Senate Passes Resolution Honoring William Penn's Charter 

HARRISBURG—The State Senate gave unanimous approval to a measure sponsored by Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf to designate October as "William Penn's Charter of Privileges Month."

Senate Resolution 189 honors Penn's vision of religious freedom and the "Holy Experiment" of governance that Penn established in the commonwealth.

Greenleaf noted that October is an appropriate month for commemoration since Penn was born on October 24, 1664 and because England adopted Penn's fourth version of colonial Pennsylvania's constitution, known as "The Charter of Privileges," on October 28, 1701.

Written by Penn in Philadelphia, the document is credited with being a foundational source of the United States Constitution.  Through his Charter, Penn sought to create a new society—one that reflected his deeply held Quaker beliefs and established the freedom of religion as a right and policy.

The impact of Penn's document was so enduring that Philadelphia's historic Liberty Bell was crafted in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Charter of Privileges.

In presenting the resolution, Greenleaf quoted from Penn's writings, excerpts of which are part of the design of the capitol rotunda.  Greenleaf noted that Penn believed that God ordained the creation of the commonwealth as an example of people living in peace and religious freedom.  Penn's words in the rotunda read: "There may be room for such a Holy Experiment.  For the nations want a precedent and my God will make it the seed of a nation.  That an example may be set up to the nations.  That we may do the thing that is truly wise and just."

Greenleaf said that he initiated the resolution at the request of Pastor Darrell Fields, whose book on William Penn and his vision of governance in Pennsylvania is entitled "Seed of a Nation."