History of church, state at Crader lecture

Patrick Henry, a Founding Father, is most famously known in school history books for his quote, "Give me liberty or give me death."

But there is much more to the man than the seven-word line etched in our collective memory.

Dr. Thomas Kidd, a professor of history and senior fellow in the Institute for Studies at Baylor University, will share his expertise of Henry in the annual Crader Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Kidd will discuss Henry's role in the debate of religion's place in government and the wording of the Constitution. According to Kidd, Henry was the most devout Christian among the major founding fathers.

Kidd said that Henry "warned that the government under Madison's new Constitution would eventually become a liberty-crushing monster."

Henry believed that state governments should continue financially supporting churches and pastors after the revolution.

If you find the debate of church and state separation an interesting one, or if you enjoy history, there will be no better place to be on Tuesday than the Rose Theatre in Grauel Building.