The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-04

WORD That 1t is not strange that Voluml-
nous literature grew out of discussions
as to its exact meaning with no little
friction between holders of diverse opin-
ions, especially when these opinions were
made matters of faith and conscience
For example, the church and state idea
was hard to uproot from the English
mind. Three thousand miles of sea and
sermons could not purge it from VIM
throp's argonauts. 1t chung to them like
the familiar words of the prayer book,
which could not be thrown off with the
sIrplice. In working toward church
without bishop and state without a
Ing, the traditions of a thousand years,
were continually hampering their prog
ress, and those who Jagged hindered the
foremost. Hence a, worthy war and a
-pelemic literature, in which Roger Will
liams and John Cotton are pioneers and
representatives of their age.
Williams in some ways was an idealist
amid surrounding realists. He moved
from point to point, from rear to front
too fast for the comfort of his conserya-
tive neighbors. The momentum he ac-
quired, increased by sundry kicks, sent
him all the way from Salem into that
Rhode Island where his friend, Win
throp, had remarked the industry of
versy about persecution for religious be-
lief and the right to appropriate the lands
of Indians, because they were pagans,
by Puritans, because they We're Chris
tians.
Balancing testimony of friend and foe,
Williams must have been an earnest but
erratic spirit, somewhat unstable and
Eighty, gracious in manner, kindly in
purpose. sincere and mistaken in his lat
est convictions while they lasted His
writings are the. outcome of this COM
posite aggregate, in which the positive
and generous elements oftenest appear
''The Bloody Tenent Of Persecution for
Cause of Conscience in the form of
conference between Truth and Peace, is
the best and principal literary labor set
ting forth the nature and sphere of civil
government and protesting against "the
sad evil Of civil magistrates dealing IN
matters of conscience and religion, as
also prosecuting and hunting any for
any matter merely spiritual or religious
Opposing this fashion of his day, he
was banished from England, but escaped
to Providence. The manner of his oppo-
sition is striking contrast to the tone
of his adversaries In what dark corner
of the world, sweet Peace, are we to
meet? How hath this present evil world
banished me from all the coasts and
quarters to 1t? And how hath the right
eous God in judgment taken thee from
the earth?" Then Peace answers Truth:
at is lamentably true that the founda-
tions of the world have long been out of
course; the gates of earth and hell have
conspired together to intercept our joy
full meeting and our noly kisses. With
what a weary, tired wing have 1 flown
over nations, Kingdoms, cities, towns, 10
find out precious Truth Then follows
the long arraignment of persecution,
cloaking itself with pretense of zeal,
through $50 pages. AS literature it is not
interesting, although the forbearing tern
per is always present, the Biblical Eng
lish is always clear AMI the warmth and
zest of the style pleasing relief from
the steely severity of his orthodox foes.
But the principles which Williams pro-
pounds and advocates would have Slo.i-
fed any literary form IN which they
might have been cast. Their light and
charity illumine and sweet1n this bitter
and gloomy controversy ovcr nalf it's
disc, sometimes compelling faint rehec-
ton from The other half. Their blst
result was to be seen IN higher politics
and religion than in letters, and in Rhode
it inconvenient to answer to the magis-
trate and the minister for their views
of truth.
AS for Roger himself his ideal was al
ways before him, leaving the Baptist sta.
ton in its pursuit as he had left the
Church of England, his soul still march
ing on, known to the last as seeker for
The truth.
OF John Cotton. his opponent in this
memorable controversy over the question
which divides medieval ecclesiasticism
from modern, the best that can be said
is that he was an able champion of the
ancient and established order-the intol-
erarce which the F'uritans complained of
in England and practiced here. He was
by no means the narrowest of his clan
Ingenious almost to sophistry, imagin-
alive, mystical and as joyous in temper
ament as was permissible in Boston in
1895, he occupied the enviable position
of chief pastor and religious teacher in
the future metropolis. He wrote with
assured stroke, having great repute in
two Bostons and two Englands. There
fore he had no hesitation in taking up
Williams treaties, as he had already
picked UP a Newgate prisoners advocacy
of the same soul freedom. With easy
he entities his reply The
Bloody Tenent Washed and Made White
in the Blood of the Lamb most to-
tuou:; effort to wriggle out Of the box in
which he and his fellow saints had been
put by the premature and ill-timed COM
mon sense of Roger Williams
Here is an example of his logic and his
charity: "a civil magistrate ought not
to draw out his civil sword against any
seducers till he have used all good means
for their conviction and thereby clearly
manifested the bowels of tender commits
Grafton and compassion toward them.
But if after their continuance in obsti-
nate rebellion against the light he shall
still walk toward them in gentle COM
miseration his softness and gentleness
is excessive large to foxes and wolves;
but his bowels are nniserably strained
and hardened against the poor sheep and
lambs of Christ ard his ministers of
JUS tice should assist his ministers OF the
gospel in the church state
So said Torquemanda, inquisitor gem
eral. Just before Columbus sailed from
Palos, and recent occurrences seem to in
dicate that this spirit has never been
washed out OF the land he dis
covered. At any rate, it is visible in the
literature of this notable discussion on
the bay side. In Cotton and Hooker,
however, they might quarrel over hair
lines and Hutchinson in Shepherd and
in Norton and Ward, in
Wilson and Weld, and in all the four and
twerty elders who sat on thrones judy
ing the new Israel In New England.
there was singular unanimity on the
limitations of liberty, their writings be-
ing their witnesses.
These writings may not be literature.
such as is now read and written, but
then they were about all that was then
written or read in America. The age was
and controversial. Leading
minds in, fhe rlItS of thinking were In the