Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – Dr. John Clarke, Americas First Baptist Pastor – Rhode Island Reimburses Clark for 12 yrs. of Lobbying King Charles II Part Eight
Roger Fulk posted Rhode Island Reimburses Clark’s Lobbying King Charles II PART EIGHT.
THOMAS E KRESAL ADMIN ·JUNE 1, 2020 PART EIGHT
Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – Dr. John Clarke, Americas First Baptist Pastor – Rhode Island Reimburses Clark for 12 yrs. of Lobbying King Charles II Part Eight
Rhode Island, through Clarke’s diplomacy, secured the recognition of claims to territory disputed by Connecticut and Massachusetts. Clarke was bitterly opposed in his efforts to secure the charter by the representatives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and these colonies were greatly chagrined by his success. It was natural that they should insinuate that this Baptist statesman, who had so ruthlessly exposed the intolerance of the Massachusetts authorities, had secured the charter by improper means. But the documentary history of the time fully vindicates Clarke, while it reflects gravely upon the methods of his traducers. (Arnold, i., 287 seq.)There was universal rejoicing throughout Rhode Island and Providence Plantations that the aspirations of the colonists for liberty and for their rights in relation to the other colonies had been so amply secured by their honored and beloved agent. The bearer of the royally sealed document was handsomely rewarded for his fidelity.It was voted “that Mr. John Clarke, the Colonies’ agent in England, be saved harmless in his estate; and to that end that all his disbursements going to England, and all his expenses and engagements there already laid out, . . . as also . . . expenses and engagements he shall be necessitated yet further to disburse, . . . shall all be repaid, paid and discharged by this Colony. . . . That in consideration of . . . his great pains, labor and travail with much faithfulness exercised for above twelve years in behalf of this Colony, in England, the thanks of the Colony be sent unto him by the Governor and Deputy Governor; and for a gratuity unto him, the Assembly engage that the Colony shall pay unto the said John Clarke, . . . over and besides what is above engaged the sum . . . of one hundred pound sterling.” This was undoubtedly the crowning achievement of Clarkes’ civil career. The charter remained in force until 1843. From the time of its adoption Rhode Island was practically a free, democratic state, with the amplest provision for liberty of conscience.Thomas E. Kresal from: John Clarke and the Baptists of Rhode Island by Albert H. Newman, 1894 and and Clarke, “Ill News;” ” Records of the Colony of R. I.,” i.; Arnold, i.; Backus; Winthrop; Hubbard; Lechford; Barrows, “History Sketch,” “Dev. of Bapt. Pr. in R. I.,” “Baptist Quarterly,” 1872, pp. 483 seq.; J. C. C. Clarke, in “Baptist Quarterly,” 1876, pp. 180 seq.; Adlam; Callender; Comer.
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