The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-03-14
ROGER WILLIAMS.
BIZ GAsKELL.

Roger Williams was born in Vale
AID. 1906, was educated at Cam
bridge, had Sir Edward Coke for a
7 instructor and in after years. Milo
for q friend. He was ever az uu
hi compromising advocate of freedom
II had fzed dislike to ceremonies ant
D. belonged TO the most radical CT al
dissepters, and Baptists. Iniar
ri baptism was opposed by thea and a
- ne had been bspiised in infancy, a
his views changed during his ministry
at Salem, he must needs be b2piiseC
again, selecting Ezekiel HOLMAN, 6
laymsp, for that sacred duty, whom
he in turn ba 3t;sed, in company with
- ten others Such WAS the origin oil
the first Baptist Church 10 Ameri,a
Ia 1851 be landed Of Boston, q
- fugitive from persecution, eleven
years after the landing of the Pilgrims
: on that ROCK. bound coast. He was
already noted for the freedom and
iiberalgty OF his views and for MS
iondness in displaying them, and his
reputation as a preacher being more
than respectable, they looked for
] much good from his labors and got
1t, but not in the way they antici-
pated. He, in common with the
d Purilans of that day, believed that
every man had the right to worship
God according to the dictates of his
own conscience, but, while claiming
it themselves, they were not willing,
rOw they had power, TO accord il to
,, others who differed from them. He
carried this belief still farther, sdvo.
eating that civil law had no right to |
interfere in matters of religion, nor to |
enact any law whatever in regard to |
it, more than It's liberation. This |
may be called, perhaps, the fault OF
the age more taan tina. OF the Puri-
tan, who only carried cut the practice
of ages.
The state of affairs was peculiar.
Only about one-lourth of the people
were eligible az yoters-taxes were
enforced TOR the support ef religion
ORths of obedience to magistrates
we're required from sll-attendance
at church was compulsory and none
Jul CuuiGa u1CL4OOas mOiO OiiBlI4o db |
voters. or for ofice-all this he op-
posed, telling the magistrates that
test of church membership to qualify
a voter, or a public officer, was about
equal t. ohCsing a doctor OF pbysio,
or pilot OF a ship, on account OF his
skill in theology. He refused to take
| the freeman's oath, nor was be back {
ward In telling others to refuse so !
likewise. This course could not fail
10 bring him trouble, as the magis-
trstes were in a manner compelled !
ID interfere for the proper enforce {
ment OF the laws, as they then were.
He first settled az Salem and the :
people would have made him their Y
minister, had net the magistrates Of I
| Boston, remembering his obnoxious
proceedings, dissuaded them from 1t .
and he moved for short time to New 7
Plymouth, bat returned to Salem on
the death Of the Rev. Mr.. Shelton,
and became its pastor, By choice of
the people. His popularity vas, how l
ever, but short lived. Not quieted by c
his election to Salem, he sent letters c
of admonition to Boston accusing the
magistrates, who were church MEM 6
bers, of many offences and claiming c
70 church pure but that of Salem. '
To cap the climax of his innovations, t
he persuaded Mr.. Endicott to cut the 1
CROSS out of the kings COoTs, because '
it sayored of image worship, and /
many of the militia refused to train c
under flag 80 mutilated. '
.,.o1o-ol,-1-, % D-O-rH,-nn | n
had prepared the way for the peace L
ful settlement of the Puritsns in New 7
England. A dreadful pestilence, i
before their arrival, had broken out
among the aborlgines and not know a
ing how to treat it, they had mostly r
died out, or fled in terror. to amalga- i
mate with other tribes and the land c
for many miles was unclaimed. As t
the power of the colonies increased,
they were not scrupulous as to how I
they increased their borders. The
custom OF that day was for king to t
grant a charter to some one, or q q
company Of persons, empowering !
them 10 take possession of all lands
situated within certain boundaries Of '
latitude, irrespective of the rights OF S
the original inhabitants, and 10 plant E
colonies ard make settlements '
thereon. The strong arm Of power t
could alone make such grants valid, g
nor did the deep religious enthusiasm
of the times interfere. by its sense Of
Justice, to protect weaker and less I
intelligent race from the eucrosch- e
ments Of those who in their cody 1
bigotry acknowledged the hand OF {
the Lord even 10 their cruelty. The {
Pope of Rome had set the example,
dividing the newly-iound, and the ye!
to be discovered portions Of the {
earth and It's Inhabitants. into tao
parts, all west of a certain meridian {
being given to Spain and all east {
thereof to Portugal. Nations excluded
tron this psTtiu, d, were not willing
to subscribe to this high-hsnded
measure and whilst denying the Holy ;
Fathers right to give away at will,
kings and rulers we're willing snd
eager, to profit by bis example.
Roger Williams deemed this to be
wrong, nor vas be at ell backward II
letting others know HE opinions. He
believed In justice; the poor Indian
though weak, should be paid for his
lands in honest barter, 40 difference
what portly priest CT power
ful king had given them away.
This IN the eyes of the
Puritan fathers was rank hsresy,
and a pamphlet be had written, bnt
net publlshed, il defence OF these
views, was condemned ana ordered 10
be publicly burned. Fer peace Will
ranls submitted, though be sill held
to his opinions Much fear was
excited by bis teachings and actions
and failing to quiet his innovations
on the established 0 der OF things, be
was tried and the sentence of banish-
ment passed against him.
Another cause Of excitement and
vexation for the orthodox Purilans,
was the arrival about this time OF
Mrs. Hutchinson, a talented woman,
! of considerable eloguence aud power
fol mind and more tnan enlhused
with the spirit of the age. she insti-
tinted weekly meetings for members
of her Own sex, not, however, closed
entirely to the male population. Had
SIC confined herself TO the teaching