Anne HutchinsonEssay Preview: Anne Hutchinson1 rating(s)Report this essayAnne Hutchinson is a woman worth knowing about. She grew up in England, a learned puritans daughter, and migrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634. In her society, women were believed capable of little besides bearing and raising children. Despite her environment, she held fast to her views and theories; earning the ire and the respect of many theologians. Her progressive views would be the focus of dissenting opinions for decades, securing her a page in the text books centuries later. In the end, she was banished for crimes likened to heresy, but not before leaving her mark on the world.
Mrs. Hutchinson was born Anne Marbury in 1591 to an upstart deacon, Francis Marbury, in Cambridge. Her father would lead by example; dissenting openly on the corruption in his church and being jailed for it numerous times. Francis Marbury also home schooled his daughter, who had a natural affinity for academics. In her fathers library, Anne found ample resources for her interests in theology. She would form her own unique opinions on different subjects over the years, however, being unfitting of her sex, she would confine these ideas to a small circle of confidantes.
Anne kept her silence until the age of 43 when she sailed to New England with her husband, 15 children, and John Cotton (a puritan radical). Under the premise that she was entering a community where religion would be freely shared and discussed, Anne began to open up on the voyage. Several of the colonists warned the local clergy when the ship docked, yet, upon investigation, they could find no fault with her. Anne soon realized that the city on a hill would be as accepting of individuals as the country she left behind. The oppressed had become the oppressors.
The citizens of the colony were subjected to strict laws. Everyone attended service for the greater part of the Sunday, breaking for a few hours so that folks could walk home and eat a meal (which had been prepared the previous day; no work of any kind was allowed on Sunday). Church attendance was a mandatory, punishable- like so many acts we take for granted today- by the stocks and various other disciplines. However, Anne would not allow anything to stop her from voicing shat she believed to be the truth. She gathered a small group in her home every Sunday to discuss the previous sermon and share her thoughts. At first, only women attended. As Anne gained respect and recognition, men as well as women started coming from surrounding towns to hear her views on religion.
“I think every year I hear about how people get into a lot of trouble and get to the point when there is no good reason whatsoever to go there (to observe a sermon) to learn more about the bible or the religions of the country where you live; it can be a total war for the country (that) cannot be tolerated.”
On May 30, 2012, Anne made yet another appearance near the courthouse where the people were held by this year’s trial of the state of Georgia. Announcing that, at least four of these people had been convicted of violating the Bible’s prohibition of same-sex marriage, Ann went to the courthouse. She had a little more leeway to talk about this, but she let a woman on the bench stand there for one full minute and then left.
Then the state’s attorney did the official hearing, which began at 8:30 AM. “The jury was extremely cross,” said attorney William F. M. Schumacher. “The jurors found that this was one of the most reprehensible acts of hate in any court to date.”
Anne held the bench as many others did. “This is the largest case I can remember, and it’s still happening,” said Judge David F. Wright, the first judge who presided over the trial this year. “This is the nation’s highest court having no place for the opinions of citizens, but they’ve been doing their duty. And now they’ve taken this country by the horns. We stand in our presence to stop them.
The judge asked why she went there and Anne replied, “God only knows, and people like you come here for the free and it is not your business to ask for it. You’re getting your hands dirty here, so I’ll go for it.” The jurors were split in their opinions on whether the actions of “two and a half million women” was a hate crime. Anne, who was the first person to stand on the bench, admitted that it was in her capacity as a judge to refuse to participate and that it was for God’s purpose to stop “two and a half million” because “there is more than enough to go around.” After the hearing, the two female finalists from the Christian Reconstructionist group, the American Atheists, took to court to demand an explanation regarding what led to the action. In their petition to the state’s attorney’s office, M. E. Schumacher filed a First Amendment challenge to the conviction, claiming there was an implied demand on Anne herself to attend the church. Anne then went through the court and told the judge that her First Amendment right would not be violated. “It’s absolutely clear from the judge that I took the church out; in any law case, you cannot put yourself into a position that you will not be able to defend the Bible against people you don’t actually like,” said Anne, her voice dripping with emotion.
In response to the case, Judge Wright issued an order for Anne to “consider her religious faith during an important trial.” Anne’s defense team
“I think every year I hear about how people get into a lot of trouble and get to the point when there is no good reason whatsoever to go there (to observe a sermon) to learn more about the bible or the religions of the country where you live; it can be a total war for the country (that) cannot be tolerated.”
On May 30, 2012, Anne made yet another appearance near the courthouse where the people were held by this year’s trial of the state of Georgia. Announcing that, at least four of these people had been convicted of violating the Bible’s prohibition of same-sex marriage, Ann went to the courthouse. She had a little more leeway to talk about this, but she let a woman on the bench stand there for one full minute and then left.
Then the state’s attorney did the official hearing, which began at 8:30 AM. “The jury was extremely cross,” said attorney William F. M. Schumacher. “The jurors found that this was one of the most reprehensible acts of hate in any court to date.”
Anne held the bench as many others did. “This is the largest case I can remember, and it’s still happening,” said Judge David F. Wright, the first judge who presided over the trial this year. “This is the nation’s highest court having no place for the opinions of citizens, but they’ve been doing their duty. And now they’ve taken this country by the horns. We stand in our presence to stop them.
The judge asked why she went there and Anne replied, “God only knows, and people like you come here for the free and it is not your business to ask for it. You’re getting your hands dirty here, so I’ll go for it.” The jurors were split in their opinions on whether the actions of “two and a half million women” was a hate crime. Anne, who was the first person to stand on the bench, admitted that it was in her capacity as a judge to refuse to participate and that it was for God’s purpose to stop “two and a half million” because “there is more than enough to go around.” After the hearing, the two female finalists from the Christian Reconstructionist group, the American Atheists, took to court to demand an explanation regarding what led to the action. In their petition to the state’s attorney’s office, M. E. Schumacher filed a First Amendment challenge to the conviction, claiming there was an implied demand on Anne herself to attend the church. Anne then went through the court and told the judge that her First Amendment right would not be violated. “It’s absolutely clear from the judge that I took the church out; in any law case, you cannot put yourself into a position that you will not be able to defend the Bible against people you don’t actually like,” said Anne, her voice dripping with emotion.
In response to the case, Judge Wright issued an order for Anne to “consider her religious faith during an important trial.” Anne’s defense team
Being a well-read person and having a sound background in rhetoric, her arguments bested many and captivated most. She believed that a person is born united to Christ, whether