(from wikipedia)
“The Flushing Remonstrance was a 1657 petition to Director-General of New
Netherland Peter Stuyvesant, in which several citizens requested an exemption
to his ban on Quaker worship. It is considered a precursor to the United States
Constitution's provision on freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.
"According
to Kenneth T. Jackson, the Flushing Remonstrance was remarkable for four
reasons: (1)it articulated a fundamental right that is as basic to American
freedom as any other, (2)the authors backed up their words with actions by sending
it to an official not known for tolerance, (3)they stood up for others and were
articulating a principle that was of little discernible benefit to themselves,
and (4)the language of the remonstrance is as beautiful as the sentiments they
express."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flushing to Governor Stuyvesant,
December 27, 1657
Right Honorable
You have been
pleased to send unto us a certain prohibition or command that we should not
receive or entertain any of those people called Quakers because they are
supposed to be, by some, seducers of the people. For our part we cannot condemn
them in this case, neither can we stretch out our hands against them, for out
of Christ God is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.
Wee desire therefore
in this case not to judge least we be judged, neither to condemn least we be
condemned, but rather let every man stand or fall to his own Master. Wee are
bounde by the law to do good unto all men, especially to those of the household
of faith. And though for the present we seem to be unsensible for the law and
the Law giver, yet when death and the Law assault us, if wee have our advocate
to seeke, who shall plead for us in this case of conscience betwixt God and our
own souls; the powers of this world can neither attach us, neither excuse us,
for if God justifye who can condemn and if God condemn there is none can
justifye.
And for those
jealousies and suspicions which some have of them, that they are destructive
unto Magistracy and Ministerye, that cannot bee, for the Magistrate hath his
sword in his hand and the Minister hath the sword in his hand, as witnesse
those two great examples, which all Magistrates and Ministers are to follow,
Moses and Christ, whom God raised up maintained and defended against all
enemies both of flesh and spirit; and therefore that of God will stand, and
that which is of man will come to nothing. And as the Lord hath taught Moses or
the civil power to give an outward liberty in the state, by the law written in
his heart designed for the good of all, and can truly judge who is good, who is
evil, who is true and who is false, and can pass definitive sentence of life or
death against that man which arises up against the fundamental law of the
States General; soe he hath made his ministers a savor of life unto life and a
savor of death unto death.
The law of love,
peace and liberty in the states extending to Jews, Turks and Egyptians, as they
are considered sons of Adam, which is the glory of the outward state of
Holland, soe love, peace and liberty, extending to all in Christ Jesus,
condemns hatred, war and bondage. And because our Saviour sayeth it is
impossible but that offences will come, but woe unto him by whom they cometh,
our desire is not to offend one of his little ones, in whatsoever form, name or
title hee appears in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker, but
shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them, desiring to doe unto all
men as we desire all men should doe unto us, which is the true law both of
Church and State; for our Saviour sayeth this is the law and the prophets.
Therefore if any of
these said persons come in love unto us, we cannot in conscience lay violent
hands upon them, but give them free egresse and regresse unto our Town, and
houses, as God shall persuade our consciences, for we are bounde by the law of
God and man to doe good unto all men and evil to noe man. And this is according
to the patent and charter of our Towne, given unto us in the name of the States
General, which we are not willing to infringe, and violate, but shall houlde to
our patent and shall remaine, your humble subjects, the inhabitants of
Vlishing.
[NOTE: signers below include my 10th & 9th great grandfathers JOHN TOWNSEND* and his brother HENRY.* (see blog post "By Twig & Turf" 4/9/13) This is particularly interesting because I am related to them through the SMITH line, whereas I am related through the GLOVER line to John Bowne, a fellow townsman who would later suffer imprisonment and temporary banishment to Holland for his defiance of Dutch religious law. Some signers, including Tobias Feake, were jailed for not recanting their part in this document.]
Additional Signers
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Tobias Feake (Hannah Feake Bowne's cousin)
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Nathaniell Tue
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The marke of
William Noble
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Nicholas Blackford
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William Thorne,
Seignior
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The marke of Micah
Tue
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The marke of
William Thorne, Jr.
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The marke of
Philip Ud
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Edward Tarne
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Robert Field,
senior
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John Store
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Robert Field,
junior
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Nathaniel Hefferd
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Nich Colas Parsell
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Benjamin Hubbard
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Michael Milner
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The marke of
William Pidgion
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Henry Townsend*
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The marke of
George Clere
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George Wright |
Elias Doughtie
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John Foard Edward Farrington
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Antonie Feild
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Henry Semtell
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Richard Stocton
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Edward Hart
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Edward Griffine
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John Mastine
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John Townesend*
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