(March 4, 1791), was the 14th State admitted into the Union. The Constitution of the State of Vermont, adopted 1777, stated:
Preamble. Whereas all government ought to be instituted and supported for the security and protection of the community, as such, and to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of existence has bestowed on man.2041
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, III. That all men have a natural and Unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understanding, regulated by the word of GOD;
and that no man ought, 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 who professes the Protestant religion, be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right, as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiment, or peculiar mode of worship, and that no authority can … interfere with, or in any manner control, the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship;
nevertheless, every sect or denomination of people ought to observe the Sabbath, or the Lord’s day, and keep up, and support, some sort of religious worship, which to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of GOD.2042
In 1786, the legislature of the State of Vermont passed the “Declaration of Rights,” Article I, which abolished slavery within the State.2043 The Constitution of the State of Vermont, adopted 1786, stated:
Frame of Government, Section IX. And each member [of the Legislature], before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz: “I do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the Rewarder of the good and Punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scripture of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration, and own and profess the Protestant religion.
And no further or other religious test shall ever, hereafter, be required of any civil officer or magistrate in this State.”2044
In 1792, the Constitution of the State of Vermont stated:
Frame of Government, Chapter II, Section XII. And each member, before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz: “You do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the Rewarder of the good and Punisher of the wicked.”2045
In 1793, the Constitution of the State of Vermont stated:
Chapter I, Article III. That all men have a natural and unalienable right, to worship Almighty God, according to the dictates of their own consciences. … 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.2046