different view at first. He had privately told Dr. Samuel Fuller, of Plymouth, so writes Dr. Fuller to Governor Bradford, "that if they will have him stand minister by that calling which he received from the prelates in England, he will leave them." But our late President, Mr. Savage, in direct allusion to this statement, says emphatically: "This was not the spirit of the first settlers of Massachusetts, until they had lived some years in the wilderness;" "and I imagine (he adds) Phillips was overcome, by the persuasion of friends, to postpone the scruple he had communicated to the Plimouth Colonist.'

Nothing could be further from my purpose than to draw into doubt the immediate and hearty adoption of Congregational forms of worship by the founders of Massachusetts, as an historical fact; or to question Governor Winthrop's full share in their adoption. The only question is, in what spirit, and under what circumstances, they were adopted. And I have only desired to show that, at the outset, the churches of Massachusetts were organized in no hostile opposition to the Church of England, and in no spirit inconsistent with the affectionate farewell which was addressed by the Governor and Company to their brethren of that Church. Every thing in the character of that Paper, and of the men who signed it, assures me that it was no politic manifesto, to conceal or cover purposes and plans already formed; but an honest, affectionate expression of sincere feeling on leaving England. On their arrival here, they conformed at once to the condition of the Colony and the exigencies of Religion. In doing so, they renounced no previous convictions or relations. But Christianity was to them above all Churches, and the worship of God above all forms or ceremonies. Having adhered to the Church of England, as the best mode of worshipping God, while there, they united in Congregational worship, as the best, and, as I think, the only mode, in which that worship could, under the circumstances, have been arranged and conducted here.

As time went on, and Laud and Wren and other Bishops pursued their persecuting policy towards all Non-Conformists, a different spirit could hardly fail to be developed. But of that I have nothing to say in this connection.

This Paper has been prepared somewhat cursorily, and I may find cause for additions or modifications hereafter. In the mean time, I conclude it now, by presenting a letter

* Savage's Winthrop, edition 1853, p. 16, foot-note.

from Henry Jacie, the minister at Assington, near Groton, to John Winthrop, Jr., in 1630-31. A number of Jacie's letters have been printed among the "Winthrop Papers," and an account of him given in foot-notes.* But this letter has never been printed, and may well have a place in our Proceedings. Rev. Henry Jacie to John Winthrop, Jr.

DEARE SR, How much am I endebted to you for yo! great paines & love, wh hath endeared you yet more unto me: If I sh heare it turnes to yo hurt any way, I must needs sympathize wh

you.

One or 2 Questions came not to my mind, wch I would entreat by you to be resolvd in, viz. Seing such a copany of Christians have fore intended such a one to be their minister, & he to accept it, Whether in their fast they desire Gods directing in y choise (when they have no other fit to be chosen) or its only for Gods blessing his paines, etc. Also, Whether they use imposition of hands, or by whom, & when. And whether any imposition on the Elder, & by whom, or on the Deacon.

Now, S, since yo! going to York, I have found H. Kingsburies L: (wch I could not light on), the bookes he desired me to procure him were these 3. 1. A Treatise of Faith. (I suppose The Doctrine of faith by Mr. Jo. Rogers would be as useful for him, & about the same price.) 2. Perkins Principles. 3. The Sweet Posie for Gods Sts (2a a peece, y 1 ab 84). He writ I would pay for them. We shal be further indebted to you if you can procure ye Map, y Pattents Copie, y Model of Charity, (also what Oath is taken), Mr. Higgi sons L, & the Petition to our Ministers for praying for them, made at their going, wch is in print. Wch of these you can best, wth yo! L, give to Mr. Overton, Stationer in Popes head Alley, my good friend, & receive money of him for them, or for writing (giving him this note,) that he may send them by York Carrier either to y now L. Maiors, or to Mr. John Penrose, Attorney, for me. But I pray you resolve me those ques. now, (for I suppose you ar not gone frō York.) Remeber my kind respect & love to Mr. Downing, Mr. Rob Gurdon wth Mrs. Gurdon & Mr. Edward Gurdon, and to Mr. Huison at London Stone, if you see him, (frō whom I have had L though I have not seen him.) Also in Essex & Suffolk. I am now posted: The good Lord be wth you. Yor in him.

HEN: JACIE.

I pray you Mr. Overton repay to this my friend what he hath laid out for me, & I shal see yt you be repaid, either as formerly, or by my bro. Thomas Jacie, Servant to Mr. Elwis in Drury lane, a litle beyond Qu Street. And direct yo! L' etc. for me, to be left with the Lord Maior of York, for so is Mr. Hodshon now. I rec! yo! L: & Cōpasses etc. rem' me kindly to Mr. Peck.

Yor

*Vol. i. 3d ser., and vol. vi. 4th ser., p. 452.

H. JACIE.

This note to Mr. Overton is sealed on the margin of the letter, which is addressed, " To the Worsh" John Winthrop, Esq. in York."

There is no date to the letter, but it was plainly written to the younger Winthrop before he came over to join his father in New England in 1631. It alludes to the elder Winthrop's discourse on board the "Arbella," under the title of "The Model of Charity," and to the Farewell Letter to the Church of England, under the title of "The Petition to our Ministers for praying for them, made at their going, which is in print." But it is mainly interesting as showing the eagerness of the Puritan ministers in England to ascertain the forms and modes adopted by the churches on this side of the ocean. There is unfortunately no answer extant.

Mr. SMITH, from the Committee on publishing the Proceedings, called attention to a new number containing the Proceedings from September to December, 1880. He also presented a Memoir of our late Associate, Robert M. Mason, by Robert C. Winthrop, Jr.

MEMOIR

OF

ROBERT M. MASON.

BY ROBERT C. WINTHROP, JR.

ROBERT MEANS MASON was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Sept. 25, 1810, the sixth of the eight children of Jeremiah Mason, some time senator in Congress from New Hampshire, and generally regarded as the greatest lawyer of his day in New England. The family is of Connecticut stock, and Robert Mason was a descendant in the sixth generation from Major John Mason, a Puritan soldier, who had seen service in the Netherlands. and became well known in our early history as one of the pioneers of the Connecticut Colony, of which he was long Deputy-Governor, and famous for his prowess in the Pequot war.

His mother was Mary, daughter of Colonel Robert Means, of Amherst, New Hampshire, whose family came from Londonderry, in the north of Ireland. She was an admirable specimen of the New England matron of the old school,pious, charitable, frugal, hospitable, exemplary in every relation of life, and respected by all who knew her. This description might serve as well for her son Robert, who was thought much to resemble his mother, and whose daily life bore the impress of her character and teachings.

The earliest record of his boyhood I find in a little volume of Akenside's poems, "Presented to R. M. Mason for his uniform good conduct and diligent attention to his studies at the Portsmouth Academy, during the quarter ending Aug. 26, 1825." Inscriptions on school and college prizes are apt to be conventional and perfunctory, but the language applied to Robert Mason at fourteen never ceased to be peculiarly applicable to him. "Uniform good conduct," and " diligent attention" to whatever he undertook, were his prominent characteristics throughout life.