Page 7 - THE REAL TRUTH...

Ford and those who worked with him made
it clear to President Washington and the Conti- nental Congress that they could not support a Bill of Rights that did not establish a separation of Church and State. They were convinced that the separation between the two must be so strong that the government would never again become in- volved in any affairs of the Church.
In Thomas Jefferson’s first term as governor in the state of Virginia he attempted to resolve the issue of “church and state” that had still not cleared up even after the Declaration of Independence was passed.
“Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent, or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument tomaintain, their opinions in matter of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities.”
Because of Ford and the brethern working closely with the new American government, the following clause was inserted into the Bill of Rights and passed by Congress September 25, 1789, and ratified December 15, 1791.
Amendment I
Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
After many years of struggle, the long reaching arm of “the government and its church” into the affairs of religion had finally been cut off. Through the untiring efforts of Reuben Ford and the minis- ters he worked with, “the Church” was stripped of its “governmental powers.”
Finally, the “separation of church and state” had become complete and was a reality!
For over 30 years Ford continued to serve the Dover Association as a faithful Clerk. Ford was blessed to live another 32 years, to the ripeold age
of 83, enjoying the fruits of his labors, ministering as God directed him and free from government oppression.
The following was written about Reuben Ford by a historian named Semple.
“Mr. Ford is now 68 years of age (1810) and a venerable man indeed. Few men are deceived less by their physiognomy than Elder Ford. No man ever sees him who does not view him with reverence at his first appearance, and no man was every disappointed in him. Grave, without the least moroseness, cheerful without a symptom of levity, modest, gentle, and affectionate in his manners, yet firm in his purposes; he has everything out of the pulpit which might serve as a model of a Gospel minister; his life is truly spot- less, his talents are of a useful kind; in his doctrine his somewhat tinctured with Armenianism.”
It’s evident from this account of the character and disposition of Reuben Ford as to why he was chosen, for such a time as this by the colonists in Virginia to lead them in the struggle for religious freedom.
The article that appeared in the Richmond En- quirer October 14, 1823 summed Ford’s life up this way,
“The Rev. REUBEN FORD departed this life on the 6th at his residence in the county of Hanover, in the 82nd year of his age... He was among the oldest Baptist preachers in Virginia. Though he is dead, he lives and will live in everlasting remembrance. The subject of this notice was a man of sound judgment; a faithful affectionate and successful preacher of the gospel... we fear, but few equals; and in social life he was a pattern to all his acquaintance. We trust he has fought the good fight, he has kept the faith, and that henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give him in that day. This is not the language of panegyric, but what, we doubt not, all who knew this godly man, and know and love the truth, will cordially subscribe to.”
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