[DJ MacWoW]

LOC - THE STATE BECOMES THE CHURCH: JEFFERSON AND MADISON

It is no exaggeration to say that on Sundays in Washington during the administrations of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) and of James Madison (1809-1817) the state became the church. Within a year of his inauguration, Jefferson began attending church services in the House of Representatives. Madison followed Jefferson's example, although unlike Jefferson, who rode on horseback to church in the Capitol, Madison came in a coach and four. Worship services in the House--a practice that continued until after the Civil War.

[mountainlion]

Jefferson's wall of separation was an affirmation that Church and State should be separated as if by a wall. The US government has bent over backwards to accommodate all religions.