This Week in Christian History: John Donne, Roman Empire, America a 'Christian Nation'

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, February 25, 2018

Supreme Court Says the United States a "Christian Nation" - February 29, 1892

U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., November 27, 2017. | (Photo: REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)

This week technically marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States, whose majority declared that the United States "is a Christian nation."

Centered on an immigration law matter between an Anglican priest and a New York congregation, the obscure case is mostly remembered for Justice David Josiah Brewer's majority opinion and its religious designation for the country.

"Among other matters, note the following: the form of oath universally prevailing, concluding with an appeal to the Almighty; the custom of opening sessions of all deliberative bodies and most conventions with prayer; the prefatory words of all wills, 'In the name of God, amen;' the laws respecting the observance of the Sabbath, with the general cessation of all secular business, and the closing of courts, legislatures, and other similar public assemblies on that day," wrote Justice Brewer.

"... churches and church organizations which abound in every city, town, and hamlet; the multitude of charitable organizations existing every where under Christian auspices; the gigantic missionary associations, with general support, and aiming to establish Christian missions in every quarter of the globe. These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation."