The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-28
PAPER BIZ PORTLAND MAN.
Address ny Rev. Dr. Barrsse Before
American Historical Society

Address ny Rev. Dr. Barr.se before
American Historical Society.
Boston. December s7.-The America N
Historical association opened lite annual
meeting In the South Congregational
church today. President James Ford
Rhodes occupied the chair, and there was
. large attendance. President Rhodes I'D =
dressed the gathering. calling attention
10 new eavsi presented DO this associa-
tion by samuel MoA uiey jackson Of Ros-
ton.: 1.-THE gsvsl," he said sis made of
five woods, four OF which forming the
head, consist Of the maple OF Connscticut
the ash Of Pennsylvania, the red birch of
New Hampshirs and the oak of New
York state. The gold band which Is en-
eraved is from California: Upon the two
silver bands are the words From Ne
million Of Kentucky" In the name of
the association President Rhodes thanked
Mr.. jackson for the useful present.
In the unavoidable absence OF Mayor
| Quincy. Rev. Edward Everett Hale spoke
briefly for the city Of Boston. Il am sure
the city Of Boston," said he. ''wilI cor
daily welcome you, and more cordially
than any ether city, btcause we here feel
the necessity Of the proper working up of
our own history"
The Discussion of the morning. devoted
| TO the colonizations, was then taken up.
The first paper was by Prof. X. X.
Bourne OF Western Rsserve University.
He discussed s'Some of the Difficulties of
American Colonization"
At the afternoon s'ssion Rev. II. s.
Burrage Of Portland, Me-, delivered an
address on HWhy Was Roger Williams
Banisneds"
DE-. Burrage. in the opening Of his
paper, referred to the fact that when the
Records of the c,l,py Of New Plymouth
In New England from 1888 to 1879 were
published in 1869 by the Common wealth
Of Massachusetts,, under the direction of
Mr.. David Puisifer, the latter, In bis
introduction, called attention to certain
documents discovered after the printing
of the last volume was commenced.
among them an act OF the Council OF the
Massachusetts, Colony In 1876, which In
effect revoked the action OF the General
Court by WHOM Roger Williams was ban
ished In 1875. In order that it might
become available for historical purposes,
MIR. Pulsifer gave this document plaos
In his Introduction to this closing volume
Of the Records Of tho Plymouth Colony,
calling attention to the document In
these words: ''In consideration OF his
services. and in consequences OF his suffer
inss In Philips War, the Council Of
Massachusetts, passed the following act.
taking eft the sentsnoe OF banishMent,
which had been enacted and carried into
effect by the General Court.
4
at present under a sentence Of Restraint
from coming into this colony yet coDsid-
tr.ng how readily 81 fresly at all tymes
he hath served the English Interest In
this time of waIrs with the Indians,
manifested his particular respects to the
Authority of this colony In several SER
Woes desired OF him. 81 further under.
standing, how by the last assault OF ths
Indians upon Providence His House is
BURNED & himself In his old age reduced
to AN uncomfortable 81 disabled state Out
of compassion to him In this condition
The Council doe Order and Dsclare that
II the sayd Mr.. Williams shall see cause
81 desirs IL he shall have liberty to re-
payrs Into any of our Towns for his se-'
ourity a. comfortable abode during these
Public Troubles, He behaving himself
psaceably * inoffensively Il not dissent
mating a. venting any Of his different
opinions In matters Of religion to the dis
satisfaction of any.
"Past by this Council the 3ith OF March
1876"
E(DwARD) R(AwSoN) S(ec,etary).
DIR. Burrage then referred at some
length to the proceedings connected with
the Punishment of Roger Williams, ami
called attention to the attempt Of the late
Rev. DR.. Henry NJ. Dexter. in his LAS
to Roger Williams" to show that the
Punishment Of Mr.. Williams "took place
for reasons pursly political, and having
no relation to his views upon liberation.
or upon any subject other than those.
which, In their hearing upon the common
rights Of properly, upon the sanctions Of
the Oath, and upon due .suboriination to
the powers that re- In the STATE, made
him q subverter Of the very foundations
Of the goveInment-witha all bis WORTH
ness of character and gene ral soundness
of doc rlne--a nuisance which IL seemed to
them they had no alternative but to
abate, In some way safe to them. and
kindest to him." This position was siren
| uously oombatted. IL was not denied that
the members of the General Court In
the banlshment Of Roger Williams vera
influenced by other considerations than
his unyieiding attitude with reference to
soul liberty. MIR. Winthrop. In his &C
count OF the proceedings of the Court and
Roger Williams himself In his recital of
the statement made by Gov. Haynes in
pronouncing the sentence of Punishment,
made It clear that other matters were be-
fore the Court ard doubtless did enter
into It's decision. But the very same
testimony Is equally valid rroof that Mr.
Cilliams's doctrine Of soul liberty was also
before the Court Ii was there In the
form In which he held 1t all through his
ca -aer. Nor is this all. 1t was expressly
IN ntionsd by Gov. Haynes az one Of the
causes that led to the Punishment.
The OILY new document bearing upon
this matter Ia that which records the ae-
ton of the Council of the Bay Colony In
1876. Offering Roger Williams an asylum
In some one of the Massachusetts, towns