The "Beast" of New England.

9 March 2010

"This beast, though diverse from the beast of Rome and that of Great Britain, has been wondered at and followed by a majority of Massachusetts, until this time; "Who is like unto this beast? Who is able to make war with it?

The late Convention, (the Massachusetts State Convention) called to revise the Constitution, still retain the same principle. Strange, indeed, that Massachusetts, all alone, in opposition to all the other states, should still view religion a principle of state policy-the church a creature of state, and ministers in the light of state pensioners!

That the legislature should have the power to clothe the majority of each town of parish with authority to compel the people, by a legal tax, to support the religious teachers among them--what a pity! When will men realize that a Constitution of civil Government, is a charter of powers bestowed, and of rights retained; and that private judgment and religious opinions are inalienable in their nature, like sight and hearing, and cannot be surrendered to society."--John Leland, 1822.

John Leland, Which has done the most Mischief in the World, the Kings-Evil or Priest-Craft?, The Writings of the Elder John Leland and the Events of His Life, Printed by G.W. Wood, 1845, p. P. 482-483.