It is impossible to say what may have been the precise ideas as to church government held by the groups which emigrated with Endicott and in the following year, but the evidence seems clear that, at least as far as Endicott was concerned, they were identical with those of the Pilgrims, or were unconsciously derived from them after arrival. Dr. Fuller, who visited Salem during the sickness of the first winter, was not only a physician but a deacon of the Plymouth church. With him Endicott discussed the question of church polity, and, as a result, wrote to Governor Bradford that “I am by him satisfied touching your judgments of the outward forme of Gods worshipe. It is, as farr as I can gather, no other than is warranted by the evidence of truth, and the same which I have proffessed and maintained ever since the Lord in mercie revealed him selfe unto me.”[298] A few weeks later, after the arrival of Skelton and Higginson, the Salem church was organized, with the former as pastor, and the latter as teacher, the members being united by a church covenant, which became one of the essential features of the New England church system.[299] In that system, every local church was independent, choosing and ordaining its own pastor, teachers, and ruling elders, and was composed of such Christians only as could satisfy the other church members of their converted state.[300] “The stones that were to be laid in Solomon's temple,” wrote Cotton, with characteristic far-fetched use of Old Testament texts, “were squared and made ready before they were laid in the building ... and, wherefore so, if not to hold forth that no members were to be received into the Church of Christ, but such as were rough-hewn, and squared, and fitted to lie close and levell to Christ and to his members?”[301] Footnote 298: Bradford, _Plymouth_, p. 265; Burrage thinks the Pilgrim influence slight, differing from most authorities. _English Dissenters_, vol. I, pp. 360 _ff._ _Cf._ W. Walker, _History of Congregational Churches in U. S._ (New York, 1894), pp. 101 _ff._ Footnote 299: Bradford, _Plymouth_, pp. 265 _f._ The covenant of 1629 and the enlarged one of 1636 are in W. Walker, _Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism_ (New York, 1893), pp. 116 _ff._ _Cf._ C. Burrage, _The Church Covenant Idea_ (Philadelphia, 1904), pp. 88 _ff._ Footnote 300: _Cf._ T. Lechford, “Plain dealing or Newes from New England”; _Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll._, Series III, vol. III, pp. 63-75. Footnote 301: John Cotton, _The Way of the Churches of Christ in New England_ (London, 1645), p. 54.