black man would have made me a Christian."  
​                                   -Booker T. Washington