The Rogerenes: some hitherto unpublished annals belonging to the colonial history of ConnecticutBolles, John R. (John Rogers)
History
The Rogerenes: some hitherto unpublished annals belonging to the colonial history of Connecticut
Bolles, John R. (John Rogers)
Rogerenes -- History
In fact, it proved to be the day of the new Constitution—the
existing law of 1818—and under its more tolerant influence other
churches rapidly arose; the Episcopalians, the Baptists, and the
Methodists all feeling their indebtedness to the party of
Toleration.
The _Times_, successful in the main object of its beginning, after
witnessing this peaceful political revolution, continued, with
several changes of proprietors. It was about sixty years ago that
the paper became the property of Bowles and Francis, as its
publishing firm; the Bowles being Samuel Bowles, the founder, many
years later, of the _Springfield Republican_, whose son, the late
Samuel Bowles, built up that well-known journal to a high degree
of prosperity.
Mrs. Watson, of East Windsor Hill, daughter of Frederick D. Bolles,
the founder of the _Hartford Times_, who courteously furnished us
with the above quotations, also sent us a paper containing the
following tribute to John M. Niles, early associated with her father
in the publication of the _Times_.
Mr. Niles, then a young man, who perhaps had not dreamed at that
time of becoming a Senator of the United States and of making
speeches in the Senate Chamber, which, however dry in manner, were
to be complimented by Mr. Calhoun as being the most interesting
and instructive speeches he was accustomed to hear in the
Senate—this then unknown young man was one of the editors. The
_Times_ was established on the motto of “Toleration”—the severance
of church from state—the exemption of men from paying taxes to a
particular church if they did not agree with that church in their
consciences. The reform aimed at the establishment of a more
liberal rule in Connecticut; a rule which would let Baptists,
Methodists, and other denominations rise and grow, as well as the
one old dominant and domineering church that had so long reigned,
and with which party federalism had become so incorporated as to
be looked upon practically as part of its creed and substance. The
cause advocated by the _Times_ triumphed; the constitution framed
in 1818 established a new order of things. Both Mr. Bolles and Mr.
Niles have passed out of the life of earth; but the work which was
accomplished by the agitation of the “Toleration” question, sixty
years ago, has remained in Connecticut and grown. The old
intolerant influence also is not dead; its spirit remains, but its
old power for intolerant rule has passed away.
A terrible weight of prejudice rested upon the Rogerenes who first
planted that seed in Connecticut, whose outshoot, ingrafted into the
constitution of every State in the Union, has become a great tree of
religious liberty spreading its branches over all the land, under
the shadow of which not only we but immigrants from every clime sit
with delight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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