True Stories of History and Biography | Page 8

Roger Williams, and of other
persons who sat in the great chair, as will be seen in the following
chapter.
Chapter IV
"Roger Williams," said Grandfather, "did not keep possession of the
chair a great while. His opinions of civil and religious matters differed,
in many respects, from those of the rulers and clergymen of
Massachusetts. Now the wise men of those days believed, that the
country could not be safe, unless all the inhabitants thought and felt
alike."
"Does any body believe so in our days Grandfather?" asked Laurence.
"Possibly there are some who believe it," said Grandfather; "but they
have not so much power to act upon their belief, as the magistrates and
ministers had, in the days of Roger Williams. They had the power to
deprive this good man of his home, and to send him out from the midst
of them, in search of a new place of rest. He was banished in 1634, and
went first to Plymouth colony; but as the people there held the same
opinions as those of Massachusetts, he was not suffered to remain
among them. However, the wilderness was wide enough; so Roger
Williams took his staff and travelled into the forest, and made treaties
with the Indians, and began a plantation which he called Providence."
"I have been to Providence on the railroad," said Charley. "It is but a
two hours' ride."
"Yes, Charley," replied Grandfather; "but when Roger Williams

travelled thither, over hills and valleys, and through the tangled woods,
and across swamps and streams, it was a journey of several days. Well;
his little plantation is now grown to be a populous city; and the
inhabitants have a great veneration for Roger Williams. His name is
familiar in the mouths of all because they see it on their bank bills.
How it would have perplexed this good clergyman, if he had been told
that he should give his name to the ROGER WILLIAMS BANK!"
"When he was driven from Massachusetts," said Laurence, "and began
his journey into the woods, he must have felt as if he were burying
himself forever from the sight and knowledge of men. Yet the whole
country has now heard of him, and will remember him forever."
"Yes," answered Grandfather, "it often happens, that the outcasts of one
generation are those, who are reverenced as the wisest and best of men
by the next. The securest fame is that which comes after a man's death.
But let us return to our story. When Roger Williams was banished, he
appears to have given the chair to Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. At all events
it was in her possession in 1637. She was a very sharp-witted and
well-instructed lady, and was so conscious of her own wisdom and
abilities, that she thought it a pity that the world should not have the
benefit of them. She therefore used to hold lectures in Boston, once or
twice a week, at which most of the women attended. Mrs. Hutchinson
presided at these meetings, sitting, with great state and dignity, in
Grandfather's chair."
"Grandfather, was it positively this very chair?" demanded Clara,
laying her hand upon its carved elbow.
"Why not, my dear Clara?" said Grandfather. "Well; Mrs. Hutchinson's
lectures soon caused a great disturbance; for the ministers of Boston
did not think it safe and proper, that a woman should publicly instruct
the people in religious doctrines. Moreover, she made the matter worse,
by declaring that the Rev. Mr. Cotton was the only sincerely pious and
holy clergyman in New England. Now the clergy of those days had
quite as much share in the government of the country, though indirectly,
as the magistrates themselves; so you may imagine what a host of
powerful enemies were raised up against Mrs. Hutchinson. A synod

was convened; that is to say, an assemblage of all the ministers in
Massachusetts. They declared that there were eighty-two erroneous
opinions on religious subjects, diffused among the people, and that Mrs.
Hutchinson's opinions were of the number."
"If they had eighty-two wrong opinions," observed Charley, "I don't see
how they could have any right ones."
"Mrs. Hutchinson had many zealous friends and converts," continued
Grandfather. "She was favored by young Henry Vane, who had come
over from England a year or two before, and had since been chosen
governor of the colony, at the age of twenty-four. But Winthrop, and
most of the other leading men, as well as the ministers, felt an
abhorrence of her doctrines. Thus two opposite parties were formed;
and so fierce were the dissensions, that it was feared the consequence
would be civil war and bloodshed. But Winthrop and the ministers
being the most powerful, they disarmed and imprisoned Mrs.
Hutchinson's adherents. She, like Roger Williams, was banished."
"Dear Grandfather, did they