Francis J. Bellamy, a former Baptist minister defrocked for preaching socialism from the pulpit, publishes the “Pledge of Allegiance” in the Youth’s Companion, proposing it as a loyalty oath to government: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

       NOTE: Bellamy did not identify the flag as being the United states’ flag, as he hoped the pledge would be applied to all national flags around the world; nor did he see fit to mention God in the oath.

       [restored 5/20/2022] Thanks to Freedom’s Phoenix for this entry.