a By ELMO SCOTT WATSON HE various tercentenary celebrations which have been held in Massachu- setts this year have re vived public Interest In the historical events of long ago, and have brought i to the attention of Americans the names of many men who are all but forgotten. So has suggested that the Bay might well round out its tercentenary program with one more celebration of an important event which 300 years ago. Such a would be held next February, for It was in February, 1631, that a mun named Roger Williams arrived in Bos- ton from England. The only trouble with that sugges tion is that Roger Williams is a man whom Massachusetts is little likely to honor with any special ceremonies, even though it would seem that after three centuries had passed all ancient prejudices should be dispelled and the harsh judgments of those far-off days considerably softened. At one might logically draw such a concly- sion from these facts: In 1635 the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony wrote upon its records the following: “Whereas, Mr. of the elders of the church hath broached and divul new and dangerous opit the authority of magis writ letters of defam ) magistrates and churches here, and that any and yet maintaineth the same without any re traction; it is therefore ordered, that the said Mr. Williams shall depart out of this jurisdiction within six weeks now next evening, which if he neglect to perform, it shall be lawful for the governor and two of the magistrates to send him to some place out of this Jurisdiction, not to return any more without license from the court.” In 1928 the Massachusetts house of representatives accepted without de- bate a report by the judiciary commit- tee recommending “leave to withdraw" on a bill by Representative John W. Hawkins to revoke the sentence of banishment of Roger Williams. Thus the Bay State passed up its chance to make a graceful gesture which would show that the spirit of intolerance which once characterized Massachu- setts, the colony, had been succeeded by a more generous spirit In Massa- chusetts, the state, and it missed an opportunity to utter even this smallest thanks for Williams’ service when at the greatest risk to himself, he dissu- aded the Narragansett Indians from Joining in the Pequot war against the colony which had expelled him from fts borders. But, quite aside from this question of whether or not the Massachusetts of today is likely to pay belated hon- or to the man whom the Massachusetts of 300 years ago considered dangerous, feared and sent Into exile, is the ques. tion which one might logically ask as the result of recalling the name of a man who has been gone from the American scene these 247 yeurs— “Why Is the arrival of Roger Williams on the shores of New England impor. tant enough to justify a celebration 800 years later?” The answer to that question may be found In these words “Roger Williams was the first prophet of freedom in America, the ‘land of the free!' a man whose liberalism was not confined to religion alone but who stood staunch. ly for civil liberty as well.” Surely in these days when Americans are be- coming concerned about the liberties guaranteed them in the foundation stone of our Republic, the Constitution, to know something of such a man is worth while, Recently there has ap- peared a biography of him which brings out strongly the importance of this man in American history, It is “Roger Williams, Prophet and Plo me State one took place celebration least, 1108, one of Salem, +l $ both of the before conviction, neer,” written published company.” If Roger Williams ha than the pionee by Emily Easton and by the Houghton Mifflin d been no more would still be in- But it ’ sreat ine . + hoo ’ 1 fo teresting and wort of study is in Roger Will the prophet of freedom, that our main interest and with him in this role ographer iams, Hes, his new bi concerned. The uncertain. It was The scene was Ize of Smithfield hoth fairs and the executions of the His father wis a merchant tailor, but young Rogz- er does not seem to have had any de sire father's footsteps, Iie began of snd became an adept at hand, taking d Nepulchre's is chiefly year of his birth is prol in where ably 1602 or 1603 London on the e« were held the day. f 11 tr i to (oliow in the study stenography writing short at Saint speeches In awesome and YI Sermons chit y and the star chamber, the terrible court at Westminster hall, offenders against the crown were summarily and secretly tried. Willilams' talent attracted the atten tion of Bir Edward Coke, the Judge and leader of the Puritans, who saw to iL that the boy was admitted to the Charter house scl In 1628 ; ' hool, from Pembroke where great 8 degree f ived hi , aud became ch ip y house of Sir Wil aturally a free think- ox the pre ith the most Belief In state A vy to come to } February 5 wsion on in ind than in Old Plymouth, beiter off in New Engl England. So he went pioneer settlement. The agree went to could not his “strange opinions,” so to Salem, where he was re- summoned and foally ban Piymonth with people he peatedly ished. It was in January, 1636, that Roger Williams was compelled to leave his wife and babies and tramp through the snow-covered forests, He was saved through the ald of Indians toward whom he had ever gssumed a kindly and generous attitude. Chief Massasoit of the Pokanoket Indians gave him a tract of land on Seekonk river, by old friends from Salem, and a set- tlement started. But upon receiving friendly hints that complications were liable to arise with the Plymonth col- ony, he moved to the present site of Providence, R. 1, and in June, 1636, started the settiement that was des- tined to become Rhode Island. The land there was given by his old friends, Canonicus and Miantonomo, sachems of the Narragansetts, Williams soon had a chance to re- turn good for evil for such was his influence over the Narragansetts that he easily prevailed upon this powerful tribe not to join the Pequots under Sassacus in their plan to destroy all the English settlements in that part of the country. Williams, in 10638, assisted John Clarke and William Coddington in pur. chasing Aquidneck, or Rhode Islund, from the Indians, He saw to it that the Indians were not swindled but lib erally paid for their holdings, In 1648 he went to England and ob tained the charter for the Providence and Rhode Island settlements, While there he blossomed forth as an author of some of the “best sellers,” produc. ing “Key Into Language of America,” “The Blody Tenet of Persecution for Cause of Conscience,” and “Mr, Cot. ton's Letter Examined and Answered.” Williams made such a hit in England that several members of parliament gave him a letter which was virtually un passport through Massachusetts up- on his return in 1044, In 1651 he was obliged to again visit England in order to obtain the revoke ment of the commission of William Coddington as governor of Rhode Is land and Connecticut. He not only got what he went after, but found some time do some more writing He returned home in 1654 and par ticipated in the reorganization until 1658. In his administration he obtained toleration for the Quakers who were then coming to New Eng land. It seems a somewhat strange para- fled from England to should become Secure re in- ligious liberty #0 But the theirs that nrovoea i v ideas did not with it must also be hem the nETree admitted plenty of enceflgl like gentle, | we accustomed ith the today. tary fireb wrs of the are idea of the Boclety f the Quakers of 1 $4 peace wherever they went. Williams himself had Little more use for them than did the Puritans. “Amongst Jews and Turks, Protestants and Pagans (with all of which | have he wrote, “I never met with such a judging, censuring. revi! ing spirit as is the spirit of the Quak ers.” But, though he disliked them, worship as they pleased any more than he would deny that right to any others who were driven out of Massa chusetts of their beliefs. Rhode Island had very little trouble with the Quakers, for the simple rea- because they wanted to, hence they had littie desire to cause a disturbance. Just the opposite was the case in Massa. chusetts, The more they were per secuted there and their right of free speech suppressed, the more deter. mined they were to exploit their views, There Is food for theught In those facts in considering some pres ent-day problems in America! Not only did Williams. stand firm for religious liberty in his colony but for civil liberty as well. He had re volted against the theocracy which ruled New England, and in revolting he rebelled against the magistrates as well as against the clergy. Eighteen years after he had founded his islet of defiant freedom he could boast, in a letter to Sir Henry Vane: “We have not felt the new chaing of the Preshy. terian tyrants, nor in this colony have we been consumed with the over-zegl- ous fire of the (so-called) godly Chris tian magistrates. Sir, we have not known what an excise means; we have almost forgotten what tithes are, yen. or taxes either, to church or common- wealth.” A new charter was granted Rhode Island in 1063. This charter estab lished such liberal republican govern. ment that the Revolution in 1776 made no change In it, and It was not super. ceded until 1842, For the next 14 years he was actively engaged In pub lie life. The death of this remarkable Ameri can ploneer was announced in this quaint fashion in a letter written May 10, 1088, by John Thorndyke of Provi. dence to Rev, Samuel Hubbard: “The Lord hath arrested by death our an cient and approved friend, Mr. Roger Williams, with divers others here” (@® by Western Newspaper Union.) ———————————— Nildyed Maddocks Dentleirs All-Star," Kitchen tested” Recipe by Mildred Maddocks Bentley, Directo, Delineator Home Institute. This and 14 other ALL-STAR Betty Crocker "Kitchen-tested” Recipes inside every sack of OLD MEDAL "Kitchen -tested” FLOUR Kitchen - tested” | — a 1002 Carelessness When Ignorance Is Bliss York woman who cinlmed | n the mmer n certain fan A New bus climbed he irhb and {ruck | farm g wns helps with . ( er i ne That Reads reading aloud, of blind, pn gift of German sc {oo the nines t ence 48 Taking the same prin. 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