Brainstorming Essay
written for the Roger Williams Memorial Anniversary
Re-Dedication Celebration of the building of the Roger Williams statue at Prospect Terrace. June 18, 2019
“Roger Williams” is a name that most Rhode Islanders. We know that he was a minister, the Founder of the Baptist Church in America, and that he had something to do with the separation of the church and state. We also know that people have named a park, a hospital, a university, and lots of streets, businesses, and agencies. For the most part, though, no one knows what an incredibly brilliant person he was, and to what extent we Americans owe to him for his life and work.
Given that reality, how should we celebrate the rededication of his and his wife’s burial location? No one even knows that is where he and Mary Williams are buried. The place is better known as Prospect Park—nothing to do with Roger Williams. So, I would suggest that we have to approach this celebration not as an event with a beginning and an end, but rather as the beginning of a long term educational program to bring Roger Williams to life in Rhode as the hero, visionary, and creator that he is.
I would prefer to call the event a Kick-Off of the Roger Williams Ten Year Project…well, that might be a little long. The project would be to take subjects and/or events that occurred in RW’s life, the history Rhode Island, and the creation of the American Constitution and spread them out over as many years as it takes for the information to reach all of the state. Roger’s life was a mysterious journey from being a child prodigy in linguistics to being an amanuensis for Judge Coke to a brilliant scholar to a stint as a domestic chaplain to being the “most-hated person” in the Bay Colony to the inventor of Rhode Island to the creator of constitutionalism. Sweeping? Yes. Wellworth learning? Yes. Making all of Rhode Island take pride in his creation, and to learn to take to heart the meaning of “Lively Experiment.” Then, as time passes, we can tackle the fantastic connections between Roger Williams, John Locke, Oliver Cromwell, and John Milton, too!
To know about Roger Williams should be and will be the same as knowing about Washington, Jefferson, and Adams. If they ever put a fifth face on Mount Rushmore should be Roger Williams. That may sound odd or even silly, but that is only because the truth about RW has been hidden, edited, and obscured. We can change that now.
You see, there is much made about the results of RW’s work without much concentration on how it occurred. For instance, most of the emphasis in his biographies cover the time that that he arrived in the Bay Colony up his visit to England in 1552. As I have said before, the time as a stenographer played much more importance in his life than is given credit. Then, the years after 1552 are pretty much ignored. This is too bad, for it was the years that RW served as President that he had to use all of his strength to help the people of RI survive serious threat to thier existence. After 1657, there is little to nothing mentioned about RW’s life. He disappears. The life, though, of Washington and other founders, because their whole life played roles in how we appreciate their lives. Further, there is a need to explain and understand RW’s actions after King Phillip’s War—where RW participated in the sale of Indians int slavery. Dying the 1680s, he was poor and served as a toll collector at a local bridge. (I learned that from the RI Experience owners.)
Suggestions for Celebration Event:
1. Parade. We could have a parade down Benefit St. or South/North Main Street up to Prospect St We could have a carriage with two “ancient coffins” in it. (Sorry if that sounds crazy). After the Rededication ceremony, the parade could be a short walk from the Prospect Park to the RW National Memorial where we could hold a large community event with entertainment, games, crafts, and historical activities—maybe actors in costumes. This is, of course, if they would like to do be part of this.
2. We might read from the two Agreements of 1637 in full or an edited parts, for the agreements give explicit statement about the freedoms that Rhode Islanders would have. Hearing portions of these documents spoken will leave an indelible memory for those who hear it. Here is the sort one: “….We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for the public good of the body in an orderly way, by the major consent of present inhabitants, masters of families, incorporated together in a Towne fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things.
[Signed by Richard Scott and twelve others.….”
3, It would be great to have representatives of indigenous communities participate. If we could get a canoe, then we could show how RW got around Narragansett Bay. Too, the colony used wampum throughout the 17th Century and there is a Wampum creator who could discuss or demonstrate how wampum was used. Histories of the era ignore this important aspect of the relation between he colonists and thier commerce. It should be noted, too , that Dr. John Barry wrote that RW was one of only two colonists who learned Narragansett (Now called Algonquin). That seems odd, but if true, then we see here a terrible selection on the part of the colonists. They chose not to know their neighbors.
4. Handouts:
a. Summary of high points of RW’s life for adults.
b. Reading/Coloring book for children. I wrote and had artists illustrate many of these from my educational puppet shows. (BUGS Better Understanding through Guidance in Schools).
The back covers had letters to parents in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hmong.
c. Map of “Roger’s Places” spring, slate rock, East Providence viewing spot, home location (In front of memorial, trading posts in Providence and North Kingstown, and more.
It may be too late to do any large printing, but maybe we could afford in the future.
5. In addition to Indian representation, Ray Rickman’s non-profit, Stages of Freedom, opened a bookstore/museum in 2017, and there are lots of interesting materials their. Web Site: www.stagesoffreedom.org The organization has made substantial advancements in educating us about slavery in New England.
6. Roger Williams Day: Two years ago, I concluded that we needed a Roger Williams Day for us here in Rhode Island, and possibly nation wide. A national Jewish fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, celebrates Roger Williams Day on March 22 every year. I have not been able to determine why that day was picked, but the link for the Day is: https://zbt.org/undergraduates/zbts-heritage/roger-williams/, I thought about making this June date for the day, and that would meant that we would have yearly celebration. I think that this would not work, for the Gaspee Days celebration takes much of June. I have thought that we could determine the best guess date for Roger’s crossing into what would become Rhode Island. RW wrote that he was ill and in the care of friends and Indians for fourteen weeks. If he became incapacitated wrote on January 10th, 1636, then this would make his “Day” April 26th, 1636. Perhaps, all we could form a group or committee to explore this Day!
7. Over the years, the RI Foundation, Committee for the Humanities and other agencies have funded what might be called “all-school” projects. One year, a “History” boxes were created to be placed in every elementary school classroom in Rhode Island. The provided activities were designed to be grade appropriate. Another year, the Gaspee Affair was the subject of a box. It was created for the older students. It had a copy of John Brown’s business card, a playing card, a short book about he Affair, a “copy” of the parchment with the demands of King George to find the Raiders, and other items. Since our goal would be to promote the appreciation for the life and work of Roger Williams, I would for a program for all grades with a growing staggered curriculum from young students to 5th grade.
8. The Committee on the Humanities have funded presentations for schools by actors with actors playing Duddingston, John Brown, Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, and others. Usually, these programs are selected for a specific grades, and can be done yearly. I have heard that videos might be created for this project, but I do not believe videos are a good way to communicate to children. They might work for teachers, librarians, and other professionals who would be part of the team providing information for our children. We could include Dr. Barry’s Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O6c48wHCzs&t=582s.
9. I am building The Roger Williams Educational Foundation. I send out emails and Constant Contact information about The Roger Williams Educational Foundation. We have a fundraising campaign on Gofundme. We have raised $3,650 https://www.gofundme.com/roger-williams-study-group. I have also created a MeetUp group to meet monthly: https://www.meetup.com/Roger-Williams-Philosophy-Politics-and-Religion-Meetup/
Conclusions
People in Rhode Island and in America generally do not know about or appreciate the life and works of Roger Williams. Williams was a unique and brilliant theologian, constitution creator, and political theorist who established many of the very foundations of our life today. He was also an enthusiastic and successful trading post owner, one of only two colonists who learned the Narragansett language, and a great writer. His ideas inspired John Locke which led to the declarations of separation of church and state by America’s Founders. This Gofundme project is to provide the funds to create a non-profit corporation which will develop programs and writings about Roger Williams, and help Rhode Islanders understand his work and the profound impact that he had on our lives in Rhode Island and America. We will hold monthly meetings to discuss Williams’ work, create a cable television show, create events such as a Roger Williams Day, support publishing efforts, and establish a central digital and physical center for Williams’ studies. The funds raised here will go to the fees for registering and establishing a 501(C)3 corporation, purchase office equipment, and serve as a base for our first promotional efforts. We will recruit members, do fundraising, and create programs to visit schools , libraries, and other educational institutions. Our goal is to change and improve the appreciation of Roger Williams.