Queen Victoria on Religious Liberty
It would be well if the makers and the administrators of the laws of free and America would give heed to a proclamation made by one of the rulers of the Old World nearly half a century ago. In a proclamation issued in 1858 Queen Victoria of England gave utterance to the true principle of religious liberty in the following statement:— Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of Christianity, and acknowledging with gratitude the solace of religion, we disclaim alike the right and the desire to impose our convictions on any of our subjects. We declare it to be our Royal will and pleasure that none be in any wise favored, none molested or disquieted, by reason of their religious faith or observance, but that all shall alike enjoy the equal and impartial protection of the law, and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in authority under us, that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship of any of our subjects, on pain of our highest displeasure.