“When he was driven from Massachusetts,” said Laurence, “and began his journey into the woods, he must have felt as if he were burying himself forever from the sight and knowledge of men.  Yet the whole country has now heard of him, and will remember him forever.”

“Yes,” answered Grandfather, “it often happens, that the outcasts of one generation are those, who are reverenced as the wisest and best of men by the next.  The securest fame is that which comes after a man’s death.  But let us return to our story.  When Roger Williams was banished, he appears to have given the chair to Mrs. Anne Hutchinson.  At all events it was in her possession in 1637.  She was a very sharp-witted and well-instructed lady, and was so conscious of her own wisdom and abilities, that she thought it a pity that the world should not have the benefit of them.  She therefore used to hold lectures in Boston, once or twice a week, at which most of the women attended.  Mrs. Hutchinson presided at these meetings, sitting, with great state and dignity, in Grandfather’s chair.”

“Grandfather, was it positively this very chair?” demanded Clara, laying her hand upon its carved elbow.

“Why not, my dear Clara?” said Grandfather.  “Well; Mrs. Hutchinson’s lectures soon caused a great disturbance; for the ministers of Boston did not think it safe and proper, that a woman should publicly instruct the people in religious doctrines.  Moreover, she made the matter worse, by declaring that the Rev. Mr. Cotton was the only sincerely pious and holy clergyman in New England.  Now the clergy of those days had quite as much share in the government of the country, though indirectly, as the magistrates themselves; so you may imagine what a host of powerful enemies were raised up against Mrs. Hutchinson.  A synod was convened; that is to say, an assemblage of all the ministers in Massachusetts.  They declared that there were eighty-two erroneous opinions on religious subjects, diffused among the people, and that Mrs. Hutchinson’s opinions were of the number.”

“If they had eighty-two wrong opinions,” observed Charley, “I don’t see how they could have any right ones.”

“Mrs. Hutchinson had many zealous friends and converts,” continued Grandfather.  “She was favored by young Henry Vane, who had come over from England a year or two before, and had since been chosen governor of the colony, at the age of twenty-four.  But Winthrop, and most of the other leading men, as well as the ministers, felt an abhorrence of her doctrines.  Thus two opposite parties were formed; and so fierce were the dissensions, that it was feared the consequence would be civil war and bloodshed.  But Winthrop and the ministers being the most powerful, they disarmed and imprisoned Mrs. Hutchinson’s adherents.  She, like Roger Williams, was banished.”

“Dear Grandfather, did they drive the poor woman into the woods?” exclaimed little Alice, who contrived to feel a human interest even in these discords of polemic divinity.