Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/175

 ELDER SAMUEL LUTHER. 133 faith in the cause, converted all his property into Conti- nental money, losing all by its repudiation. Maj.-Gen. Nel- son A. Miles, of the United States Army, is a lineal descendant of Rev. John Myles of Swansea. Elder Samuel Luther, the ancestor of the Luthers of this section, was Mr. Myles's successor in 1685, and of two events only during his ministry have I space now to write. The liberal policy of Plymouth Colony had allowed the Bap- tist Church on New Meadow Neck an existence, and the rights of conscience had been maintained strictly to the terms of the act of incorporation. The majority of the people were Baptists, but the Congregationalists coincided with in the essential doctrines of liberty of the Rhode Island Colony. When Sir William Phipps bi;ought the charter which united Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, in 1692, a new order of things was instituted which interfered with the ideas of our people in religious concernments. A warrant from the Court of Quarter Sessions was read, requiring the town to choose a minister according to law. After some debate the meeting was adjourned for half an hour. "Ye church by Lieutenant Cole returned and replied thus that they had a minister that they apprehended was according to law, viz.: the Elder Samuel Luther, and desired the vote of the town to see their assent and approbation." Debate fol- lowed and then an adjournment for another half hour and then a considerable debate and then another' adjoiirnment for two months for time to consider, to debate, and to settle this vexed matter. Puritan Massachusetts expected each town to support by public tax the established order of Con- gregational churches. Baptist Swansea decided not to do so. The people have supported their ministry for forty years by free contributions, and they propose to continue on the same plan. The tithing-man had been an unknown officer among us. At the October meeting the town again voted on the same matter, and elected Elder Samuel Luther minister, and four