Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-02


it to say that their chief object was to
worship their God, in the manner they
might choose. And when for this pur-
pose they had braved the perils of the
deep, and encountered the dangers and
hardships incident to the arrival in the
winter season, OH desolate and unin-
habited coast, it is strange that one of
their first acts after their settlement, was
the persecution of all those, who differed
from them in religious opinions Strange
however as it may appear such was the
fact. Nor were these differences of con-
sequence or ofhigh import. They were,
respecting the minor points of their doc
trne and faith. They had wovc the web
oftheir metaphysical and theological dis
tinctions 50 fine, that it broke by its own
weight. Roger Williams did not escape
their ccnsures and oppression. We com
mence our extracts from the discourse,
with the charges preferred against him,
as they show the nature of :he opinions
Of the time, and illustrate the character
OF the founder Of our State.
"Mr. Roger Williams minister, who
came over to Salem 1880, had on dis
gust, removed to Plymouth, where he was
an assistant 10 their .Minisicr MIR. Smith,
for t'co gears. And being dsgusted like
wise at Plymouth, returned back to Sa-
lem, where he was chosen by the people
to succeed Mr.. Shelton in 1854; the
magistrates approved his settlement there
as they had done before. They made
great objections to his principles; and it
is said some worldly things helped to in
crease the animosties that soon prevailed
against him; though Mr.. Williams ap-
pears, by the whole course and tenor of
his life, and conduct here, to have been
one Of Me most disinicrested ,aen that erer
hred-a most pious and heorenly minded
soul. lie was charged with holding it
unlawful for an unregencrate man to
pray, or rcgenerate man to pray with
him." "That it was unlawful for the
of the first table," and that he insisted on
an unlimited Tolcration, or Liberty of
Conscience; from whence they inferred
him, an adrocaie for Lccntiousness, mhich
The good mans som authorized, "and ever
disclaimed." However, on these ac-.
counts, and for teaching the Patent 1cas
sinful, lin rhat seasc and hOw truly is very
obvious } for opposing the oath Of FideHiy,
not out of Disloyal.y to the King, but
on account Of he nature Of an oath which
ne thought as sacred thing ought not to
forced on all men promlscuously, whether
in state Of Grace or Nature "and for
separating from and rcnouncing Com
munion with, all the Churches in the
land, and even with his own, for not join
ing with him therein" For these things
he was at length banishcd the Colony as
D'Stmb2r oI The Peace ofthc Church and
Commonwealth; and as he says, ga Bull
OF Excommunication was sent after him
in his absence"
Gle came away to Sccunke, (sincc
called Rehoboth,) where he procured
Grant Of Lands, from Ousamequin or
Massasoiet, the Chief Sachem of Polka
wokik.-But being desired to remove
from thence, which was within the iuris-
diction of Ncw-Plymou.h, che had sew
eral Treaties with Myantonomy, and
Canonlcus, the Nantygansick, or Nara
gansctt Sachems, i'll the year 1854 and
1853; who assured him he should not
want for lands for a settlements" Divine .
Providence giving him wonderfully great
Favour i'll the Eyes of the Sachems. i
And in the Spring ofthe year lG34-5 he .
came over the river to place called by |
the Indians, Mooshausick, and by him
named Providence, "im a sense Of Cots
mcrcJM providence 10 him IN his DISTRESS" |
And several of his friends following him,
they planted there. The authority and
power of Miantonomy, awed all the In
dams round, to assist, and succour these
few feeble, and helpless English men,
thus cast out by their brethren in a
strange land However, we must (to
be impartlal own, that their being En-
ghshmcn, was a real security, and pro-
lection to them; unless the Indians had
designed general war. The English
at Massachusetts, employed Mr.. Will
liams to make league, offensive and
defensive, with the Narragansctt Indi-
ans, in the Pequot war, which followed
in 1857. And the Indian Sachems, in
one of their confrmations of the grants
of lands to him." express their gratitude
"lor the many kindnosscs and services
he had continually done for them, both
with their friends at Massachusetts, as
also at Qunniticut, and Apaum or Ply
mouth" MIR. Williams, also, maintain
nd n I,yin,,