The Father of Religious Liberty

Francis Makemie who was born in Ramelton, County Donegal, Ireland, A.D. 1658, was educated at Glasgow University, Scotland, and came as an ordained Evangelist to the American Colonies AD 1683 at the request of Col. William Steven's, of Rehobeth, Maryland. A devoted and able preacher of our Lord's Gospel, he labored faithfully and freely for twenty- five years in Maryland, Virginia, the Barbados and elsewhere.

A Christian gentleman, an enterprising man of affairs, a public spirited citizen, a distinguished advocate of Religious Liberty, for which he suffered under the Governor of New York, he is especially remembered as the chief founder of organized Presbytery in America, AD 1706, and as the first moderator of the General Presbytery. He died at his home in Accomack County, Virginia, in the summer of AD 1708, and was buried in his family cemetery, located on this spot, now recovered from a long desecration and dedicated with this monument to his memory AD 1908 by the American "Presbyterian Historical Society, " seated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This very general description doesn't even begin to do justice to the life of a man who is known as "The Father of American Presbyterianism," and perhaps should be known as the "Father of American Religious Liberty. "

Rehobeth, Maryland is on the eastern shore of the state, on the Pokomoke River. In 1683, Maryland under Lord Baltimore enjoyed a measure of religious freedom. In Virginia, however, the colony followed England's practice of an official state church. Citizens were expected to support the clergy to the tune of "ten pounds of tobacco and a bushel of corn from every person sixteen years old and up " In 1689 the English parliament passed the Toleration Act, affording some degree of religious toleration throughout England. But shortly thereafter Maryland established the Church of England as the official church of the colony. All preachers were required to obtain licenses and special permits. In Virginia, "Dissenters," which was every religion except the Church of England were denied the right to use church buildings.

Makemie preached in Maryland and Virginia and his sloop, Tabitha became a familiar sight along the rivers and inlets of the Chesapeake Bay. Finally in 1699, authorities in Virginia arrested him for preaching without a license. Makemie appeared before the governor and burgeses in his own defense. He declared that he was "a loyal citizen of Her Excellency's Ancient and Noble Colony of Virginia," and that he was "laboring continuously to propagate the true knowledge of the Christian Religion" He argued that under English Common law, the Act of Toleration applied to the colonies as well as England. He spoke so effectively, and perhaps with the help of the Holy Spirit, that the governor not only licensed his dwelling in Onancock, but permitted him to preach anywhere in the colony.

In January 1707, Makemie was traveling to New England through New York. Hearing of his visit, the Dutch and French reformed churches there invited him to speak, and invitation he gladly accepted. Unfortunately, the governor of New York at the time was a puffed up relative of Queens Mary II and Anne, a Lord Cornbury. He issued a warrant for Makemie's arrest and the authorities brought the preacher to face the governor himself.

Cornbury was outraged that Makemie would preach in "his" government without a license, and demanded that Makemie post a bond to ensure his future compliance. It has been suggested in some quarters that Cornbury benefited personally from the collection of such bonds, but this has not been proven. Never the less, Makemie tried to argue that the Toleration Act gave him liberty to preach, but Cornbury was adamant. He charged Makemie with preaching to more than five people and placed him in jail. The trial was set for the following June, 18 months later.

Fortunately New York had some measure of civil liberties at the time, and Makemie applied to the Supreme Court on writ of habeas corpus. The authorities released him on bail. Makemie returned to New York to stand trial. Three of the ablest lawyers in the colony defended him, but after they were done with their arguments, Makemie spoke in his own defense. Again, he spoke with such force and clarity that he was vindicated from every charge. But in a final act of spite, the chief justice required Makemie to pay the cost of his own trial where he was found not guilty. The unreasonable court requirement so aroused the citizens of New York that the Assembly passed a law making this practice illegal. As for Cornbury, his tyranny in the Makemie affair was the major cause for his own imprisonment and disgraceful recall as governor. Remember in 1707, the monarch of England would still have a relatively fresh memory of the Glorious Revolution where Parliament forced the tyrannical James II from his throne. Defending himself, Cornbury described Makemie as a "Jack of all Trades: he is a preacher, a Doctor of Physick, a Merchant, an Attorney, or Counselor at law, and, which is worst of all, a Disturber of Governments."

God helping us, we would be guilty of being a "Disturber of Governments" that oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But as for Francis Makemie, he died only a year after his trial. He had worn himself out for the cause of liberty and the cause of righteousness.

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