Cambridge Association

The Cambridge Association of ministers was a group of influential Boston area clergymen that regularly met in the Harvard College library between 1690 and 1697.[1] The minutes of their meetings shed important light on the oft-debated question of the extent to which the ministers supported the use of spectral evidence in witchcraft trials. Cotton Mather began the group in 1690 with a letter to Samuel Parris the minister in Salem village. Increase Mather's important essay Cases of Conscience was first presented to this group at a meeting on October 3, 1692.

Membership

Members other than Cotton Mather and his father Increase Mather were: Charles Morton, Samuel Willard (Boston South Church) Benjamin Woodbridge, Benjamin Wadsworth (H.U. 1690 and future President), James Allen (H.U.1689, Boston First Church), John Bailey, Benjamin Colman, William Brattle, Nathaniel Gookin, Ebenezer Pemberton, Michael Wigglesworth, Jonathan Pierpont, Joshua Moodey (H.U. 1653), Samuel Angier, John Fox, Henry Gibbs, Jabez Fox, Nehemiah Walter, James Sherman, and Thomas Bridge.

Arrangements & By-laws

The group met mid-morning on Mondays “...once in six weeks, or oftener if need shall be.” At the end of each meeting the date of the next was chosen. A moderator was also chosen to keep the minutes at the next meeting and he also chose the next question for the group to ponder and discuss.

"Our work at the said meetings shall be 1) to debate any matter relating to ourselves. 2) To hear and consider any cases which shall be proposed to us from any other associations or private persons. 3) To answer any letters directed to us from any other associations or persons. 4) To discourse of any question proposed at the former meeting.

Provenance of the Record Book

The Massachusetts Historical Society acquired the record book in 1850[2] and have traced it back to original member Charles Morton who had also taken part in similar group in England called the Cornwall Association 1655-1659. The records of the Cornwall association immediately precede those of the Cambridge Association. The Rules and Regulations are similar for both associations and are believed to be in Morton's handwriting. Morton likely brought the book over to New England around the time of the Restoration when Nonconformist ministers were suppressed and many emigrated.

References

  1. ↑ Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society vol. 17, 1879. Public Domain.
  2. ↑ Proceedings of the MHS vol 2, 1850. Public Domain.
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