OGER WILLIAMS was born about

ROGER

D. 1599.

setts Bay, under Governor John Winthrop and Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley, by whom Boston was founded in 1630.

Sir Edward Coke, one of the greatest men of England, in church one day saw a lad "taking notes," and so much pleased was he with the sketch, he requested the lad's parents to allow him to give their son an education. In due time Sir Edward's young beneficiary graduated with honor from England's great university.

Early he learned from the teaching of the Nazarene that the "things of God belong to God" and

of them return to England to stand up for freedom to worship God; and the other part, known as the "Pilgrim Fathers" he saw take ship for New England in 1620. He also saw half the Pilgrim colony under Governor Endicott depart for Salem, New England, in 1628. They were soon followed by the greater Puritan colony, destined for Massachu

Roger Williams in the meantime had become the popular rector at Sempringham, in the Church of England. Between two days he and his wife, on the flight Bristolway, passed Coke House, the home of his benefactor, who used to call him "my son;" but although "cruel as death to him, he durst not tell him of his consicence or his flight. Only by such means could he escape his bishop's dungeon for Hereticks," and by the ship Lyon they arrived in Boston February 15, 1631, where he was welcomed by Governor Winthrop as a "Godly minister."

In view of what follows, it may be well to explain that Governor John Winthrop and Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley were characteristic representatives of the tactics of the two factions of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay colony of New England.

As to the question, Why should the General Court of Massachusetts erect a statue of Roger Williams in Boston?

one answer is: Governor John Winthrop has one in Boston. Beside, these two pioneers of New England were fast friends, calling each other "heavenly souls;" both are honored throughout christendom: why not both be equally honored in Boston? For further answer to this question, let us turn on the search light of 270 years, last past. In March, 1631, the next month after his arrival, the First Puritan church of Boston honored the "Godly minister" Roger Williams with a call to their pulpit. In the examination which followed, among other things, he found that "no person could be a citizen, voter or representative to the General Court unless he be a member of the Colony churches." He declined this call. He had seen more than enough of church and state union in England.

One month more, April 23, the HalfPilgrim church at Salem gave Roger Williams a call. Promptly the magistrates of Boston warned Governor Endicott "not to engage with him," "Godly minister" tho' he was, "without permit from authority."

In August, 1631, tho' boycotted by the magistrates of Boston, the church of the Pilgrim Fathers in Plymouth exercised their "freedom to worship God in New England"-what they came here forand "not having the fear of magistrates before their eyes," gave Roger Williams a call, his third in six months. At Plymouth he made friendships and studied. the speech of the Indians-so helpful to him and the colonies in after troublous days. "Sachem Williams" was always popular with the Indians.

In October, 1632, Governor John Winthrop and Pastor Wilson of the First Church of Boston visited Plymouth and with Governor Bradford, Elder Brewster John Smith and Roger Williams participated in religious services on the Lord's Day, and partook together with the church the Lord's Supper.

In September, 1633, the church in Salem, holding fresh in mind their unabated love for Roger Williams, recalled him to be assistant to Pastor Skelton, in which office he served some ten months, not installed. His services while in Plymouth were great, varied and important. Governor Bradford thanked God for his ministrations, even tho' at times his words fell from the sharp edge of "the sword of the spirit." After the death of brother Skelton, August 12, 1634, Roger Williams continued to serve the church some ten months more, not installed. About these days, the church, cheered by their hopes of his continued service among them, proceeded to build the famous Meeting House, still preserved as a sacred relic in Salem.

These movements did not escape the wistful or wishful eyes of the magistrates in Boston, when they feigned or framed an excuse to suspect that the church in Salem was liable to break out in an eruption by installing their "Godly minister." Wherefore, for the safety of the throne and of the colony, the magistates dared, with the royal charter gone, without a shadow of authority, to beshrew their second edict to Governor Endicott "not to install Roger Williams-a thing of such ill consequence." In this case, Salem church did not lie low, as in the first case, and see Roger Williams called off to Plymouth, but a breeze like a mighty rushing wind arose, in which "the weaker and more influential sex" took no humble part. The remarkably brief, conservative attitude of the magistrates, instead of causing "a great calm,' precipitated a sharp crisis. On the 20th of June, 1635, the church in Salem proceeded to install Roger Williams-as they had a right to do--presuming the magistrates would let them alone - as they ought to.

Without relating all that followed, in a brief time, it may do to state that a rally of the magistrates-the twelve elders

and the delegates from the other ten churches-descended like an avalanche upon the single church at Salem, and thro' bribery, intimidation and persuasion won a small plurality of the church to recant their act of installation. By this magisterial enforced genuflection, the tie that joined the church in Salem and its pastor in love was violently torn asunder. "Swift as an eagle cuts the air," and lest the interdicted "Godly minister," should flee Bristol-way and not escape the Puritan "dungeon for Hereticks," Roger Williams was forthwith summoned to court, to answer to charges, on September 12, 1635.

August 16, 1635, was the last Sabbath

Roger Williams preached in the Meeting House in Salem.

At the court, September 12, Governor Endicott represented his pastor, and seeing the contemptible course pursued, he ceased to refrain from such scathing words of rebuke as he was capable of using and the occasion seemed to require. At this, "The Court, greatly incensed, by ereccon (erection) of hands ordered him to jail for contempt of Court."

But, upon apologizing, he was let go.

The October court, in five weeks, was set for Roger Williams to appear and answer to charges. This session was to hold in the First Meeting House, New

Towne (Cambridge) corner Dunster and Mt. Auburn streets. The court consisted of governor, deputy governor, eight assistants, twenty-five deputies and fourteen elders. Before these Roger Williams must stand alone. No Endicott, no deacons, no brethren nor any of "the weaker but more influential sex" -no attorney, no witnesses, no jury, accused of no crime; no "appeal to Cæsar," in Massachusetts Bay.

After a whole day of excited disputation, all the elders could not reduce him from one of his opinions. Fearlessly he declared: "I am ready to be bound, banished or die in New England for the most holy truths of God in Christ Jesus."

Next day, October 19, 1635, the following sentence, in part, was put on record: "Mr. Roger Williams, one of the Elders of the Church in Salem, *** shall depete (depart) out of this jurisdiccon (jurisdiction), within sixe weekes. **** not to return."

Mr. John Cotton, the greatest Puritan elder in all New England, in the very midst of sentence-passing, left the court in disgust.

No sooner had the news of this evil decree gone forth than the "whole Towne of Salem was in an Uproar" in favor of Roger Williams and in "contempt" for the Massachusetts General Court.

Permission was obtained for him to remain in Salem until spring, "provided he would not go about to draw others to his opinions." Nor did he "go about" -but the people gathered about and into his house to hear him preach, until report reached the magistrates that all Salem was filled with his opinions. Deputy Dudley favored the project for Captain Underhill, with fourteen men, to beat around Marblehead to Salem, kidnap Williams, bring him to Nantasket and ship him to England. ernor Winthrop defeated this plot by a private message warning Williams not

Gov

to wait for the captain. The kidnappers came, but neither saw nor conquered. Mrs. Williams told the leader her husband "had been gone three days."

In the autumn of 1636, Governor Winslow of Plymouth visited Roger Williams and wife, and he placed a piece of gold in her hand "against necessity's sharp pinch." Governor Winthrop visited him in Plymouth. Governor Bradford honored him. Governor Endicott defended him and Governor Winslow finds him happy with Miantonomo and Canonicus, who gave "Sachem" Williams large meadows in Mooshausic. Nor did the magistrates hustle him out of Salem one moment too soon, for the Pequods were on the warpath, in a rage to exterminate all the whites with their tomahawks. Roger Williams was there just in time, at the risk of his life, to avert the massacre of the General Court and the elders who had just driven him from the palefaces to the redfaces.

The next year, 1637, Governor Winthrop enjoined the council that for Roger Williams' inestimable services in the Pequod war, "We ought to recall him, revoke our sentence, and honor him with all the honors of the Colony." The noble Winthrop's petition was defeated, after acrimonious debate. He was importuned in vain, on his death-bed, by the deputy, Dudley, to sign a banishment edict. Governor Winthrop finished his noble career March 26, 1649.

By Divine Providence Roger Williams was kept thro' all he did and endured to see the colony of Rhode Island the peer of Massachusetts Bay. He also lived to see the last of the Puritan synods declare, in Boston, May 12, 1680, “There is no warrant for magistrates to abridge Liberty and Conscience."

A letter by Mr. John Thornton of Providence, Rhode Island, to Reverend Samuel Hubbard, in May 10, 1683, states that "The Lord hath attested, by Death, our ancient and approved Friend, Mr.

Roger Williams. He was buried at Providence, with appropriate funeral honors, and with all the solemnity the Colony was able to show."

Note all-not since Governor Winthrop's incisive injunction to the council in 1637-prompted by Roger Williams "rendering good for evil" - when he bared his own breast to the tomahawk of the red fury of the forest to save the skull of the implacable Deputy Dudley: --not since Governor Winthrop's appeal has the resolute pen of poet, historian, sage, elder, patriot, author or statesman been employed, for 260 years, to tell the General Court, "We ought***”

True, the synods succumbed to his doctrine-Washington was strenuous for it in the Constitution of the United States in 1789; Rhode Island set a statue of him in the Capitol at Washington; forty-five states have freedom to worship God; Governor R. C. Winthrop, in his address at the 250th anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims, in 1870, said: "I palliate not a particle of the persecution or cruelty which Roger Williams suffered, from whatever source it may have proceeded or by whomsoever it may have been prompted," and Betsey Williams gave 100 acres of land in 1871given him by Miantonomo-for a public park, on which is a statue of him erected by the city of Providence.

But never a voice "crying in the wilderness" since Winthrop's day, "We ought ***" - until "A petition was presented to General Court by Honorable G. T. Lincoln, March 18, 1875, from Reverend T. M. Merriman and twenty-seven others, citizens of the town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, asking the General Court to revoke the sentence of banishment passed against Roger Williams by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, October 19, 1635." (Judiciary

committee reported, January 19, 1876: "Inexpedient to legislate.”)

On January 16, 1876, appeared a plethoric volume, written during 1875, entitled, "As to Roger Williams and His Banishment," vehemently maintaining with Deputy Dudley that "He ought to be banished" --- notwithstanding Governor John Winthrop and Governor R. C. Winthrop and the rest of mankind were of the opinion their sentence "ought to be revoked."

In 1892 appeared another volume, entitled "Pilgrims, Puritans and Roger Williams Vindicated," a plea for Divine justice and in favor of Governor John Winthrop's strenuous advice, "We ought ***" From this point, the river of public opinion makes a significant bend.

In January 24, 1899, Governor John Winthrop's petition was a third time brought before the General Court, signed chiefly, and amply, by citizens of Somerville, Massachusetts. Rejected againas in 1637 and in 1876. A very much improved excuse, viz., "To legislate might reflect upon the reputation of some of our ancestors," was given.

Without delay, and in good hope, Governor John Winthrop's "two-edged" piece of advice- "We ought ***" came up a fourth time, January 31, 1901, in "A petition for a statue of Roger Williams in the city of Boston," from Reverend E. H. Byington, D. D., and a long list of others from nearly all denominations in and around Boston. With its highly favorable consideration in 1902, it was again referred to the General Court of 1903.

Today, if Boston will hear the voice of Providence — of Justice of Public Opinion our noble city can place her name by the side of Roger Williams' on the Roll of Fame.