"The efforts of Kochertal had only temporarily diverted or retarded the main stream of German emigration to Pennsylvania. It now flowed on in a strong and steady current, gathering around the nucleus formed by the Frankford Land Company, thence diffusing itself throghout the southeastern corner of the province, and after crossing the Susquehanna, sending its overflow into Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The details of this immigration are outside the limits of the present paper, which, according to the assignment, is simply to bring the emigrants to our borders and leave them there, for other writers to complete the work. A few facts, however, are in place. Pennsylvania, we believe, became a favoriye of German emigrants because of the religious principles embodied in its laws. These were, first the clear recognition of Christianity as the basis of government, and, secondly, the toleration granted, within certain limits for various forms of Christianity. The fact that the German emigration proceeded in clearly-marked waves, according to diverse denominations and sects, beginning with those most persecuted in Europe, and thence proceeding to those where the religious restraints in the mother country were more a matter of annoyance than of persecution, supports this opinion. 'The History of Religious Liberty in Pennsylvania' would be a fruitful theme for an entire paper. The efforts of Kochertal had only temporarily diverted or retarded the main stream of German emigration to Pennsylvania. It now flowed on in a strong and steady current, gathering around the nucleus formed by the Frankford Land Company, thence diffusing itself throghout the southeastern corner of the province, and after crossing the Susquehanna, sending its overflow into Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The details of this immigration are outside the limits of the present paper, which, according to the assignment, is simply to bring the emigrants to our borders and leave them there, for other writers to complete the work. A few facts, however, are in place. Pennsylvania, we believe, became a favoriye of German emigrants because of the religious principles embodied in its laws. These were, first the clear recognition of Christianity as the basis of government, and, secondly, the toleration granted, within certain limits for various forms of Christianity. The fact that the German emigration proceeded in clearly-marked waves, according to diverse denominations and sects, beginning with those most persecuted in Europe, and thence proceeding to those where the religious restraints in the mother country were more a matter of annoyance than of persecution, supports this opinion. 'The History of Religious Liberty in Pennsylvania' would be a fruitful theme for an entire paper. Penn, in the preface to his 'Frame of Laws' bases all civil government upon Divine authority as proclaimed in Holy Scriptures, and lays down principles in axiomatic form that are worthy of lasting memory. 'Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn.' the very first law contained in the Petition of Rights of 1682 makes it one of the qualifications of members of the Assembly and of those who have the right to vote for members, that they 'shall be such as profess and declare that they believe in Jesus Christ to be the son of God, the Saviour of the world.' Among the laws agreed upon in England in 1682, and in force in 1682-1700, is the following: 'That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the One Almighty and Eternal God to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world, and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall in no ways be molested or predjudiced for their religious permission or persuasion or practiced in matters of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled at any time to frequent or maintain any religious worship, nor shall they be compelled at any time to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever.' In 1697, this law was reenacted, with the additional clause: ' and if any person shall abuse or deride any other for his or her different persuasion or practice in matters of religion, such person shall be looked upon as a disturber of the peace and be punshed accordingly.' This was afterwards declared by enactment to be the very first of the Fundamental Laws of the Province. When again enacted in 1700, it was repealed by the Queen in Council upon the exception of the Attorney-General--'I am of the opinion that this law is not fit to be confirmed, no regard being had in it to the Christian religion, and also for that in the indulgence allowed to the Quakers in England, by the statute of the first William and Mary, chapt. 18 (which sort of people are also the principal inhabitants of Pennsylvania) they are obliged by the declaration to profess faith in God, and in Jesus Christ, His Eternal Son, the True God, and in the Holy Spirit, One God Blessed forevermore; and to acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be given by Divine inspirations, and also for that none can tell for what conscientious practices allowed by this act may extend to.' tbc