MARYLAND,
TOLERATION ACT OF

(April 21, 1649), transformed the Colony of Maryland, which was founded initially as a refuge for persecuted Catholics, into a region that gave Christians of all denominations religious liberty:

Be it therefore … enacted … that no person or persons whatsoever within this province … professing to believe in Jesus Christ shall … from henceforth be any ways troubled, molested (or disapproved of) … in respect of his or her religion nor in the free exercise thereof.363

The form of oath prescribed in Governor Stone’s time avouched:

I do further swear that I will not myself, nor any other person, directly or indirectly, trouble, molest, or discountenance any person whatever, in the said province, professing to believe in Jesus Christ.364

The Colony of Maryland required the every governor annually take an oath that they would not:

By themselves, or indirectly, to trouble, molest, or discountenance any person professing to believe in Jesus Christ, for or in respect of religion; and if any such were so molested, to protect the person molested, and punish the offender.365