(February 6, 1788), was the 6th State admitted to the Union. The Constitution of Massachusetts, adopted 1780, stated:
Preamble. We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the Universe, in affording us, in the course of His Providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud, violence, or surprise, of entering into an original, explicit, and solemn compact with each other; … and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design.1923
The Governor shall be chosen annually; and no person shall be eligible to this office, unless, at the time of his election … he shall declare himself to be of the Christian religion.1924
Chapter VI, Article I. Any person chosen governor, or lieutenant-governor, counsellor, senator, or representative, and accepting the trust, shall before he proceed to execute the duties of his place or office, take, make and subscribe the following declaration, viz. “I, _______, do declare, that I believe the Christian religion, and have firm persuasion of its truth.”1925
Part I, Article II. It is the right, as well as the duty, of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the Great Creator and Preserver of the Universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and seasons, most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience, or for his religious profession of sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.1926
Part I, Article III. As the happiness of a people and the good order and preservation of civil government essentially depend upon piety, religion, and morality; and as these cannot be generally diffused throughout a community but by the institution of the public worship of God and of public instructions, in piety, religion, and morality:
Therefore to promote their happiness and secure the good order and preservation of their government, the People of this Commonwealth have the right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall from time to time authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies-politic or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of God and the support and maintainence of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion, and morality in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntary.
And the people of this commonwealth have also a right to, and do, invest their legislature with authority to enjoin on all the subjects an attendance upon the instructions of the public teachers aforesaid at stated times and seasons, if there be any on whose instructions they can conscientiously attend. …
Because a frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and a constant adherence to those of piety, justice, moderation, temperance, industry, and frugality, are absolutely necessary to preserve the advantage of liberty and to maintain a free government, the people ought consequently to have a particular regard to all those principles in the choice of their officers and representatives;
And they have a right to require of their lawgivers and magistrates an exact and constant observance of them in the formation and execution of all laws necessary for the good of the commonwealth. …
Any person chosen governor, lieutenant governor, counsellor, senator, or representative, and accepting the trust, shall subscribe a solemn profession that he believes in the Christian religion, and has a firm persuasion of its truth. …
And every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably and as good subjects of the commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of, any one sect or denomination shall ever be established by law.(until 1863)1927
On March 1, 1780, in the “Declarations of Rights,” Article I, the legislature of the State of Massachusetts passed an Act abolishing slavery within the State.1928 The Constitution of the State of Massachusetts, adopted 1919, stated:
Preamble. We, therefore, the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the great Legislator of the Universe, in affording us, in the course of His providence … and devoutly imploring His direction in so interesting a design … establish this Constitution.1929
Declaration of Rights, Article II. It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the Universe.1930
Declaration of Rights, Article III. As the public worship of God and instructions in piety, religion and morality, promote the happiness and prosperity of a people and the security of republican government.1931