RHODE ISLAND.

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CHAPTER VIII.

RHODE ISLAND.

SECTION I.

The principles of religious freedom planted by Roger Williams and his associates the whole history of this distinguished man, as exhibited by Backus, Knowles, Hague, Gammell, &c.

THIS small territory was settled under circumstances new and peculiar, and here were planted principles as to religious freedom, which at that time, in the fullest and most literal sense of the statement, all the world opposed as visionary in theory, dangerous, disorganizing, and impracticable. The system adopted by the founder of this state, on the principles of an unlimited toleration of all the varying creeds of theology, and of the unfettered and unobstructed exercise of all the rites and forms of religion which erring and imperfect mortals might choose to adopt, was treated with ridicule and contempt, with banter and abuse, not only by a pampered priesthood and lordly prelates, but also by the very men who had long been the victims of ecclesiastical oppression, and who, by the intolerant laws of the old country, had been driven to seek an asylum in these then western wilds. They came here, indeed, in search of freedom, political and religious; but their great error, and most palpable inconsistency, lay in seeking these inestimable blessings only for themselves and those of their own religious faith.

But the fathers of this little and long-despised colony, resolved in the outset to pursue an entirely different course, and to afford a shelter to men of all consciences and creeds, and to make a full trial of the experiment of founding a civil government where the secular functions should have no dictation or control in the concerns of religion-where the old doctrine of church and state should have no place-and where the ministers of religion should be left to depend on the voluntary contributions of their flocks.

This experiment has been made with singular success: every state in the union has in the end adopted this Rhode Island plan, and her primordial principles on this subject are rolling back on many of the nations of Europe, and some of her time-honored hierarchies, with a force and energy and revolutionary tendency, which forbode freedom to the oppressed, and calamity and downfall to their ancient ecclesiastical establishments.

Could Roger Williams again visit the land of the Puritans, and traverse the whole region of country, what a different state of things would he find! Instead of one little colony where the rights of conscience were respected and maintained, he would behold a mighty nation all cordially supporting the identical principles for which he was banished. Instead of meeting the finger of scorn from men in places and power, of being treated as a visionary and fanatic, and having his scheme of civil government denounced as an Utopian project which could never be realized; he would find the mighty men of all parties and creeds, of all churches, following in his footsteps, and pronouncing eulogies on his doctrines and his name.

From some quarters, it is true, he would hear the language of reproach and complaint; but we must bear in mind that, generally speaking, representations of this kind are aimed more at the baptist community than at Roger Williams

himself; the lashes of these detractors are intended to reach over his back, and to fall on the people whom they dislike, and whose progress they would be glad to impede.

Having made these preliminary remarks on the religious principles which were deeply laid in the foundations of this State, I shall now proceed to give a summary statement of the commencement and progress of its churches and institutions.

The first churches planted in this State, were at Providence and Newport: these two places were for a long time the two principal rallying points for the denomination in this small and feeble colony. In process of time, churches arose around these centres in different directions, and extended down into the Narraganset country.

Most of the oldest churches have long since either become extinct, or else still maintain a nominal existence. Others have been remodeled and revised, some on the Orthodox, others on the Free Will plan. The Old Six Principle order, or, as they are generally called, the Old Baptists, were once much more numerous and strong than at present; for some cause they have not flourished as in early times, when they spread over most of the state.

Their history will be given under a separate head. The Seventh Day Baptists obtained an early and strong foothold in Rhode Island, especially in Newport and in the lower part of the Narraganset country.

In 1768, as was shown in the table at p. 369, there were more baptist churches of all kinds in Rhode Island, than in any of the American colonies. Their number was 36. But mighty changes have since taken place in the relative proportion of churches in the different states. Massachusetts then had 30, now 234; New York 4, now more than 800; Virginia had 10, now about 600; &c., &c. Formerly the two associations of Stonington and Groton, in Conn., extended far into this state on the south-western border, while old Warren spread over most of Massachusetts, and entered quite into New Hampshire. But by subsequent arrangements, the Connecticut Associations have fallen back into their own state, and the Warren, after supplying materials for about half the present associations in Massachusetts, has become limited to the bounds of the state. The Providence Association was lately formed from it. These two bodies comprise at present all the churches of our order in Rhode Island.

The Seventh Day, Six Principle, Free Will Baptists, with those of the Christian society, have altogether, probably as many churches and members as those of the associated class.

The old Yearly Meeting, is the oldest association in New England, and in America, if we except the Philadelphia. In the days of John Comer, it stood high in the baptist connexion, but its influence has greatly diminished. Some account of it will be given under the head of the Six Principle Baptists.

Before I proceed to exhibit the usual details of churches and associations, I shall give in a condensed manner a history of the founder of this state. As my readers will expect, somewhere in my narratives, some account of this eminent man, I have said but little of him in connection with Massachusetts affairs, for the purpose of bringing the whole story under the Rhode Island head.

ROGER WILLIAMS.

His early history-arrival in this country-causes of his banishment from Massachusetts-his settlement in Providence, and subsequent history in this state to the time of the foundation of the First Church in Providence. The following sketches of the life, the distinguishing sentiments of this bold and uncompromising advocate of the principles of religious freedom, and his incessant and untiring efforts for about half a century, to plant them deep in the American soil and diffuse them wide in all lands, are taken mostly from my old history; from

THIS engraving is an accurate copy of a painting recently discovered, which came to this country, and was sold at auction in New-York, with other paintings and books, from the library of the Duke of York, cut the time that great collection, was dispersed. At the sale Mr. Daniel L Jones, of New York, a iative of Wales, and a zealous antiquarian, bought two very dusty old paintings, which were sold together. Upon being cleaned, one of them proved, by comparison with other copies, to be a fine portrait of Oliver Cromwell, to whom Roger Williams was related The other bears its own evidence, in the lettering, etc., distinctly legible, as in the engraving. Upon the back of the canvass of both, is the inscription. "Voit Van Baltzburg, Dombrost zu Waltzburg"

It was, without doubt, made when Roger Williams went to England, in 1644, and his age 44. His right arm rests upon his "Key to the Indian Languages,“ underneath which is a Bible. Underneath this Bible, and rolling off from the table is the Charter, of which several lines can be distinctly read. In his left hand, he holds the Blondy Tenet." In the back ground is seen a work, inscribed, "Coke upon Little“ ton," which goes to decide the controverted question of his having been educated by Sir Edward Coke Also, lying before him, are letters addressed to "Robert, Williams and the Committee of Providence Plantations,” and “Mary Williams," which are in the painting in HIS OWN HAND-WRITING. The force of all these circumstances will be appreciated by those who are familiar with his life.

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