This is the striking title of a historic work by Brooks Adams, a younger son of the famous Adams family. It is published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co.; and it is furnished with an Index, the omissions in which are somewhat puzzling. For example, Magnalia is omitted, though often referred to in the volume; and so are the Short Story, by Welde, New England Judged, the Hutchinson Papers, Palfrey's History, and many others; whereas such works as Chalmers's Political Annals, Brief Apologie, Biographical Dictionary, Connecticut Church Documents, are included in the Index.
The book is very interesting, though conceived and written in a spirit of strong hostility towards church and clergy. It treats of Colonial difficulties with the Antinomians, Quakers, Baptists, and shows how hard the ministers tried to retain their hold on Harvard College and the government. Mr. Adams retells the story of Salem Witchcraft, showing how the pastors urged persecution, especially the Mathers, because it increased their professional power. The accounts of the establishment of the more liberal Brattle Square Church, of the advanced position of the Lawyers before the Revolution, of the formation of the Cambridge Doctrinal Platform, of the final interference of the Crown,—which was a deathblow to New England intolerance,—all these are extremely good and pungent.
The author has tried to make accurate quotations, to back up his postulates, and they mainly serve his purpose admirably.
