ts Bay, Vol. I., p.
431. "The test (that 'no man could have a share in the administration of
civil government, or give his voice in any election, unless he was a
member of one of the Churches') went a great way towards producing
general uniformity. He that did not conform was deprived of more civil
privileges than a nonconformist is deprived of by the Test Act in
England. Both the one and the other must have occasioned much formality
and hypocrisy. The mysteries of our holy religion have been prostituted
to mere secular views and advantages."--_Ib._, p. 432.]

[Footnote 175: (Palfrey, Vol. III., p. 353, in a note.) Mr. Hildreth
states the case as follows: "Encouraged by the King's demand for
toleration, construed as superseding the 'by-laws' of the colony, the
Baptists ventured to hold a service in their new meeting-house. For this
they were summoned before the magistrates, and when they refused to
desist the doors were nailed up and the following order posted upon
them: 'All persons are to take notice that, by order of the Court, the
doors of this house are shut up, and that they are inhibited to hold any
meeting therein, or to open the doors thereof without licence from
authority, till the General Court take further order, as they will
answer the contrary at their peril.' When the General Court met the
Baptists pleaded that their house was built before any law was made to
prevent it. This plea was so far allowed that their past offences were
forgiven; but they were not allowed to open the house." (History of the
United States, Vol. I., Chap, xiv., p. 501.)]

[Footnote 176: (Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts Bay, Vol. I., p.
320.) After quoting this law, the historian remarks: "I know of nothing
which can be urged in anywise tending to increase the severity of this
law, unless it be human infirmity, and the many instances in history of
persons of every religion being fully persuaded that the indulgence of
any other was a toleration of impiety and brought down the judgments of
Heaven, and therefore justified persecution. This law lost the colony
many friends."--_Ib._

The law punishing attendance at Quaker meetings was accompanied by
another containing the following clauses:

"Pride, in men wearing long hair like women's hair; others wearing
borders of hair, and cutting, curling, and immodest laying out their
hair, principally in the younger sort. Grand Jurors to present and the
Court to punish all offenders by