921.73 W589w.pdf - Mesa FamilySearch Library

Rev. Samuel W/dlin_. 67
kept over the churches by the magistrates ....
By the statutes of the Colony, 'no man could
have a share in the administration of civil gov-
ernment, or give his voice in any election, unless
he was a member of one of the churches.' No
church could be gathered without the allowance
of the magistrates ; and a minister, for preach-
ing to such a society, was liable to a penalty.
About I65o Mr. Mathews, a minister, was fined
ten pounds for this offence."*-
" I have been more particular," says Hutchin-
son, " in relating this transaction (the proceed-
ings of the General Court upon the petition of
certain clergymen, which will be referred to here-
after), because it gives us a pretty good idea of
the connection between the civil and ecclesiasti-
cal power; the churches, notwithstanding their
claim to. independency, being liable to control
as oft as their proceedings were disapproved by
the civil magistrate; and, on the other hand,
the magistrates, who were annually elected,
being sometimes liable to be displaced by the
influence of the clergy in elections, when their
I Hutchinson's Hist., 372-374 .