www.greenreunion2008 >Family History >Documents of Interest > Character and setting of RI men

Roger Williams

When we first see Williams, he is young man, but already he has gained a reputation of true piety with humbleness and grace toward man. The Boston church wanted him. His sermons were probably full of love and concern for others and mixed with the love of God toward man.

He shows respect for the “savage” Indians as his contemporaries do not. Callousness of feeling toward those below ones station in life was common. It was the norm. Williams would have been viewed at the very least foolish for even considering the savages. He learned their language and culture, treating them as equals.

In his early years, he was very trusting. He believed the best in his contemporaries, especially other church leaders. The government he established in Providence Plantation was a pure democracy. It probably took several disappointments before he really began to see people for what and who they really were. When that happened, he likely suffered a great disillusionment.

The majority of the people were illiterate during the17th century. Even the educated man seldom read in comparison to the people of the 21st century. Williams probably read the classics, and a few published books of the time. The English Bible of the common man was the original King James Version first published in 1611, just a few years earlier. Even though all educated men of the time were trained in Greek and Hebrew, knowledge and understanding of the Spiritual realm was scarce.

A belief in God was almost universal with the English man. To the lower classes this belief was steeped in superstition. To the upper class this belief was expected and common. It was a belief that was always directed through the established church and the church leaders. The gentry seldom let this belief either mould or interfere with everyday living and accepted culture. Freedom of thought was not allowed to exist. It was punishable by excruciating deaths.

Baptist thinking was heretical thinking to those in most of Europe and the colonies. To found the first Baptist Church in the colonies was a truly courageous act. Yet, I don’t think either William or Greene thought they were courageous. They were just following their conscience.

It was common for men of that age who were truly sincere believers to search for years looking for an answer to a spiritual question that believers of today can rattle off in a few seconds. (Re: The autobiography of John Bunyan who wrote “Pilgrims Progress” first pub. in 1678. He agonized for years over the question of salvation by grace through Jesus Christ, seeking for the answer. Any modern Evangelical can quickly explain this.) So too, Williams searched for answers. Adult Baptism after the salvation experience was almost unheard of. The precedent was set in Europe, and it was thought that a baptized leader of the church had to baptize others. When it came time to baptize the first members of the Baptist Church, the issue was much discussed. William eventually decided that he would be baptized first and that he would in turn baptize all the others. This later came to haunt Williams. He was not baptized by a “baptized believer.” When he could not settle this argument in his own mind, he eventually left the church so as not to cause any problem the congregation. In his spiritual life, he was a much self-disciplined man. He wanted more than anything else to be Godly.

Williams was a man of peace. Throughout, he speaks up for others, not himself. He was a man of mercy, a rare quality in men of time. He seems to wish only a quiet, pious life for himself and his family.

Samuel Gorton

It must have must have taken great self-discipline to not speak when he first arrived in the new colony. The authoritarian government of the King of England had been replaced by the authoritarian government of the church. Like Williams and probably Greene, Gorton was greatly disappointed.

When he finally did speak in defense of the widow, more than likely the church leaders took offense. He probably spoke very well. “He, a man of no formal learning, dared to speak in the bold manner in which he did.”

Gorton was a brilliant man. He was well versed in English law and well versed in the Bible. He was an individual thinker –a dangerous man in the 17th century.

Williams, the man of peace, soon heard of this fiery man who in his way of thinking “too boldly spoke his mind.” Even thought he came to appreciate Gordon’s brilliance, he never really liked him.

“Although he was painted as a wild eccentric by political propagandists of the day, Gorton was actually one of the few who, while debating religious points of the day, did not exhibit anger, fling epithets or accuse his opponents of in civility. It was even said that he “never raised his hand in violence against any human being”.”

Much has been made of the “Gortonites,” the followers of Gorton. Actually, Gorton’s doctrine is much like that of Evangelicals of today. Greene chose to follow Gorton over Williams because (I think) Gorton was the stronger man. Yet, being the man that of high intelligence, with much insight and spiritual understanding, he had one vulnerable point. The ability to perceive the failings of the leadership of the established church, brought about in him a desire to reject all church organization. It is difficult for a person of leadership and insight to accept leadership from those who are less qualified.

John Greene, Surgeon

The very fact that we can find little written about Greene demonstrates the man that he was. He was the mature, strong and solid citizen, always there in the background, standing behind the leaders of the day.

The actions we do know about speak of him. He stood behind and with Williams. He stood up for the men of Providence when they were unjustly accused. He bought the land for Warwick when life at Providence became so complicated. He was probably the only man who had the money to do this. Gorton was not a wealthy man, neither were the others of Warwick. When the soldiers of Mass. came, he accompanied the women to safety. As a doctor and an older man, he was the best choice for this.

Greene was a man who is always needed in civil government and in church government. He was the solid behind-the-scenes man who got things done. He seems to have done this with his faith in tact and without compromise.