Unfortunately, my grandfather 12 generations back was quite intolerant. That William Bradford and others coming over on the ship Mayflower endured unspeakable hardships and buried many of their compatriots.

Some would suppose that they had come to establish a place of liberty and freedom for all, but that was not the case.

They had come to find a place where they had freedom to practice their own brand of Calvinist Christianity.

Those who practiced religion with carelessness or who deviated were punished and harassed.

When Roger Williams came from England to Boston in 1631, he was immediately welcomed and invited to become the assistant minister of the Boston Church.

Williams had been well educated and having a gift for languages was conversant with Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Dutch and French.

The good people of Boston were astonished and affronted when Williams declined.

Williams believed that the civil government should not be punishing people for blasphemy, Sabbath breaking, idolatry and false worship.

He believed in freedom of conscience and separation of church matters from civil government affiliation or control.

Williams has the distinction of having originated the expression, “Wall of separation between church and state.”

His ideas were very unpopular with Gov. William Bradford and other leaders of Plymouth colony.

Williams fled from the harassment of Plymouth colony and established a colony in what is now Rhode Island.

There, non-conformists, Quakers, Jews and others not welcome in Plymouth found a place to establish themselves.

Meanwhile, in 1632, the king of England signed a final charter that resulted in establishment of Maryland as a colony.

These were times of considerable intolerance.

The 30-Years War was being fought in Europe between 1618 and 1648 with Catholics and Protestants on opposing sides.

Cecil Calvert received the charter for establishment of Maryland and Cecil’s father, George, had taken the bold step of declaring himself a Catholic.

The first settlement in Maryland was named St. Mary’s City in honor of the virgin.

Some today, if asked, “What is the most outstanding characteristic of American democracy?” would answer, “Rule by majority vote.” May I suggest there is a better answer?

How could the founders of our country unite us as a people if they did not separate the beliefs and practices of religion from the concerns of civil government?

May it not be that our most unique democratic principle is protections for the minorities among us? Thomas Jefferson, in his correspondence, borrowed Williams’ phrase, “Wall of separation between church and state.”

Wikipedia notes, “The First Amendment to the Constitution … prohibits the making of any law ‘respecting an establishment of religion,’ impeding the free exercise of religion …” and granting other freedoms.

How else could our forefathers have forged the foundations for so many diverse peoples to be united harmoniously under one flag?

The Supreme Court of the United States has held that the First Amendment of the Constitution applies to each state, including any local government.