The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-05
FATHER OF DEMOCRACY.
UT FIRST TO ENUNCI-
ATE 4 VITAL PRINCIPLE.

Professor Wi.liston Walkers Address
on ga Founder of Connecticut" and
His Prlnciples-skotch OF Thomas
Hooker Before Mems Club of United
Church.
At the Mems club service at Unitct
church last evening, Professor Willis
ton Walker Of Yale university delivered
an address on "A Founder of Connec-
ticut and Some of His Principles" The
founder was Thomas Hooker, he of
sturdy physique, vigorous activity,
strong of principle and intensely Puri-
tanical.
The professor sketched the early life
of Hooker and told Of his serene non
conformity to established church Gus
toms, of his sparkling intellectually as
a young Puritan preacher and of his
disdain Of ecclesiastical rules promul-
gated by cavalier kings and supplied
bishops. In 1880 he was called before
the high commissioner of London for
preaching CalviniGtic doctrines and
avoided the fate that would have been
his by escaping to Holland. He re-
manned in Holland for three years,
preaching to refugees from England.
Meanwhile landing had been made in
New England in 1929 and Boston had
been planted in 1880. In 1882 Hooker
determined to sail for the new world,
where he was to have charge of a con-
gregation in Newtown, now known as
Cambridge. He came on October II,
1888 After returning to England from
Holland, he met Samuel Stone, who
was to be his assistant in his church
| in New England. Hooker was to be
| the pastor, Stone the teacher. He mar
| rowly escaped arrest by the English
authorities, but providentially got off
to sea on the Griffen, on board of which
besides Stone was John Cotton. While
| crossing the Atlantic three services
were held every day, Cotton preaching
! in the morning. Hooker at noon and
| Stone in the evening, thus giving full
play to their ideas of Puritan worship
of God.
/ Arriving in Massachusetts Hooker
chafed under the then existing limita-
tions of the suffrage which was denied
to all the inhabitants except church
members. Owing to his teachings the
combined congregation of which he was
pastor were soon talking OF leaving
! Massachusetts, for Connecticut, giving
as their reasons the want of room for
| their cattle although all Massachusetts
was at their disposal for their cattle to
craze in. They also objected on &C
count of the Dutch. But the reason for
their desire to remove to Connecticut
was the strong bent Of their minds tc
come hither, induced by their dislike OF
the Bay States conception Of democ-
racv.
In 1886 the transfer was made tc
Hartford, in Connecticut, where, asso-
ciated with the congregation of Dor
chester, they combined with the con-
gregations of the three river towns
Watertown, Winthrop and Wethers'
field.
Here he preached the civil doctrine
that the choice of public magistrates
belonged to the people, and that the
people were the source of all polltlca
power and the basis of authority I'M!
civil doctrine was embodied in the Con
necticut constitution of 1889 and wal
the first enunciation of popular democ
racy in the new world.
Thomas Hooker displayed strenu
Gus part in the development of Congre
gationalism, and with John Davenport
of New Haven town and John Cottol
of Boston set forth the Congregations
, system of church government, the su
preme authority being inherent in tn
!, congregation; that religion was vita
personal experience, not a matter o
i cnnfnrnnitv to set rules or prescribe