One man, of Watertown, named Briscoe, dared to write a book
against the violent enforcement of "voluntary" subscriptions. He was fined
L10 for his wickedness; and the printer of the book was also punished. A
virago in New London, more openly courageous, threw scalding water on the
head of the tithingman who came to collect the minister's rate. Old John
Cotton preached long and earnestly upon the necessity and propriety of
raising the money for the minister's salary, and for other expenses of the
church, wholly by voluntary and eagerly given contributions,--the "Lord
having directed him to make it clear by Scripture." He believed that tithes
and church-taxes were productive of "pride, contention and sloth," and
indicated a declining spiritual condition of the church. But it was a
strange voluntary gift he wished, that was forced by dread of the pillory
and cage!
Since, as Higginson said, "New England was a plantation of Religion, not a
plantation of Trade," the church and its support were of course the first
thought in laying out a new town-settlement, and some of the best town-lots
were always set aside for the "yuse of the minister." Sometimes these lots
were a gift outright to the first settled preacher, in other townships they
were set aside as glebes, or "ministry land" as it was called. It was a
universal custom to build at once a house for the minister, and some very
queer contracts and stipulations for the size, shape, and quality of the
parson's home-edifice may be read in church-records.
Pages:
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293