STUDY OUTLINE OF THE LIFE AND
TIMES OF ROGER WILLIAMS
I
Roger Williams and His Times
1. Rise and Development of English Puritanism: Reformation in England, from Wyclif to Henry VIII. Reformation under Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Elizabeth. Influence of the Marian exiles. Rise of English Puritanism. Influence and mission of Thomas Cartwright and Robert Browne. Growth of Presbyterianism and independency. Origin of British Baptists (in Wales and England).
2. Contemporaneous Colonial Settlements: The Plymouth Pilgrims. The Dorchester Adventurers. Naumkeag settlers. Endicott Company at Salem. Winthrop Company at Boston. Connecticut settlers. Early Dutch and Virginia settlements. (Study idealism, origin, vitality of each.)
3. Indian Predecessors of Roger Williams and Puritans: Tribal settlements, their ideas, customs, and moral status. Ideas of soul-liberty among the Indians. Priority of Williams’ Indian missionary work. Labors of Eliot and others.
II
Roger Williams, His Life and Achievements
1. Life Prior to Exile from England, 1602-1629: His birth and education. Religious ferment in England. His love affairs, marriage, and exile.
2. In New England Prior to Settlement in Providence, 1629-1636: Experiences in Boston, Salem, Plymouth, the wilderness, and Seekonk.
3. Providence Plantations Prior to First Charter, 1636-1644: Arrival. Reception by Indians. First deeds to property. Baptism. Early government. Indian troubles. Neighbors at Pawtuxet, Warwick, Portsmouth, and Blackstone. Williams’ first visit to England. First charter. Indian trading-post near Wickford. His first writings.
4. Providence under the First Charter, 1644-1663: Growth of colony. Indian difficulties. Coddington’s claims. Opposition from the United Colonies. Williams’ second visit to England. His writings. Work of his colaborer, John Clarke, of Newport, in securing second charter.
5. Growth, Destruction, and Rebuilding of Providence, 1663-1676: General pre-Indian War prosperity. The Quakers. The debate and Williams’ writings. Indian War with King Philip. Reconstruction.
6. Closing Days and Death of Roger Williams: Official position. Retirement and death. Burial. Later removal of dust.
7. Providence after the Death of its Founder: Commercially, religiously, educationally, and politically. Its glorious share in the Revolutionary War. Its glory among the brotherhood of States. Growth of its ideal throughout the world.
III
The Evolution of the Roger Williams Ideal of Soul-liberty
1. Prior to Days of Williams: The pioneers, the predecessors of Williams, and the continuity of the struggle for soul-liberty among the early Christians. The work of the Anabaptists or Baptists in the Dark Ages in northern Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and England and Wales. Study their published confessions on the subject of soul-liberty.
2. Contemporaries of Roger Williams: The General and Particular Baptists of England. A consideration of the ideals of toleration, liberty of conscience, and absolute soul-liberty in the settlements of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Connecticut; and the Indian’s position also. Compare all these with the peculiar position of Roger Williams.
3. Successors of Roger Williams: The American Baptists. Study especially the Warren Baptist Association with its committee on grievances. Study the work of the Philadelphia Baptist Convention. Study also the work of the Baptists in other States. Cooperation of Quakers, Presbyterians, and others.
IV
The World-wide Influence of Roger Williams’ Ideal
Political democracy, a fruit of religious liberty. The onward march of democracy in America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The world war and the world-wide struggle for democracy. Present status of the world as to religious liberty and as to political democracy. (Take a map and indicate the same.)