From Boyhood to Manhood | Page 6

Banbury for Boston it is such
intolerance."
"I have felt like that for a long time, and I should not have thought of

leaving my native land but for such oppression," replied the neighbor,
"and what is worse, I see no prospect of any improvement; on the other
hand, it appears to me that our rights will be infringed more and more. I
am going to New England if I emigrate alone."
"Perhaps I shall conclude to accompany you when the time comes.
There do not appear to be room in this country for Dissenters and the
Established Church. I understand there is in New England. I may
conclude to try it."
"I am glad to hear that. We shall be greatly encouraged if you decide to
go. I discussed the matter with Benjamin since I did with you, and he
would be glad to go if his business and family did not fasten him here. I
think he would rather justify your going."
"Did he say so?"
"No, not in so many words. But he did say that he would go if his
circumstances favored it as much as your circumstances favor your
going."
"Well, that is more than I supposed he would say. I expected that he
would oppose any proposition that contemplated my removal to Boston.
The more I think of it the more I am inclined to go."
The Franklins, clear back to the earliest ancestors, had experienced
much persecution. Some of them could keep and read their Bible only
by concealing it and reading it in secret. The following, from Franklin's
"Autobiography," is an interesting and thrilling incident:
"They had an English Bible, and, to conceal it and place it in safety, it
was fastened open with tapes under and within the cover of a joint-stool.
When my great-grandfather wished to read it to his family, he placed
the joint-stool on his knees, and then turned over the leaves under the
tapes. One of the children stood at the door to give notice if he saw the
apparitor coming, who was an officer of the spiritual court. In that case
the stool was turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible remained
concealed under it as before. This anecdote I had from Uncle
Benjamin."
The Dissenters from the Established Church loved their mode of
worship more, if any thing, than members of their mother church. But
under the tyrannical king, Charles II, they could not hold public
meetings at the time to which we refer. Even their secret meetings were
often disturbed, and sometimes broken up.

"It is fully settled now that we are going to New England," said the
aforesaid neighbor to Josiah Franklin subsequently, when he called
upon him with two other neighbours, who were going to remove with
him; "and we have called to persuade you to go with us; we do not see
how we can take no for an answer."
"Well, perhaps I shall not say no; I have been thinking the matter over,
and I have talked with Benjamin; and my wife is not at all averse to
going. But I can't say yes to-day; I may say it to-morrow, or sometime."
"That is good," answered one of the neighbors; "we must have one of
the Franklins with us to be well equipped. Banbury would not be well
represented in Boston without one Franklin, at least."
"You are very complimentary," replied Franklin; "even misery loves
company, though; and it would be almost carrying home with us for
several families to emigrate together. The more the merrier."
"So we think. To escape from the intolerant spirit that pursues
Dissenters here will make us merry, if nothing else does. Home is no
longer home when we can worship God as we please only in secret."
"There is much truth in that," continued Franklin. "I am much more
inclined to remove to New England than I was a month ago. The more I
reflect upon the injustice and oppression we experience, the less I think
of this country for a home. Indeed, I have mentally concluded to go if I
can arrange my affairs as I hope to."
"Then we shall be content; we shall expect to have you one of the
company. It will be necessary for us to meet often to discuss plans and
methods of emigration. We shall not find it to be a small matter to
break up here and settle there."
It was settled that Josiah Franklin would remove to New England with
his neighbors, and preparations were made for his departure with them.
These facts indicate the standing and influence of the Franklins. They
were of the common people, but leading families. Their intelligence,
industry, and Christian principle entitled them to public confidence and
respect. Not many