United States Founding Fathers

Thomas Jefferson

Deeds

Bills simultaneously authored by Jefferson with the "Virginia Statute" and promoted by James Madison

  1. "A Bill for Saving the Property of the Church Heretofore by Law Established" - "The Papers of James Madison", Robert A Rutland, editor, (Chicago: Universtity of Chicago Press, 1973), Vol. III, p. 396.

  2. "A Bill for Punishing Disturbers of Religious Worship and Sabath Breakers" - "The Papers of James Madison", Robert A Rutland, editor, (Chicago: Universtity of Chicago Press, 1973), Vol. III, p. 396.

  3. "A Bill for Appointing Days of Public Fasting and Thanksgiving" - "The Papers of James Madison", Robert A Rutland, editor, (Chicago: Universtity of Chicago Press, 1973), Vol. III, p. 396.

  4. "A Bill for Annulling Marriages Prohibited by the Levitical Law and Appointing the Mode of Solemnizing Lawful Marriage" - "The Papers of James Madison", Robert A Rutland, editor, (Chicago: Universtity of Chicago Press, 1973), Vol. III, p. 396.

Use of Public Schools

  1. Jefferson designated space in the Rotunda of the University of Virginia for chapel services - Thomas Jefferson, "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson", Albert Ellery Bergh, editor, (Washington DC: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XIX, pp. 449-450, at a Meeting of the Visitors of the University ... on Monday the 4th of October, 1824.

  2. Jefferson expected students at the University of Virginia to participate in the various religious schools which he personally invited to locate adjacent to and upon the property of the University. - Thomas Jefferson, "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson", Albert Ellery Bergh, editor, (Washington DC: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XIX, pp. 449-450, at a Meeting of the Visitors of the University ... on Monday the 4th of October, 1824.

Use of Government Buildings

  1. Jefferson praised the use of the Charlottesville courthouse for religious services - Thomas Jefferson, "Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson", Thomas Jefferson Randolph, editor, (Boston: Gray and Bowen, 1830), Vol. IV, pp. 358-359, to Dr. Thomas Cooper on November 2, 1822.

  2. Jefferson expected students at the University of Virginia to participate in the various religious schools which he personally invited to locate adjacent to and upon the property of the University. - Thomas Jefferson, "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson", Albert Ellery Bergh, editor, (Washington DC: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XIX, pp. 449-450, at a Meeting of the Visitors of the University ... on Monday the 4th of October, 1824.

Necessity of Religion for Good Government

  1. Jefferson stated that religion is "deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet proved by our experience to be its best support." - Thomas Jefferson, "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson", Albert Ellery Bergh, editor, (Washington DC: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1904), Vol. XVI, p. 291, to Captain John Thomas on November 18, 1807 .

Indians

  1. Jefferson authored a work to bring Christianity to the Indians called "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth" which set for the teachings of Jesus from the Gospels. (Today, inapropriately called the "Jefferson Bible") - Henry S. Randall, "The Life of Thomas Jefferson", (New York: Derby & Jackson, 1858), Vol. III, pp. 451-452; "Jefferson's Extracts from the Gospels, Dickinson W. Adams, editor (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983) p. 28, note 87.

  2. Jefferson as President of the United States, approved several measures appropriating federal funds to pay for Christian missionaries to the indians. - "American State Papers", Walter Lowrie and Matthew St. Claire Clarke, editors, (Washington DC: Gales and Seaton, 1832), Vol. IV, p. 687 .

  3. "Jefferson's treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians ... provided annual cash support for the Tribe's Roman Catholic priest and church. ... The treaty stated in part: "And whereas, the greater part of the Tribe have been baptized and received into the Catholic church, to which they are much attached, the United States will give annually for seven years on hundred dollars towards the support of a priest of that religion ... and ... three hundred dollars to assist the said Tribe in the errection of a church."" - United States Supreme Court, Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 US 38 at 103, William H. Rehnquist, dissenting; "The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America", Richard Peters, editor, (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1846), Vol. VII, p. 79, Article III, "A Treaty Between the United States and the Kaskaskia Tribe of Indians", December 23, 1803 .

  4. Jefferson approved federal money for Christian missionary work with the Wyandot tribe of Indians. - "The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America", Richard Peters, editor, (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1846), Vol. VII, p. 88, Article IV, "Treaty with the Wyandots, etc.", 1805.

  5. Jefferson approved federal money for Christian missionary work with the Cherokee tribe of Indians. - "The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America", Richard Peters, editor, (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1846), Vol. VII, p. 102, Article II, "Treaty with the Cherokees", 1806.

  6. In 1787 an Act of Congress ordained special lands "for the sole use of Christian Indians" and reserved lands for the Moravian Brethren "for civilizing the Indians and promoting Christianity". Congress extended this act three times during Jefferson's presidency and all three times Jefferson signed the extensions into law. - John Eidsmoe, "Christianity and the Constitution", (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987), p. 244 .

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