Elder John Leland - Cheshire, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 33.736 W 073° 09.469
18T E 651217 N 4713851
A plaque honoring Elder John Leland and his accomplishments is located at Church and School Streets in the center of Cheshire, MA
Waymark Code: WM116QA
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2019
Views: 2
A bronze plaque listing honoring Elder John Leland and his accomplishments is located on a sculpture of a cheese press on the corner of Church and School Streets in the center of Chester. MA The plaque contains an image of Elder John Leland and is inscribed:
1754 {IMAGE OF JOHN LELAND} 1841
ELDER JOHN LELAND
ELOQUENT PREACHER BELOVED PASTOR
INFLUENTIAL PATRIOT
FATHER OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
WITH JAMES MADISON CARRIED VIRGINIA
IN THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE FIRST
AMENDMENT, DESPITE OPPOSITION OF EVERY
OTHER PULPIT IN MASSACHUSETTS
CARRIED EVERY VOTE IN CHESHIRE FOR THE
ELECTION OF
PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON
AND PRESENTED TO HIM ON JAN. 1, 1802 IN THE EAST ROOM
OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN
DIPLOMATS, SUPREME COURT JUDGES
AND THE CONGRESS
THE BIG CHESHIRE CHEESE
WEIGHING 1255 LBS.
DEDICATED BY
THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1940
John Leland was born on May 14, 1754 in Grafton, MA. As Baptist preacher in Virginia and Massachusetts, he was a staunch abolitionist and advocate for religious freedom in the United States. He was an early exponent of the "liberty of conscience" religious philosophy with regard to public policy and helped get the First Amendment to the Constitution adopted despite widespread opposition from his fellow religious leaders. His philosophy can be clearly seen in the following quote.
"The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever...Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians." - A Chronicle of His Time in Virginia.