Brief history of the First Church in Plymouth, from 1606 to 1901, Part 3

Author: Cuckson, John, 1846-1907
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Boston : G.H. Ellis
Number of Pages: 148


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[26 ]


Across the Atlantic


Mr. John Carver


8 Mr. William Mullins


5


William Bradford


2 William White


5


Edward Winslow


5 Richard Warren


I


William Brewster


6 John Howland


Isaac Allerton 6


Stephen Hopkins


8


Capt. Myles Standish Mr. John Alden


1


John Tilly


3


" Samuel Fuller


2


Francis Cook


2


Christopher Martin


4


Thomas Rogers


2


John Ridgdale


2


Thomas Tinker


3


Edward Fuller 3


Gilbert Winslow


I


Francis Eaton


3


Edmund Margeson


I


James Chilton


3


Peter Brown


I


John Crackston


2


Richard Britteridge


I


John Billington


4


George Soule


Moses Fletcher


I


Richard Clarke


I


" John Godman


1


Richard Gardiner


I


Degory Priest


I


Thomas English


I


" Edward Dotey


" Edward Leister


John Carver, a man godly and well-approved among them, was chosen the Governor of the Col- ony for that year. The embryo Commonwealth had thus completed its outfit. William Brewster, though unordained, and, therefore, not permitted to administer the communion, was able to conduct re- ligious worship, teach doctrines, and give spiritual comfort to the sick and dying. Governor Carver stood guarantee for the sovereignty of law and order. Myles Standish was captain and military commander. Necessity had driven them to or- ganize a church to meet the spiritual exigencies of


[27 ]


2


Edward Tilly


4


Thomas Williams


I


John Turner 3


John Allerton


The First Church in Plymouth


their situation : and, now, necessity compelled them to enter into a civil compact, to protect them against the incipient rebellion, which in faint mut- terings had been heard on the voyage, and which in all probability would express itself in louder tones ashore. The Pilgrims were not philosophers, or theorists, elaborating methods of civil and religious government according to any preconceived plans ; but men with the statesman's special gift of meet- ing emergencies as they arise in the growth of a community. In doing this, they had chiefly their own wants to consider, and " so after they had pro- vided a place for their goods, a common store, (which was long in unlading for want of boats, foulness of winter weather, and sickness of diverce) and begun some small cottages for their habitation, as time would admitte, they mette, and consulted of lawes and orders, both for their civill and military government, as ye necessitie of their condition did require, still adding thereunto as urgent occasion in severall times, and as cases did require."


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CHAPTER IV.


"The Wild New England Shore."


A FTER several expeditions on the coast, in search of a suitable landing-place, and a final settlement, accompanied with grave danger, both on sea and land, the Pilgrims sounded Ply- mouth harbor, and discovered it was fit for ship- ping. They went inland for several miles, and found cornfields and running Dec: 30th 1620, brooks. " Pines, walnuts, beech, Plymouth. ash, birch, hazel, holly, asp, sas- safras in abundance, and vines everywhere, cherry trees, plum trees," flourished. " Many winter herbs, as strawberry leaves, sorrel, yarrow, carvel, brooklime, liverwort, water cresses, great store of leeks and onions, and an excellent strong kind of flax and hemp," were abundant. Wild-fowl of various kinds frequented the shore ; skate, cod, turbot, herring, mussels, crabs, and lob- sters, abounded in the waters along the coast. The beautiful bay, with its islands and headlands, shone resplendent in its wintry sheen. Surely, this was a good place to dwell in, and it was natural enough, that the weather-beaten and weary wanderers should offer special Thanksgiving to the good God, who had worked such deliverance for them.


The early years of the settlement in Plymouth were largely taken up with the bare struggle for ex- istence. The first winter was particularly trying,


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The First Church in Plymouth


and between January and the end of March, no less than twenty-one of those who signed the Compact, succumbed to its severities. The poor exiles were encompassed with dangers. They had to protect themselves, as best they could, against the intense cold, the inclemencies of a hard winter, the ravages of disease, the wily attacks of treacherous Indians, and the machinations of the meaner sort among themselves. But, the new Church, and the embryo State, nursed in persecution, borne through storm and tempest, independent yet co-operant, were firmly established. They had survived every vicis- situde, and their foundations were secure ; and from this point onward, our history is concerned with the rise and development of organized religion in the Colony.


The first public building to be erected was a large house, twenty-feet square, which was used for storage and public worship; but shortly after its completion, it took fire, and The Common House was burnt to the ground. In January 1620. the month of April "whilst they were bussie with their seed," Governor Carver was taken suddenly ill, and died, leaving a widow who soon followed him. The death of the first Governor was a severe loss to the community. He was not only a deeply relig- ious man, but had won their esteem and endeared himself to them, by long and patient service and sacrifice. He was sagacious, skilled in practical affairs, and upright in all his dealings. He was


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"The Wild New England Shore"


succeeded in office by William Bradford, with Isaac Allerton, as assistant.


In the month of November 1621, the depleted ranks of the colonists were partly filled up by the unexpected arrival of the Fortune, and thirty-five persons were added to the plantation. The summer of 1622, saw the erection of the Fort. Bradford writes, " they builte a fort with good timber, both strong and comly, which was of good The Fort defence, made with a flatte rofe and


I622. batilments, on which their ordnance was mounted, and where they kepte constante watch, especially in time of danger. It served them also for a meeting-house, and was fitted accordingly for that use."


Here on the summit of Burial Hill, the Pilgrims perpetuated the church founded in England under the ministration of Elder Brewster. The ecclesiasti- cal polity of the church was copied, with slight modifications, from that provided by Guillaume Farel and John Calvin, for the Reformed Churches of France. The church universal consisted of those, of every nationality, who accepted the fundamentals of the Christian faith, preached from the Scriptures, and administered the sacraments.


The permanent officers of the church, were


I. The pastor, whose duty it was to preach, and to preside over the discipline of the church, to ad- minister the sacraments, and to admonish and exhort the members.


2. A teacher, or teachers, who explained and in-


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The First Church in Plymouth


terpreted the Scriptures, and inculcated the truth therein revealed, as it was made known to them from time to time.


3. Certain devout and experienced men, known as deacons, who were to attend to the material in- terests of the church, and to relieve the poor.


The election of the officers in the church was vested in the people, and those duly chosen and called, were ordained by the laying on of the hands of the pastors. The Sacraments were Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism was administered only to such infants, as whereof one parent, at the least, was of some church. The Lord's Supper was ad- ministered by a duly ordained clergyman to mem- bers of the church.


The Pilgrims had long felt, what Richard Baxter afterwards declared in 1680, that two things had wrought incalculable mischief to the church, firstly, insisting upon creed, and making more fundamentals than God ever made; and secondly, the imposition of creeds and statements upon unwilling and un- believing minds. In these two respects, therefore, they departed from other churches, and laid down principles which gave them a unique position in their time-they had no creed, and repudiated per- secution as the handmaid of piety.


For several years the Church at Plymouth was without a pastor. It lived upon the truths which John Robinson had taught, with such care and learn- ing, and broke the bread of life in the way which exile had made so precious. On the Lord's day,


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"The Wild New England Shore"


the people gathered in the meeting-house, sang the psalms, had the Scriptures read and explained, and joined in prayers, which flowed spontaneously from grateful hearts, and were born in the depth of an ex- perience, which had made the goodness and mercy of God, and the blessings of his daily providence, the most real and vital of all convictions. They knew that they were the humble instruments of God for good, and that their successes and failures, joys and sorrows, losses and gains, were included in his immediate purpose, and were to be accepted without murmur or complaint.


Though far away from England, and apparently remote from interference, their ways and doings were reported to the British authorities, both civil and ecclesiastical, who worked through the Adventurers in London. The prelates of Episcopacy kept in touch with religious movements in the colonies, and were not slow to interfere, whenever and wherever, they felt called upon to do so. Bigotry has far- reaching tentacles, and upon the strength of reports, which came to them through commercial channels, the authorities in England complained of the laxity of religious life at Plymouth. It was alleged that the church was split up into factions, to which the colonists replied, that there was never any contro- versy or opposition among them, either public or pri- vate. It was charged that family duties were neg- lected on the Lord's day, to which the accused responded, that they allowed no such thing, but condemned it, both in themselves, and in others.


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The First Church in Plymouth


They were denounced for neglect of both the Sacra- ments, to which they answered, "the more is our grief, that our pastor is kept from us, by whom we might enjoy them, for we used to have the Lord's Supper every Sabbath, and Baptism as often as there was occasion of children to baptize." Finally, it was urged against them, that their children were not cat- echised, or taught to read. This complaint was also false, " for diverse take pains with their owne as they can ; indeede we have no common schoole for want of a fitt person, or hitherto, means to maintain one ; though we desire now to begine."


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1344025


CHAPTER V.


Keeping the Faith.


T is obvious that behind the complaints as to the religion of the Colonists, was the hidden -purpose to bring back the Separatists into full communion with Episcopacy. The epistles of pious concern, issued by the Adventurers, were soon followed by actions more transparent. One John Lyford, a clergyman, was sent over to shepherd the destitute flock. He was expected to ingratiate him- self into the good opinion of the church, to dis- guise his purpose, and by coaxing, wheedling, or Jesuitical posing, to overcome the prejudices of the people against prelatic usages and customs. The Pilgrims, though wanting a settled minister, had not been accustomed to having one chosen for them, and looked upon the experiment with suspicion. Although John Lyford tried hard to hoodwink them, by simulating a respect and affection he did not feel, they would have none of him. Mortified by defeat, he sought to injure the church, in Eng- land, by secretly sending false reports of its condition, so as to provoke intervention. His letters were intercepted and his dissembling exposed. He re- mained in the Colony for some time, engaging in various intrigues and causing much annoyance ; but his character had gone, and disappointed, and dis- credited, he finally left for Virginia, where he sick- ened and died.


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The First Church in Plymouth


In the summer of 1625, Miles Standish went to London in the interests of the Colony. He could not have chosen a more inauspicious season for his mission, for at this time the country was in a state of commotion over the absolutism of Charles the First, and the tyranny of his prelates. Besides, the Plague was prevalent in the city. Business was practically suspended, and people were in no mood to consider Colonial affairs. He, therefore, returned without having accomplished his purpose. His arrival was received with joy, although he was the bearer of sad news. King James was dead. Prince Maurice, the head of the Dutch Government, dur- ing the residence of the Pilgrims in Leyden, had also passed away. Robert Cushman the tried and faithful friend of the Colonists had died at the early age of forty-five. And last, though not least, their beloved pastor John Robinson had gone to that rest which remained for the people of God. He was taken in the prime of manhood, at the age of forty-nine, afflicted with ague, and worn no doubt with anxieties and cares, incidental to his position, and induced in large measure by the Puritan faction, which gave him continual annoyance. Hedied on the Ist of March 1625, and on the 4th, was buried in the vaults of St. Peter's Church. He lived the life of a saint, was deeply respected by his own people, and friends of learning in Leyden, and died a martyr to the cause he loved.


The Plymouth Church continued to retain its convictions, and its sturdy independence, during the


[36]


Keeping the Faith


years it was without a pastor, desiring none of the imported clergymen sent by the Adventurers, whether of Episcopal or Puritan leanings, and heeding not the veiled rebukes and supercilious airs of the Salem fraternity. It was Separatist, and was neither to be bribed nor driven from its steadfast allegiance to the true ideal of liberty and independence.


In 1629, there arrived in the "Talbot" one Ralph Smith, a clergyman whose ecclesiastical status when he boarded the ship, was a matter of con- jecture. He was thought to be a Separatist, and Matthew Cradock, Governor in England of the Ralph Smith Massachusetts Colony, sent a mes- sage to Endicott of Salem, concerning 1629. him, " that unless he be conformable to our Government, you suffer him not to remain within the limits of our grant." Crad- ock's suspicions were well-founded, and Smith, upon inquiry, was compelled to accept the alterna- tive of being shipped back to England, in the " Lion's Whelp," or of seeking quarters where his views would meet with more favour than Salem ac- corded to them. He fled to Nantasket, and after struggling for some time in poverty, he persuaded the captain of a Plymouth vessel, to take him and his family on board, and convey them to the freer Colony. He was received by the Pilgrims some- what cautiously, but after close investigation was welcomed, and finally ordained the first minister of the church in Plymouth. Although a man of ordi- nary abilities, and it was said, not equal to Brewster


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The First Church in Plymouth


as a preacher, he served the church acceptably for five or six years. During three years of his minis- try he was assisted by Roger Williams who arrived in America on the 5th of February 1631, and had been commended to the Colony by Governor Win- throp. On his arrival, he was invited to temporarily fill the pulpit of the Reverend John Wilson of Bos- ton, who was about to make a visit to England. Roger Williams graduated from Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1626, and took orders in the church in 1629, serving as chaplain to Sir William Masham. The Anglican Liturgy proved distasteful to him, and the persistent attentions of Archbishop Laud drove him out of the land. He sailed from Bristol in England on the Ist of December 1630. The hope of finding liberty of conscience, and a field for his unquestioned ability and character in Boston, turned out to be delusive. In April 1631, he accepted an appointment as preacher or teacher, at Salem. This change brought him no advantage. In matters ecclesiastical, Boston and Salem were too closely identified, and after a few months, he removed to Plymouth, where he remained for nearly three years. He appears to have been an eccentric genius, able, scholarly, but of unsound judgment. Here, as else- where his pronounced views, and personal idiosyn- crasies led him into trouble with the Puritan section, and not being able to smother his convictions at the behest of his worldly interests, the Plymouth church reluctantly parted with him. His principal conten- tions were, that the King had no right to grant the


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Keeping the Faith


Colony's charter, that even casual attendance at the services of the Church of England was a sin, and that any interference whatever with the right of private judgment was an injustice to the individual and the community. These, and some minor ex- travagances of his, were intolerable to the Puritan faction, and finally ended in his banishment from the Bay Colony.


The local scattering of the Colonists led to the founding of new churches in and around Plymouth. " Those that lived on their lots on ye other side of ye bay (called Duxberie) they could not long bring their wives and children to ye publick wor- ship and church meetings here, The Duxbury and with such burthen as growing Church 1632. to some competente number, they sued to be dismissed, and so they were dismiste, about this time, though very un- willingly."


Shortly afterwards, and for similar reasons, an- other body, living at Green's harbour, Marshfield split off from the parent church, and set up on its own account. These defec- The Marshfield tions greatly weakened the re- sources of the Plymouth church, Church 1632. and were viewed with alarm, and, yet, nothing could be said against them.


In 1633, Bradford resigned the Governorship after twelve years' service, and Edward Winslow succeeded him. Seven assistants were chosen, and that was the number of the Governor's Council ever afterwards.


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The First Church in Plymouth


The Bay Colony had never taken very kindly to the Plymouth Separatists, and veiled suspicion and dislike soon ripened into meddlesome interference. The Puritan and the Pilgrim had many things in common, but one or two vital principles, on which they differed, kept them apart. The Puritan was conservative, accommodating, obsequious to the powers that be, and inclined to furbish up the old weapons, which had been used against himself, for use against others. The Pilgrim was radical. He had broken with the past, even to a greater extent than he could realize, and was making a new ex- periment, civil and ecclesiastical. He was more tolerant than the Puritan, both in matters of opin- ion and conduct, and wore a more gracious mien. About this time, the feeling between them was neither pleasant nor safe. Strictures on the re- ligious attitude of the Pilgrims were passing into efforts to divert their trade, and to trespass on their territory, which met with resistance, ending in bloodshed.


In 1634, Governor Winslow went to England on colonial business, and before sailing, accepted a com- mission for the Bay Colony, which required him to appear before the King's Commissioners for Planta- tions. Here he was brought face to face with Arch- bishop Laud, who could not resist the opportunity of venting his wrath upon the representative of the Plymouth settlement, about whose sayings and do- ings he had been duly informed by the Puritans. Winslow was accused of taking part in Sunday


[40 ]


Keeping the Faith


services, and of conducting civil marriages. The Governor admitted the charges, and pleaded exten- uating circumstances ; but Laud was not to be ap- peased, and committed the bold Separatist to the Fleet Prison, where he remained for seventeen weeks, when he was released, and permitted to re- turn to America, wounded in his conscience by the cruel wrong done to him, and impoverished by legal expenses.


In the year 1636, Ralph Smith resigned his pas- torate, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Reyner, a quiet, godly man, who seems to have pursued the even tenour of his way, doing his John Reyner duty modestly and efficiently, and commending himself to the good-will 1636.


and affection of his flock, whom he served faithfully for eighteen years. About two years after his ordination, the Rev. Charles Chaun- cey a graduate, and for some time a professor, of Trinity College, Cambridge, drifted towards Plym- outh, and preached so acceptably, that he was in- vited to become co-pastor with Mr. Reyner. He had been vicar of Ware, Hertfordshire, and came into disfavour, by characterizing Laud's sacerdotal regulations as "idolatrous." He was brought be- fore the Court of High Commission in 1630, and again in 1634, when he was suspended from the ministry, and imprisoned. On the 6th of February 1636, he petitioned the Court to be allowed to sub- mit, and after listening to one of Archbishop Laud's admonitions to penitent heretics, he was released on


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The First Church in Plymouth


payment of costs. He never forgave himself, for what he called his " scandalous submission," and be- fore leaving for America in 1637, he wrote a " Re- tractation," which was published in London in 1641. After acting as Reyner's assistant for three years, he developed anabaptist ideas, contending for immer- sion as against sprinkling. Scripture was on his side, but the American climate and personal health and comfort, were against him. The church evi- dently did not consider the question a vital one, and was willing that he should dip or sprinkle, as occa- sion might require. But, it was obviously a matter of principle with him, and to the deep regret of the Parish, he left Plymouth to take charge of the church at Scituate. He held his pulpit there, for some time, and when contemplating a return to his former charge at Ware, in England, the Trustees of Har- vard College, offered him the Presidency of that seat of learning. He accepted the offer, and be- came the second President of the College.


The colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, had been looking for some time towards federation. It was felt that their mutual interests and protection would be furthered by union, and in 1643, they entered into a Confederation known as " The United Colonies of New England." This union no doubt gave strength to the Colonies in their relations with the mother-country, and pro- vided for the better administration of law, and more adequate defence in case of war. But, it gave to the Massachusetts Colony a preponderating power,


[ 42 ]


Keeping the Faith


and reacted unfavourably upon the liberalism of Ply- mouth. In every union of independent organiza- tions something must be sacrificed. Corporations, like individuals acquire characteristics, which differ- entiate them from other bodies ; but, when they sink themselves in federation, these original quali- ties are either modified or entirely lost. Plymouth Colony was unique. It represented heroic history and traditions in which no other colony could share. Its ideals of liberty, self-reliance, and manliness, were its own. From the first, it had carved out an independent course for itself, and had pursued that course, with unflinching loyalty and determination. Now, the age of chivalry and romance was coming to an end. The old Colony had fought a good fight and finished its course. It had stood out bravely for the widest conception then known, of civil and religious liberty, preserving the independ- ence and integrity of the State, bridling religious intolerance, and offering an asylum for brave and honest men, who had been cast out by Prelacy and Puritanism. Henceforth, it was to form a minor part in a union with forces against which it had long contended. The heroes who had stood faithfully by it, were one by one failing under the weight of years, and stood ready to sing their nunc dimittis. Its name was to be relinquished; its career com- pleted ; and its wonderful history merged into the annals of secondary events.


[43 ]


CHAPTER VI. Gain and Loss.


I N order to rightly understand the trend of later incidents in the history of the church, it may be well to observe, at this point, that the com- munity was divided into two sections -the church, and the precinct or Parish. The former consisted of those, who on entering into religious fellowship, made confession of their faith, and supported the confession by a distinct experience of a moral and spiritual new-birth, or conversion, proof of which had to be publicly declared, first in the presence of the pastor and elders, and then before the congrega- tion and communicants. The latter were members, who attended public worship and paid their taxes, but were not so closely and formally affiliated. These two bodies, distinct yet related, ruled the church, and appear to have stood in the same posi- tion to each other, on all ecclesiastical questions, as do the Senate and House of Representatives to-day, on political issues. The church represented a kind of spiritual aristocracy, or inner circle of advanced piety. The Parish consisted of a large body of de- vout men and women, who were by no means rigid as to doctrines or forms, but were attached to the institution. Neither could act independently on important matters, without the concurrence of the other. In the election or dismissal of a minister, for example, the initiative was taken by the church ;




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