The Loss Of Anne Hutchinson's Interest In Religion

Breana Covington
Mr. Poston
History 1301-01
13 March 2015
Anne Hutchinson Anne Hutchinson was born in England and raised by her mother and father. Anne’s interest in religion started very early in her life due to her father being a pastor of an Anglican Church. Anne got married to a man named William and they managed to bring fifteen children into the world. Having this many children during this time period and surviving was rare. Due to her religious upbringing she never lost her interest in religion it is believed that “Her father’s strong personality left its mark, perhaps planting in the young girl the seeds of independence and courage to challenge clerical authority which where to emerge in the mature woman.” (Page 2) As Anne got older
her interest in religion only grew stronger and following her beliefs caused a lot of controversy through the 1630’s.
John Cotton was one of Anne Hutchinson’s next biggest religious guiding forces.
John Cotton believed that connecting with god did not require laws and rules but was dependent on one’s own belief of god. Anne was very interested in John’s religious views and felt that woman should be powerful as well not just ruled by their fathers and husbands. But soon John Cotton was forced to leave New England because the Puritans and Anglican Church did not agree with some of his beliefs. Anne decided to move herself and her family to Boston to follow his teaching. Anne had a following that grew large because she would weekly meetings in her house to explain John’s sermons and provide further explanations for the people. Soon Anne began to teach more about her own beliefs and it wasn’t long until her and her followers were soon accused of antinomianism and familism idea of Antinomianism is the “belief that since the saints are under the law of grace the moral law was not binding on them.” (Page 4) The church and the government feel threatened by the views and ideas that Anne is putting out there and teaching people. It seems as though the church wanted people to go and believe in the words of the bible and live by the words of the bible but not question anything. They wanted complete control over the people and the fact that Anne had her own believing and a large following upset the church and the
government.
As tensions grew a series of trials began known as the Antinomian Controversy.
The court said that she was “not fit” for their society. Anne was accused and charged with “disturbing the peace of common wealth, slandering ministers and holding private meetings.” (Page 65) Anne believed strongly in the words of the bible maybe just a little more than the minster did. Which they felt opposed a threat. The church felt like Anne was going against their words and saying they had no means for existence. “The minister and the church were no longer needed, since god preferred to deal with his children directly.” (Page 53) Throughout the trial Anne was very confused on exactly what the problem was and what rules she was breaking. The court questioned her about why she was holding weekly meetings in her house and she told them that in the bible it says that the elder women much teach the younger. But the court quickly disagreed with stating the Puritans theory of criminology “we see no rule of God for this, we see not that any should have authority to set up any other exercises besides what the authority hath already set up and so what hurt comes of this you will be guilty of and we for suffering you.” (Page 60) The church was making it very clear that they govern and they would do whatever it took to keep the people in order. They believed that “the bible could serve as a competent instrument of law, that sainthood could provide a feasible basis for citizenship and that the ministers
could act as the final moral authority in civil as well as spiritual matters.” (Page 77)
As the trial came to an end Anne and her whole family were banished from and forced to move out of Boston. The Puritans believed that “in thus protecting themselves they were also protecting God’s eternal truth.” (Page 57) The irony of the Antinomian Controversy was that the Puritans fled England to escape religious prosecution but still prosecuted Anne. “Puritanism can be said to have contained a strong note of individualism. This sense of individuality fit naturally into Puritan thinking so as long as it was voiced by the people protesting against the authority.. But when there protestors themselves moved into power and became custodians of their own church, a rapid shift in emphasis was necessary.” (Page 77) Anne Hutchison’s story is a crucial part of America’s early development. Her banishment from Boston was symbolic of the way religion in America had quickly departed from the ideas that the Pilgrims had envisioned when leaving England. Anne Hutchison story is a clear illustration of the evolution of religion and cultural values in early America.