ROGER WILLIAMS FOUND GUILTY OF SEDITION & HERESY, BANNED FROM MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY
Salem, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On October 9, 1635, Roger Williams*, who spoke in favor of religious dissent, was banned from the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the General Court.
Williams arrived in Boston in 1631 and came to the opinion that the Church of England was corrupt. He also supported the principle of freedom of religion**.
In 1633, Williams relocated to Salem where he was charged with sedition and heresy was tried and convicted.
*Roger Williams (1603-1683) was born in London & educated at Pembroke & Cambridge. He became a minister, theologian. author & founder of the Providence Plantations which later became Rhode Island.
RW advocated religious liberty & separation of church & state. Rhode Island was the first government in the western world to guarantee religious freedom in its founding charter. RW was co-founder of the First Baptist Church of America.
**freedom of religion is protected by the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting government from establishing a religion (ex. Church of England) & protecting religious practices as long as they do not adversely affect public morals or public interest (ex. not allowing their children to be inoculated--threat to public health).
SOURCES
"First Amendment and Religion," United States Courts, www.uscourts.gov/
"Roger Williams Banned From Massachusetts," JFK+50, October 9, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/
