. The story of American democracy, political and industrial . at Massachu-setts plan of aristocratic theocracy broke down; while thesetwo little protesting colonies laid broad and deep the foun-dations of America. Roger Williams in Rhode Island wasthe apostle of modern religious liberty; and Thomas Hookerin Connecticut was the apostle of modern democracy. RHODE ISLAND Williams founded the town of Providence in the springof 1636 (page 94). From the Indians he bought a tract ofEmphasis land, and deeded it in joint ownership to twelveon freedom companions and to such others as the majorin religio
. The story of American democracy, political and industrial . at Massachu-setts plan of aristocratic theocracy broke down; while thesetwo little protesting colonies laid broad and deep the foun-dations of America. Roger Williams in Rhode Island wasthe apostle of modern religious liberty; and Thomas Hookerin Connecticut was the apostle of modern democracy. RHODE ISLAND Williams founded the town of Providence in the springof 1636 (page 94). From the Indians he bought a tract ofEmphasis land, and deeded it in joint ownership to twelveon freedom companions and to such others as the majorin religion ^^^^ ^^ ^^ shall admit into the same comers signed an agreement to submit themselvesonly in civil things to orders made for the public good 98 RHODE ISLAND 99 by the town fellowship, — in which they were freely grantedan equal voice, Civil in this passage is used in itscommon English sense in that day, as opposed to eccle-siastical. The point to the agreement is that the peopledid 7iot purpose to let the government meddle with 100 RHODE ISLAND Williams opinion upon the possibility of maintaining civilorder without compelling uniformity in religion is set forthadmirably in his figure of speech, comparing a state to a ship,where all, passengers and seamen, must obey the captain inmatters of navigation, though all need not attend the shipsprayers. No opportunity was lost to assert this doctrine. In 1644Williams secured from the Long Parliament a Patentauthorizing the Rhode Island settlements to rule them-selves by such a form of civill government, and to makesuch civill laws and consitutions as the majority mightprefer. Then, in 1663, when the colony received its firstroyal charter, the fundamental idea was made yet moreexplicit: — Whereas it is much on their hearts. says a preamble, quotingthe petition of the colonists, to hold forth a livelie experimentthat a most flourishing civill state may stand . . with a fulllibertie in religious concernmen
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