Strict wall of separation

A July 5 Speak Out comment quotes Patrick Henry: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not by religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

This reminds me of James Madison's frequent assertion that in colonial Virginia there were imprisoned five Baptist preachers at one time in his county (Orange) for teaching doctrine contrary to the state-church dictatorship.

Thus, Madison began the Bill of Rights: "The Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religions, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Yes, the father of the Constitution had good cause to provide for a strict wall of separation between church and state.

BILL D. BURLISON, Advance, Mo.