Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/176

 134 THE HISTORY OF BARRINGTON. tithing-men were elected. They were careful to select good Baptist brethren as tithers, and while the letter of the law was fulfilled, as in the case of the choice of a minister, its spirit was evaded. The number of tithing-men varied from one to four ; the same men were never re-chosen and the voluntary- system was maintained by the independent townsmen. About the year 1700, the increase of population in the direction of Myles's Bridge and over Palmer's River required the removal of the house of worship from Tyler's Point to a spot near Mason's Corners in North Swansea, in order to accommodate the majority of the congregation. During Elder Luther's ministry he had seen fit to add certain sup- plementary notes to the original covenant, with reference to Baptisju and Covimunion, which were not relished by the Congregational element, and whether intended or not, served to establish the dividing line of denominationalism between the hitherto united parties. The removal of the church edi- fice from New Meadow Neck seems to have been another element of separation, and the question of the establishment of a church of the Congregational order was earnestly dis- cussed. The dwellers on Peebee's Neck added to those on New Meadow Neck who favor the new organization, saw no way to secure this object but the establishment of a new town, wherein the tithes of the people, as in other towns, shall support the ministry of the ruling order. This was a stormy period both for church and state. The sons of men, who fought at Naseby and Marston Moor, were not put to flight by bulls, civil or ecclesiastical, on this side of the water. The contest was necessary and its trials essential to the evolution of a purer faith. Had either party shown less of the persecuting or the martyr spirit — we should not to-day enjoy so great a heritage of liberty under the royal law. " 'Twas sharp medicine," as Raleigh said of the axe that beheaded him, but it was heroic in its purifica- tion of the body politic of the ecclesiastical disease of intol- erance. When John Myles landed at Weymouth in 1663, Boston was the hot-bed of intolerant persecution. The