of separation of church and State on which the Constitu-
tion or the Convention of New York foundered. It was a
question of prime importance before the legislature in
Florida when they were in the process of reviewing their
Constitution. It has been the major issue in Rhode Island,
and likewise in Michigan, and it was, as all of you know,
[ the paramount issue of the Convention of 1787 when our
Constitution was adopted.
To refresh your recollection, you will remember
that Madison, who, incidently, was the son of a minister
himself, spent ten years of his life fighting against
Patrick Henry and the Virginia establishment for absolute
separation of Church and State. He wanted what he
called a, quote, wall of separation, unquote, between Churcl-
and State, and Jefferson agreed with him.
He nearly lost the battle invirginia when the
assessment bill was passed, which was a measure, as you
recall, levying taxes, which was nothing less than the sup-
port of religion.
He won partly by strategy and partly by his his-
toric and memorial remonstrance against any aid whatsoever