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To: FredFlash

You appear to be correct about taxpayer support of churches...I stand corrected...there were just 3 at the time the 1st Amendment was ratified.


206 posted on 01/13/2006 12:30:01 PM PST by Irontank (Let them revere nothing but religion, morality and liberty -- John Adams)
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To: Irontank
I found out the hard way not to trust any ones interpretations or characterizations of historical facts. Interpretations can vary but facts is facts.

My current policy is to never rely on evidence, no matter how much it comports with my personal view, until I examine the evidence in its context and am convinced of its authenticity.

For example, I decided to investigate Chief Justice Berger's 1983 claim that the First U. S. Congress adopted the policy of selecting a chaplain to open each session with prayer.

I examined the evidence Berger cited and found that the claim is false. Two Chaplain's to the First Congress were selected in 1789, but not to open each session with prayer.

The official records of the First U. S. Congress on line at the Library of Congress at the link below, contain no mention whatsoever of daily prayers. Not one of the 171 daily sessions of the House and Senate of the First Congress was opened with prayers according to the records.

The official records contain no mention of a resolution ordering daily prayers. Nothing happens in Congress without a resolution.

The official records contain no mention of the Chaplains being assigned the duty of daily prayers.

The official records contain no mention of the Chaplains being assigned routine daily, weekly or monthly duties. During the two years of the First Congress, the Chaplains were assigned just one day of work.

The Chaplains were the lowest paid of all the Federal employees on the "Civil List." of 1793 used for the budget in the appropriations bill.

In 1793, The President was budgeted to be paid $25,000 a year, the Speaker of House $2,190 a year, the Senate Assistant Engrossing clerk $365 a year, a Chaplain to Congress $250 a year.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/
210 posted on 01/13/2006 1:50:06 PM PST by FredFlash
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To: Irontank
I only figure it out recently. I ain't that smart. I was misinformed for years.
273 posted on 01/16/2006 1:29:12 PM PST by FredFlash
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