Puritan clergyman, scholar, and author who countenanced the Salem witch trials (1663–1728). Unsigned autograph letter, one page, 4.25 x 9, circa 1700. Handwritten letter concerning a request to join his church. In part: “Since I saw you, I have concerned myself to make inquiry upon ye acceptable matter which you proposed unto me. And I find, it is ye opinion of some eminent persons, that tho’ they are full of a just esteem for both of you, yet ye churches in London, (which everybody believes) does not amount unto that legal validity which our churches have always required in ye admission of strangers to occasional communion with us…They adjudge that you with all the expedition you can, obtain ye necessary testimonials from home.” Beautifully triple-suede-matted and framed with an engraved portrait and transcript to an overall size of 18.5 x 25.25. In very good condition, with a moderate triangle of paper loss (some small others) to the torn right edge, none of which affect the text.
Joining the church in the early years of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, though encouraged, was not always easy; it required extremely high levels of personal commitment and, in most of the original Puritan churches, personal testimony of a religious conversion experience. Serving as a minister at the Second Church in Boston, Cotton Mather was an established Elder, designated to attend to the boundaries of the church, handling admittance of new members, allowance of visitors to join in communion, excommunication of offenders, and various other leadership duties. In this extraordinarily rare letter, we see the prominent minister deny admittance despite a “just esteem for both of you,” encouraging the applicant to “obtain ye necessary testimonials from home.” An intriguing and highly desirable letter, likely written within a decade of the notorious Salem witch trials in which Mather was a key instigator. Oversized. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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