The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-12

ORIGINAL
CHARTER

Historical association held one OF it's
regular monthly meetings this afternoon
In the Mathewson Street NJ ". church
There was a good attendance and much
interest was manifested In the proceed
inss Tho president OF the association.
ex-Gov, Dyer. presided
Francis Gallagher served as secretary.
Mr. James n. Arnold. the well known
historian and geneologist, read a paper
entitled 'Dr. John Clarke, the procurer
OF the charter granted the colony of
Rhode Island In 1863 by Charles. the Sec
ond. king OF England"
IL was in part as follows:
Or. John Clarke arrived In Boston.
November, 1857. He went 10 New Hamp-
shire where he found the climate so
severe that he returned TO Boston He
came the next year with Coddington and
others 10 Portsmouth. r. l.
From the commencement OF the settle
ment TO his death he was in some public
employment He was one OF the com
mittee OF four to survey the lands. and
when he with others went to Newport
he performed the like service there.
In 1914 he established the First Baptist
church at Newport which is today the
Oldest Baptist church in America. The
two political and religious documents
wherein these two authorities clash, ne
signed with others. thus showing that
he was not only a believer In soul liberty
but was willing to so declare himself.
The Episcopals. Congregationals, Sab
haterians and friends came early TO New
port. John Clarke had no trouble with
them. He allowed them 10 enjoy their
own views. and he enjoyed his. BY so
doing he retained their friendship and
good will. His sterling honesty appealed
10 them as nothing else could. His walk
in life was in harmony with his honesty.
The doctor was surrounded by able
men who thought like himself on liberal
lines. They commenced their settlement
right, by having the land surveyed and
the assignments were at once properly
recorded I'm n proper manner No cloud
was placed over the title Every pur-
chaser knew at once what was his and
what his neighbor's.
This straightforward course was pur-
sued at Warwick and the other settle
ments In the colony. Providence. alone.
was slowly strangfng and would have
died had not Mr.. Williams been COM
PEELED to give and execute a good and
effective deed.
DIR. Clarkes honest course I'm settling
land evidence won the confidence OF his
nelghbors. His scholarship was of such
II nature tndl ne cOuiu meet on an
equality, those OF England thus fitting
him to return 10 England and obtain, II
possible. a royal charter.
He was familiar with the patent which
Williams had obtained and he saw clearer
than any OF his neighbors the glowing
faults and abeurdties of that document
and convinced that 30 hong se they
recognized II there was sure "a be trouble
and contention. both among themselves
and the adjoining colonies.
How far ne had Expressed his views we
have no positive knowledge. b,rt we DO
know that the Newport settlement chose
him TO represent them and IN so doing
considered him their ablest man for such
n task.
DR.. Clarke's companion was Mr. Will
liams They sailed for England in No
ven1ber. 1851. and early In 1854 Mr.. Will
liams was back here. Az this time the
Cromwellian protectorate was in power
but II was seen that It's days were num-
bered and the kin gdom would in all
proba bility be again restored During this
period that Mr.. Williams was there owing
10 the political situation nothing had
been accomplished
Again Mr. Williams was placed in
peculiar situate His patent was so
indefinite and faulty and SO badly worded
and so near 10 that OF others sent out
before that II raised questions which Mr..
Williams felt were humiliatng II could
not but place him In bad position for
diplomat and prove him incompetent
I'm Law matters and leadership. Being
thus placed he did the only wise thing
he could do. that was go home. which
he did. and left the doctor alone az the
post
Now comes In the skill and tact of Or.
Clarke. Owing to the peculiarity Of the
times and the growing certainty ot the
restoration OF the monarchy the doctor
waited his time and studied the situation
Twelve years he labored. AT length came
! the fateful moment when victory was his
Catching the king In q gracious frame
of mind he obtained his royal signature
10 the charter. The long labor Of years
was over once more he could visit home
and in visiting carry good news and glad
tidinss to all
The charter II carefully studied. will
! show that IL was one of the most i'm
portant papers that English diplomacy
had yet written. II really gave the
colony an independent existence and only
demanded a nominal recognition OF the
English throne.
In matters OF taxat tion and raising rev.
( enue the power was theirs alone.
The same can be said OF punishment
for breaches OF law. civil and criminal.
In electing their executive officers were
I OF lnfiI Own NH'ANts lAViu S'NNAh'' -"
| fence viewer
! Provisions were made for new towns
and their representa- tatives in the assembly
The governor was aided by an able
hoard of assistants. who carefully looked
( over every act and saw TO II that nothing
was hastily done
The shore rights were clearly defined
and gave 70 the people complete control
of a prolific source OF food supply.
All these are but few OF the wise pro-
visions Of the royal charter.
n Is we'll now 10 note the reception OF
( the charter rs contrested with the pn-
tent
The first session of the assembly under
the patent was stormy. The fact was ap-
parent Il was not satisfying and felt 10
tc bitter DISAPPOINTMENT
II was only after a stormy debate ~ q
an over night sleep upon II thar u was
decided to try Il as a temporary expert
n,ent only.
As Mr. Williams by his visital deed ~
Providence produced n bitter unpleasant
ness 40 he had hv not recoy1 Eing the