Their leader was the Rev. Silas Hawley.
He was a vigorous thinker, a close reasoner, and he displayed great
knowledge of the Bible. His following became considerable. The
excitement extended to the neighboring towns and for a time serious
inroads were made upon the churches of the village.
The no-creed doctrine was accepted by some who never believed in any
creed, and by others who had believed in creeds that they then thought
were false. In the year 1838, Hawley convened a "World's Convention"
at Liberty Hall, called by the wicked "Polliwog Chapel," to consider
the subject of uniting all the churches in one church without a creed.
One afternoon early in the week of the session, I saw three men walking
on the street towards Liberty Hall, with knapsacks buckled on their
backs. One of these was Theodore Parker, one George Ripley, and the
third, I think, was Charles A. Dana. In this I may be in error.
Parker told me in after years when he had a wide-spread reputation,
that his first public speech was made in that convention.]
X
MASSACHUSETTS MEN IN THE FORTIES
In 1841 I was again a candidate for the House, and I was elected by the
meager majority of one vote. As a member for the year 1842 I made the
acquaintance of many persons, some of whom became distinguished in
state and national politics.
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