The Emancipation of Massachusetts by Adams, Brooks, 1848-1927

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Chapter Ii.

Chapter Iii.

The Emancipation Of Massachusetts. Chapter I. The Commonwealth.

Chapter Ii. The Antinomians.

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Chapter Iii. The Cambridge Platform.

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Chapter Iv. The Anabaptists.

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Chapter V. The Quakers.

Chronology. Turbulent Quakers.

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* * * * * Friends,

Chapter Vi. The Scire Facias.

Chapter Vii. The Witchcraft.

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Chapter Viii. Brattle Church.

* * * * * Mr. Colman:

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Chapter Ix. Harvard College.

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* * * * * * * * * * J. Dudley. Chapter X. The Lawyers.

Charter. Constitution. Charter. Constitution. * * * * *

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Josiah Quincy. * * * * * * * * * *

Chapter Xi. The Revolution.

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Since under the theocracy there was no department of human affairs in which the clergy did not meddle, they undertook as a matter of course to interfere with the militia, and the following curious letter written to the magistrates by the ministers of Rowley shows how far they carried their supervision even so late as 1689.

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ROWLEY, _July_ 24th, 1689.

_May it please your honors,_

The occasion of these lines is to inform you that whereas our military company have nominated Abel Platts, for ensign, we conceive that it is our duty to declare that we cannot approve of their choice in that he is corrupt in his judgment with reference to the Lord's Supper, declaring against Christ's words of justification, and hereupon hath withdrawn himself from communion with the church in that holy ordinance some years, besides some other things wherein he hath shown no little vanity in his conversation and hath demeaned himself unbecomingly toward the word and toward the dispensers of it....

SAMUEL PHILLIPS. EDWARD PAISON. [Footnote: _History of Newbury_, p. 80.]

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A somewhat similar difficulty, which happened in Hingham in 1645, produced very serious consequences. A new captain had been chosen for their company; but a dispute having arisen, the magistrates, on the question being submitted to them, set the election aside and directed the old officers to keep their places until the General Court should meet. Notwithstanding this order the commotion continued to increase, and the pastor, Mr. Peter Hubbert, "was very forward to have excommunicated the lieutenant," who was the candidate the magistrates favored. [Footnote: Winthrop, ii. 222, 223.] Winthrop happened to be deputy governor that year, and the aggrieved officer applied to him for protection; whereupon, as the defendants seemed inclined to be recalcitrant, several were committed in open court, among whom were three of Mr. Hubbert's brothers.

Forthwith the clergyman in great wrath headed a petition to which he obtained a large number of signatures, in which he prayed the General Court to take cognizance of the cause, since it concerned the public liberty and the liberty of the church.

At its next session, the legislature proceeded to examine the whole case, and Winthrop was brought to trial for exceeding his jurisdiction as a magistrate. A contest ensued between the deputies and assistants, which was finally decided by the influence of the elders. The result was that Winthrop was acquitted and Mr. Hubbert and the chief petitioners were fined. [Footnote: Winthrop, ii. 227.]