Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Contributor, Vol. 13: A Monthly Magazine; January, 1892
Essex Streets, and became one of the' most famous in America. Its independ 'ent organization in 1629 was the first in the New World, all other churches of this land having been first organized in the Old World, before the colonists left. The First Church has since been moved and its framework preserved by new roof and side boarding. The inside re tains its quaint old beams and finish. It is extremely small, but possesses, never theless, a gallery. Some of the rustic furniture of old times remains. Many con51der the independent stand taken by its members the first step to the liberal progress of religious discipline in this land. The Bostonians of those times did not regard Mr. Williams with favor, and marveled that the Salemites should choose him as their teacher. Soon after his arrival in Boston he took issue with the people there on their conduct in religious affairs, insisting that the people should make a public declaration of their repentance for having had communion with the church in England before their emigration to this land. Holding him self aloof, and agitating questions of church discipline in a community so sensitive on religious matters, he soon created the most intense bitterness in the minds of the people, who considered the issues he raised of vital consequences, and became relentless in their opposition to his ministry in any part of the Massa chusetts colony, over which their author ity extended.
The Salemites disregarded the remon strances from Boston, but Mr. Williams did not remain long teacher of the First Church before he accepted the invitation to become assistant pastor down at Plymouth. He was induced to come to Salem again, and when the devout people of Boston perceived that Williams was to take a position as religious teacher among the people retaliation began on the side of the Bostonians. They soon found causes for fresh complaints; they refused to make Salem a new grant of land they would not seat in the general court deputies from Salem, and finally passed a decree banishing Roger Wil liams from the Massachusetts colony.
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