CONTINENTAL BAPTISTS.

499

witnessed results more marvellous than those since achieved in the German States. Sweden is not less remarkable than Germany. There one man, a little more than a quarter of a century ago,-Rev. Andreas Weiburg, a young man who had been educated for the ministry in the Lutheran Church,-was led to a change of views and was "buried with Christ in baptism." Since then, God has wrought marvellously by means of this man. Sweden, in 1871, contained 201 Baptist churches, having a membership of 8,120, with a theological school in Copenhagen.

The following summary will give the reader an idea of the strength of the Baptists throughout the old world, in the year 1885 EUROPE: Associations, 67; churches, 3,191; ministers, 2,290; members, 346,918. ASIA (including Assam, Burmah, Ceylon, China, India, Japan, and Palestine): Associations, 5; churches, 754; ministers, 279; members, 61,493. AFRICA: Associations, 3; churches, 85; ministers, 31; members, 6,627. AUSTRALIA: Associations, 6; churches, 136; ministers, 88; members, 11,039. Total: Associations, 81; churches, 4,186; ministers, 2,688; members, 426,077.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptist Church in the United States-Roger Williams and his Work-The first Church established in America-Statistics of the Church-The Freewill Baptist Church.

TH

THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES.

HE name of Roger Williams must have the honor of being placed at the head of every account of the introduction of Baptists into America. Roger Williams was born in Wales in the year 1598. At an early age he was sent to Oxford College, and educated through the munificence of Sir Edward Coke. He was a member of the Church of England, and was designed for the priesthood. But he became a Puritan, and emigrated to America in 1630, settling at Salem, Mass., and was soon after called to the office of teacher in connection with the Rev. Mr. Skelton. He was not there long before his liberal views on the question of conscience in matters of belief rendered him obnoxious to the Puritan settlers of the colony. He contended against religious persecution in all forms. He protested against the union of Church and State, which then and long after existed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. He was not then a Baptist, though in advocating these views he was defending principles of which Baptists had ever been the representatives. This the authorities of the colony would not tolerate. He was therefore condemned for no other reasons than holding those opinions which now none think of questioning, and expelled from the colony in 1635. In the spring of 1636 he settled in

FIRST CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN AMERICA.

501 what is now the State of Rhode Island, on the site where the opulent city of Providence stands. There he founded a colony, obtaining a charter from the king. A fundamental principle of this colony was, that there should be no persecution for conscience sake in matters of religion, but that every man was to have perfect freedom to worship God after his own conviction of truth and duty.

THE FIRST CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN AMERICA.

There being no minister in New England who had been baptized by immersion on a profession of faith, in March, 1639, Ezekiel Holliman baptized Roger Williams, who then administered the rite to Holliman and ten others. Thus was founded, under Roger Williams, as Governor of Rhode Island, and by Ezekiel Holliman, Deputy Governor, with ten others, the first Baptist church on the continent of America. To those members twelve others were soon added, and from that day to this that church has been "a burning and a shining light."

This position has not been easily gained. It cost the early churches and preachers much suffering. The laws of Massachusetts Colony against Baptists and Quakers were severe. The more their principles prevailed, the more violent became the punishment. The penalties inflicted were the severest the spirit of the age-which had softened down as compared with previous years-would allow; banishment, whipping, fine, and imprisonment, beside being taxed to support the clergy of the "Standing Order." For failure or refusal to pay this tax, regarding it as unjust, they "oftentimes had their bodies seized upon and thrown into the common jail, as malefactors, and their cattle, swine, horses, household furniture, and implements of husbandry, forcibly distrained from them and shamefully sold, many times at not a quarter of their first value." In 1728 a law was passed by the General Court relieving Baptists from this tax. But it relieved their persons only, not their property. In Connecticut, Baptist ministers were put in the stocks, and afterwards thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel contrary