Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather

W. Upham Charles

Description

The Salem witch trials and the attendant hysteria that swept through New England in the late seventeenth century represent a fascinating period in American history. This historical analysis singles out Cotton Mather, an influential thinker and minister, and delves into his role in stoking the uproar that led to numerous convictions and executions.

Sujets

• Histoire
• History

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 mai 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776536054
• Langue: English

Extrait

SALEM WITCHCRAFT AND COTTON MATHER
A REPLY
* * *
CHARLES W. UPHAM
 
*
Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather A Reply First published in 1869 Epub ISBN 978-1-77653-605-4 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77653-606-1 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Prefatory Note Introduction Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI Chapter XVII Chapter XVIII Chapter XIX Chapter XX Endnotes
Prefatory Note
*
The Editors of the North American Review would, under thecircumstances, I have no reason to doubt, have opened its columns to areply to the article that has led to the preparation of the followingstatement. But its length has forbidden my asking such a favor.
All interested in the department of American literature to which theHISTORICAL MAGAZINE belongs, must appreciate the ability with which itis conducted, and the laborious and indefatigable zeal of its Editor, incollecting and placing on its pages, beyond the reach of oblivion andloss, the scattered and perishing materials necessary to the elucidationof historical and biographical topics, whether relating to particularlocalities or the country at large; and it was as gratifying asunexpected to receive the proffer, without limitation, of the use ofthat publication for this occasion.
The spirited discussion, by earnest scholars, of special questions,although occasionally assuming the aspect of controversy, will be notonly tolerated but welcomed by liberal minds. Let champions arise, inall sections of the Republic, to defend their respective rightful claimsto share in a common glorious inheritance and to inscribe their severalrecords in our Annals. Feeling the deepest interest in the Historical,Antiquarian, and Genealogical Societies of Massachusetts, and yieldingto none in keen sensibility to all that concerns the ancient honors ofthe Old Bay State and New England, generally, I rejoice to witness thespirit of a commemorative age kindling the public mind, every where, inthe Middle, Western and Southern States.
The courtesy extended to me is evidence that while, by a jealousscrutiny and, sometimes, perhaps, a sharp conflict, we are reciprocallyimposing checks upon loose exaggerations and overweening pretensions, acomprehensive good feeling predominates over all; truth in its purity isgetting eliminated; and characters and occurrences, in all parts of thecountry, brought under the clear light of justice.
The aid I have received, in the following discussion, from thepublications and depositories of historical associations and thecontributions of individuals, like Mr. Goodell, Doctor Moore, andothers, engaged in procuring from the mother country and preserving alloriginal tracts and documents, whenever found, belonging to our Colonialperiod, demonstrate the importance of such efforts, whether of Societiesor single persons. In this way, our history will stand on a solidfoundation, and have the lineaments of complete and exact truth.
Notwithstanding the distance from the place of printing, owing to thefaithful and intelligent oversight of the superintendent of the pressand the vigilant core of the compositors, but few errors, I trust, willbe found, beyond what are merely literal, and every reader willunconsciously, or readily, correct for himself.
C. W. U. SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.
Introduction
*
An article in The North American Review , for April, 1869, is mostlydevoted to a notice of the work published by me, in 1867, entitled Salem Witchcraft, with an account of Salem Village, and a history ofopinions on witchcraft and kindred subjects . If the article hadcontained criticisms, in the usual style, merely affecting the characterof that work, in a literary point of view, no other duty would havedevolved upon me, than carefully to consider and respectfully heed itssuggestions. But it raises questions of an historical nature that seemto demand a response, either acknowledging the correctness of itsstatements or vindicating my own.
The character of the Periodical in which it appears; the manner in whichit was heralded by rumor, long before its publication; its circulation,since, in a separate pamphlet form; and the extent to which, in certainquarters, its assumptions have been endorsed, make a reply imperative.
The subject to which it relates is of acknowledged interest andimportance. The Witchcraft Delusion of 1692 has justly arrested a widernotice, and probably always will, than any other occurrence in the earlycolonial history of this country. It presents phenomena in the realm ofour spiritual nature, belonging to that higher department of physiology,known as Psychology, of the greatest moment; and illustrates theoperations of the imagination upon the passions and faculties inimmediate connection with it, and the perils to which the soul andsociety are thereby exposed, in a manner more striking, startling andinstructive than is elsewhere to be found. For all reasons, truth andjustice require of those who venture to explore and portray it, theutmost efforts to elucidate its passages and delineate correctly itsactors.
With these views I hail with satisfaction the criticisms that may beoffered upon my book, without regard to their personal character orbearing, as continuing and heightening the interest felt in the subject;and avail myself of the opportunity, tendered to me without solicitationand in a most liberal spirit, by the proprietor of this Magazine, tomeet the obligations which historical truth and justice impose.
The principle charge, and it is repeated in innumerable forms throughthe sixty odd pages of the article in the North American , is that Ihave misrepresented the part borne by Cotton Mather in the proceedingconnected with the Witchcraft Delusion and prosecutions, in 1692.Various other complaints are made of inaccuracy and unfairness,particularly in reference to the position of Increase Mather and thecourse of the Boston Ministers of that period, generally. Although thediscussion, to which I now ask attention, may appear, at first view, torelate to questions merely personal, it will be found, I think, to leadto an exploration of the literature and prevalent sentiments, relatingto religious and philosophical subjects, of that period; and, also, ofan instructive passage in the public history of the Province ofMassachusetts Bay.
I now propose to present the subject more fully than was required, orwould have been appropriate, in my work on Witchcraft.
Chapter I
*
The Connection of the Mathers with the Superstitions of Their Time
In the first place, I venture to say that it can admit of no doubt, thatIncrease Mather and his son, Cotton Mather, did more than any otherpersons to aggravate the tendency of that age to the result reached inthe Witchcraft Delusion of 1692. The latter, in the beginning of theSixth Book of the Magnalia Christi Americana , refers to an attemptmade, about the year 1658, "among some divines of no little figurethroughout England and Ireland, for the faithful registering ofremarkable providences. But, alas," he says, "it came to nothing thatwas remarkable. The like holy design," he continues, "was, by theReverend Increase Mather, proposed among the divines of New England, inthe year 1681, at a general meeting of them; who thereupon desired himto begin and publish an Essay; which he did in a little while; butthere-withal declared that he did it only as a specimen of a largervolume, in hopes that this work being set on foot, posterity would go onwith it." Cotton Mather did go on with it, immediately upon his entranceto the ministry; and by their preaching, publications, correspondence athome and abroad, and the influence of their learning, talents, industry,and zeal in the work, these two men promoted the prevalence of a passionfor the marvelous and monstrous, and what was deemed preternatural,infernal, and diabolical, throughout the whole mass of the people, inEngland as well as America. The public mind became infatuated and,drugged with credulity and superstition, was prepared to receive everyimpulse of blind fanaticism. The stories, thus collected and puteverywhere in circulation, were of a nature to terrify the imagination,fill the mind with horrible apprehensions, degrade the generalintelligence and taste, and dethrone the reason. They darken anddishonor the literature of that period. A rehash of them can be found inthe Sixth Book of the Magnalia . The effects of such publications werenaturally developed in widespread delusions and universal credulity.They penetrated the whole body of society, and reached all theinhabitants and families of the land, in the towns and remotestsettlements. In this way, the Mathers, particularly the younger, madethemselves responsible for the diseased and bewildered state of thepublic mind, in reference in supernatural and diabolical agencies, whichcame to a head in the Witchcraft Delusion. I do not say that they wereculpable. Undoubtedly they thought they were doing God service. But theinfluence they exercised, in this direction, remains none the less anhistorical fact.
Increase Mather applied himself, without delay, to the prosecution ofthe design he had proposed, by writing to persons in all parts of thecountry, particularly clergymen, to procure, for publication, as manymarvelous stories as cou