George W. Grisevich
A significant factor in the long history of the development of religious liberty in Connecticut is that it “was not marked, as so often elsewhere, by wild disorder, outrageous oppression, tyranny of classes, civil war or any great retrograde movement.”
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Following a pattern of stability and reasonableness in government, Connecticut gradually liberalized.
The minutes of the New London Baptist Association meeting held at Saybrook’s Second Baptist Church on October 20 and 21, 1818, clearly expressed the sentiments of Connecticut Baptists at the time. The minutes acknowledged “the kind interference of Divine Providence in favor of Religious Liberty in this State in the removal of those impediments which have so long lay in our way; but God forbid that this liberty should ever be perverted to licentious purposes . . .
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The admonition “God forbid that this liberty should ever be perverted to licentious purposes,” should speak to the 20th century mind as it did to the 19th. The church-state issues of our day such as Bible reading and prayer in the public schools, the “under God” insertion in our Pledge of Allegiance, government support of military chaplains, “In God We Trust” inscriptions on currency, tax exemptions for church properties, holding holiday observances in public schools, all state constitutions making reference to God in their preambles, and aid to parochial schools are certainly destined to be more than mere topics for conversation in the future.
“Stability and reasonableness,” were very much a part of Baptist efforts for religious liberty in the 18th century.
The Records of
the Baptist Church in Colebrook Beginning in 1782
(Church Records, 1792) 1-2, read:
Whereas Rufus Babcock of Canaan, see fit to make a visit at Colebrook, by the permission of Providence, and improve in Public among them; the People of the place approving of his Doctrines, and inviting him to improve with them again and so doing from time to time; and he being pleased to Preach among us thought best to propose a Public Conference to Confer together, both Baptist and Congregationals, to see if we could come into some regulations, in order to promote the worship of God in this place; according to our endeavors appointed Saturday November 9th 1793, in the afternoon to meet in Conference for said purpose.
Stability and reasonableness are no less important for 20th century church-state issues. Nothing short of the spirit of “conferring together,” practiced as early as 1793 at Colebrook, can serve as an inspiration to maintain full literty and promote genuine religion in our day.