921.73 W589w.pdf - Mesa FamilySearch Library

124 Memoir of
The principle contended for by the Court,
" That no cause is soihureZy ecclesiasNcaZbur lhe
civil 2bower may in its way deal therein," was
utterly subversive of t_e religious liberties of
the colony. The original manuscript of this
precious letter, which was published at the time
when it was written, is in the possession of
one of Mr. Whiting's descendants. The true
spirit of its far-seeing author breathes in every
line. He thus inaugurated that sublime moral
contest of the" clergy against the courts, which
ended in the entire surrender of ecclesiastical
power by the magistrates. If the venerable
pastor of Lynn had never done any other service
to the colony than making this bold, firm,
independent, yet gentle, modest, and respectful
defence of the rights of the Church against
the usurpation of judiciai or civil authority, his
name would be ever memorable.
In the following November, Rev. Samuel
Whiting, jun., was settied at Billerica, where he
became the progenitor of a large family. Several
of his descendants are still living there.
The story of Verna Humphrey, related by