MY AMERICA STORY BOOK
Assertion of Liberty of Conscience by the Independents of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, John Rogers Herbert
apparently; but he had led the people to think for themselves, and to make a stand against what in these days one might call the “church trust,� which almost held Massachusetts in thrall. He was defeated, but that very defeat left the people thoughtful, and out of his stand for what he considered right and justice came in due time that final separation of church and state which is the very keynote of American liberty, of freedom of thought and speech and action. Let us be thankful for young Sir Harry Vane. Harry Vane returned to England to plead the cause of the Puritans who were still persecuted there, and not alone their cause, but that of all who were wronged for religious opinions, whether it were Catholic, Puritan, Presbyterian, or Quaker. He was a man of great gifts and eloquence, and had such weight with the people that his enemies at last resolved to take his life. As you study history you will find, children, that those who are in error, when they find themselves out-argued and about to lose their cause, always resort to brute force. If they cannot kill the truth, they will try to kill the man who utters it. King Charles was persuaded that he ought to bring him to the block. But Sir Harry Vane went to the scaffold as calmly as he would have gone to his bed. The people followed him in throngs, weeping and blessing him who had been the friend of his race; not of his party, nor his sect, nor his class only, but of all mankind. He would have spoken to the poor weeping people, but his enemies would not let him, for they were afraid of the great and precious truths that fell from his lips, so they drowned his voice with the sound of their trumpets. 50