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unless, under colour of religion, any man shall disturb the good
order, peace, or safety of the state, or shall infringe the laws of
morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious
rights: nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or
maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any
place of worship, or any ministry. It shall not be lawful for
the general assembly of this state to lay an equal general tax,
or any other tax on the people of this state for the support of
any religion, but the churches, chapels, glebes, and all other
property, now belonging to the church of England, ought to
remain to the church of England for ever. And all acts of
assembly lately passed, for collecting moneys for building or
repairing particular churches or chapels of ease, shall continue
in force, and be executed, unless the legislature shall, by act,
supersede or repeal the same: but no county court shall assess
any quantity of tobacco, or sum of money, hereafter, on the
application of any vestrymen or church wardens; and every
incumbent of the church of England, who hath remained in
his parish, and performed his duty, shall be entitled to receive
the provision and support established by the act, entitled, an
act for the support of the clergy of the church of England in
this province, till the November court of this present year, to
be held for the county in which his parish shall lie, or partly
lie, or for such time as he hath remained in his parish, and
performed his duty. *
34. That every gift, sale, or devise of lands, to any minister,
public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or to any reli-
gious sect, order, or denomination, or to or for the support, use,
or benefit of, or in trust for, any minister, public teacher, or
preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order, or
denomination; and every gift or sale of goods or chattels, to go
in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or
donor, to or for such support, use, or benefit, and also every
devise of goods or chattels to or for the support, use, or benefit
of any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as
such, or any religious sect, order, or denomination, without the
leave of the legislature, shall be void, except always any sale,
gift, lease, or devise of any quantity of land not exceeding two
acres, for a church, meeting, or other house of worship, and for
a burying ground, which shall be improved, enjoyed, or used
only for such purpose, or such sale, gift, lease, or devise, shall
be void.
35. That no other test or qualification ought to be required,
on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of
1809, ch. 1G7.
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Declaration
of Rights.
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