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Charter of Privileges Granted by William Penn, esq.
to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania and Territories, October 28, 1701 (1)
"BECAUSE no People can be truly happy, though under the greatest
Enjoyment of Civil Liberties, if abridged of the Freedom of their
Consciences, as to their Religious Profession and Worship: And
Almighty God being the only Lord of Conscience, Father of Lights
and Spirits; and the Author as well as Object of all divine Knowledge,
Faith and Worship, who only cloth enlighten the Minds, and persuade
and convince the Understandings of People, I do hereby grant and
declare, That no Person or Persons, inhabiting in this Province or
Territories, who shall confess and acknowledge One almighty God,
the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the World; and profess him or
themselves obliged to live quietly under the Civil Government,
shall be in any Case molested or prejudiced, in his or their Person
or Estate, because of his or their conscientious Persuasion or Practice,
nor be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious Worship, Place or
Ministry, contrary to his or their Mind, or to do or super any other
Act or Thing, contrary to their religious Persuasion."
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