recover his pulpit. Dr. Williams, the founder of the Library,
was likewise a minister here. In 1720 a site for a new meet- -
ing-house was obtained in Broad-street, when the old one
was taken down, and some houses erected upon the spot.
104 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
of them with much more affection and zeal than
they have since discovered in a long term of
liberty."
In Tong's opinion, the Papists had been the chief
promoters of the Nonconformist persecutions, for
Protestantism was thus attacked at its least pro-
tected point. On the supposed discovery of the
Plot, in 1678, this spirit, if it really existed, was
rudely checked. The Dissenters were not suspected
of any complicity in this business, but, on the con-
trary, they rose in favour, and some of the harsh
restrictions imposed by their enemies were relaxed.
In the year named, when greater freedom of worship
was established, a kind of merchants' lecture was
instituted at a coffee-house in Change-alley, and the
services attracted a rich congregation, Shower being
one of the preachers. For a while he divided his
time between his City congregation and another at
Westminster. He was not regularly ordained, how-
ever, until Christmas, 1679.
But Nonconformist life in England was daily
becoming rougher. Shower, therefore, consented to
leave trouble behind, and to make the tour of
Europe, with Samuel Barnardiston, a gentleman of
fortune, and son-in-law of Dr. Goodwin. Setting
out in 1683, the travellers passed through Paris to
Lyons, and thence to Geneva. The details of their
adventures are valuable because illustrative of every-
day life in that distant era. The summer was chiefly
spent at Geneva, and the time spared from social
THE OLD JEWRY. 105
pleasures was often devoted to the collection of
valuable books and curiosities. Later in the season '
the travellers proceeded into the papal dominions,
but found it necessary to exercise the strictest
caution, whether in regard to speech, or in avoiding
the malignant infections which the miserable in-
habitants exhaled who roamed about the wild and
imdrained wastes.* During the continuance of the
* The party passed through Naples en route for Koine.
An extract from the description of the tourists' doings in
the former city will serve as a specimen of biography- writ-
ing 150 years ago :
"Mr. Shower and his Friends were much delighted with
the curiosities particular to this place, namely the Grott
JLiicullus, which is a road of considerable length, cut with
immense labour through the bottom of a high hill, at a little
distance from the Town, for a shorter and more easie reci-
procal Passage, and the pleasant Hill Pauselippo, covered
with Trees of various Kinds and famous for the Tomb of Virgil,
who, as Tradition reports, was buried there. Mr. Shower and
his friends were pleased with the extensive and charming
prospect which this Eminence affords. Turning their faces
to the South, they saw with pleasure the Bay of Naples
spread beneath, and ships under sail making to the port, or
coming from it ; beyond the bay rises high in the Air, Mount
Vesuvious, vomiting from its hollow Peak Clouds of Smoake
and cynders ; on the Eight Hand they viewed the Isles of
Ischa and Caprea, on the Left the beautiful City of Naples,
stretching across the Shoar towards this place. They were
informed that the Gentlemen and Ladies during the hottest
seasons, constantly in their pleasure Boats pass hither from
the City in the Evening to breath the refreshing Air, as
those of London spend the evenings in the Eing of Hyde
Park. Mr. Shower was no less pleased to visit the antiqui-
106 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
summer heats, Eome was a pestilential focus, the
atmosphere of which, in a radius of thirty miles,
was not safe to sleep in. During cooler weather the
travellers ventured into the city, and, as distinguished
Englishmen, were well received, and, besides other
attentions, obtained free passes to the theatres. Pru-
dence, however, soon dictated an abrupt exit from
v Eome, for one hardened Briton had refused to kneel
ties of Baiae near this place, particularly the Vapour Baths
of the ancient Romans, and the Fish Ponds of Julius Ccesar;
in another place he was surprised with the sight of Zoepho-
tara, famous for its stores of brimstone whore, as he was
amazed to observe, that when he rode on Level Ground that
was bare of Grass, it shook under his Feet at every Step, and
if pierced with the point of his sword, that it let forth Smoak
and hot Vapours ; so he viewed with Admiration the hot and
yellow mouth of the Volcano, that glow'd in the sides of the
rising ground which emcompasses the Place. He was informed
that frequent Bellowings under Ground, heaving earthquakes,
and terrible eruptions of melted Minerals happened here; and
that not many years before so vast a Heap was raised, carried
through the Air, and let down at about a mile distant, that it
formed a new Hill now called Montagna Nuova. Mr. Shower,
1 accompanied by his fellow travellers, was so curious and hardy
as to visit the top of the famous burning Hill Vesuvious, whose
Head is a towering Heap of Cynders, difficult to ascend.
Approaching near the wide and smoaking Mouth, to gratify
. his curiosity he trod on Lakes of Sulphur, unform'd Oar
and hot Cynders, and heard a terrible noise issuing from the
Bowels of the burning Mountain. From this scene of horror
he was relieved by another of as great pleasure, when look-
ing Eastward he had a different view of Campania Felix, the
Garden of Italy, and beheld a wide and fruitful plain covered
with beautiful cities." Tony's Life of Shou-er.
THE OLD JEWEY. 10T
when the Host was elevated. The party began to
attract an attention unpleasantly dangerous, and
their perplexity was probably enhanced by a dis-
respect for the Pope's slipper which another Briton
had previously shown. On being warned of danger
by a friend, Shower and his party wisely retreated
from the capital. The young scholar thought he
discovered by observation that the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes was planned by the French and
English Courts, in order to ensure papal supremacy,
as a prelude to the establishment of arbitrary power.
The ruling despots imagined they could accomplish
their designs by first annihilating the Huguenots,
and secondly, by repressing English Nonconformity.
If this be true, the plot was a promising one.
But the Dissenters' sufferings were the darkness
preceding a happier dawn, although at James the
Second's accession their ministers risked insult and
peril by openly walking the streets of London.
Meantime, Shower and his party were meeting
with some strange adventures in Switzerland and
Germany. Once, for example, they resolved on
spending a night at sea, in a small sailing-boat. On
the morning following, they were thrown into a
fever of consternation by discovering that their cap-
tain had slept till the frail barque had drifted far
from land, "in the turbulent Adriatique Sea." After
experiencing some unsettling apprehensions of pirates
and of a watery grave, the party safely reached an
hospitable haven. They returned to England shortly
108 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
prior to the Kevolution, and Shower resumed his
lecture in Exchange-alley. He must have found
his procedure attended by much personal risk, and
ere long he again retreated to the Continent, attended
by Howe and several others.*
When the insane policy of the Court which, if
not dictated by Jesuits, was prompted by the King's
popish predilections had turned the scale of public
opinion, and rendered necessary, as James imagined,
the Indulgence of 1687, the Dissenters freely opened
their chapels, and completed many new erections.
At that crisis Shower was comfortably settled at
Kotterdam. His powers were well appreciated ;
and had he chosen, he might have accepted a
still richer cure in the Dutch capital. When, how-
* William long thus describes the state of London society
in 1685 : ' ' For some time before a popish prince ascended the
Throne, and popish councils so far prevailed, that it was not
safe for a Dissenting minister to be seen in the streets of
London; many of them were thrown into common gaols. Their
meetings, which for some years they held by connivance, were
every where suppressed. They chose in some places to meet
in the night, in small numbers, rather than be wholly desti-
tute of the worship of God, in that way of administration
which they thought most comformable to his Word. The
civil liberties of the people of England met with a violent
shock at the same time. Some of the best blood that ever ran
in English veins was then spilt as water upon the ground;
juries were packed, false witnesses suborned, corrupt judges
upon the bench, and mercenary lawyers encouraged at the
Bar, with noisy insolence to hunt down the true friends of
the English Constitution." Life of Shoiuer.
THE OLD JEWRY.
ever, the church in. Silver-street, London, earnestly
desired his return, he thought well to comply. He
only continued about a year in the congenial society
of Howe and his people, for when affliction disabled
Samuel Borfet, Shower was called to the pastorate,
many, with some reason, arguing that no single pulpit
should retain a HOWE and a SHOWER. As for John
Howe, he valued his colleague, and " was loath to
part with him." Indeed, the polite and wealthy
assembly in Silver-street had become accustomed to
their lecturer's peculiarity his love for the mys-
terious and the sublime.* They showed some in-
dignation at this turn of affairs, but notwithstanding,
Shower deemed it a duty to station himself at Crip-
plegate. The sequel proved the wisdom of his deci-
sion, as the prosperity of the church immediately
revived^ and a removal to a more commodious build-
ing in Jewin-street soon became necessary. When
at length this latter place grew too narrow for the-
congregation, the meeting-house in the Old Jewry
was erected ; there Shower continued to sustain his
usefulness and popularity till overtaken by decay of
natural vigour.
The funds requisite for providing the church in
the Old Jewry were readily raised by the opulent
merchants and well-to-do shopkeepers who, as ad-
mirers of Shower, made up his congregation, and
* "They (Shower's sermons) chiefly relate to earthquakes,
and other awful and great events, as he had a talent for
pathetic writing." Noble's Continuation of Granger.
110 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
whose homes for the most part were within the City
boundary. The pastor laboured for a length of time
without any abatement of power, although he bore
some severe domestic afflictions. Immediately after
removing to Curriers' Hall death took his youthful
wife. In the year of settlement at the Old Jewry
his second wife likewise died. In 1706, during a
visit to Epsom, he was himself suddenly prostrated
by fever. At this crisis the Christian community
were intensely anxious that Shower's life should be
prolonged. Day after day many such wended their
course up the Old Jewry to attend the frequent
prayer-meetings held on the pastor's behalf.
There is one interesting passage in Shower's life
to which Tong does not even allude, although it
merited a passing notice. In 1711 he wrote a pro-
test* against the Occasional Conformity Bill, which
* See a letter by Shower with a reply by Swift in Scott's
edition of the dean's works. According to Sir Walter, Shower's
letter "was written by the dissenters in the extremity of
their despair." This epistle and the "caustic and acrimonious
answer" are subjoined for the satisfaction of the reader.
MY LOED, London, Dec, 20th, 1711.
Though there be little reason to expect your lordship
should interpose in favour of the Dissenters, who have been
so shamefully abandoned, sold and sacrificed, by their pro-
fessed friends ; the attempt is, however, so glorious in all its
views, tendencies and prospects, that if it be not too late, I
would most humbly beg your lordship not to be immovable
as to that matter. The fatal consequences of that bill cannot be
expressed ; I dread to think of some of them, and shall as
much rejoice, with many thousands, if you may be instru-
THE OLD JEWRY. Ill
he transmitted to the Lord Treasurer Oxford. This
letter and the reply it evoked from his Lordship's
secretary, Jonathan Swift, are extant, and serve to \
show with what temper Dissenters were regarded in
high quarters during the Augustan age, and by such
an unprincipled and profligate writer as Lemuel Gul-
mental to prevent it. May Heaven direct you in ibis, and all
your great affairs for the public good of your country, I am,
my honoured lord, your most obedient servant, JOHN
SHOWER." The next day, the following reply to the above
was received. "Dec. 21st 1711. Reverend Sir, Had not a
painful distemper confined me, I had desired the favour of
seeingyou some time since, and should have spoken very plainly
to you, as I shall whenever I see you. I have long foretold
that the Dissenters must be saved whether they will or not ;
they resist even restraining grace ; and would almost con-
vince me that the notion of man's being a mechanism is
true in every part. To see men moved as puppets, with rage
for their interest, with envy acting against their own interest,
having men's persons in admiration ; not only those of their
own body, who certainly are the first who pretend to con-
summate wisdom and deep policy, yet have shown that they
know not the common affairs of this nation, but are dwellers
in thick clay. They are epicurian in art, Puritans in pro-
fession, politicians in concert, and a prey and laughing-stock
to the church and synagogue of the libertines in whom
they have trusted, and to whose infallibility they have sold
themselves and their congregations. All they have done, or
can do, shall never make me their enemy. I pity poor
deluded creatures that have for seventeen years been acting
against all their principles, and the liberty of this nation,
without leaving so much salt as to keep the body of them
sweet ; for there has not been one good bill, during that term
of years, which they have not opposed in the House of Com-
112 AXCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
liver. A quarrel had through many previous years
been in progress between the Tories and their heredi-
tary foes, the Nonconformists. The former were deeply
tainted by Jacobitical sympathies, while our fathers
were strenuous promoters of the Protestant succes-
sion. The Anglican party began to regard meeting-
mons ; contrary to the practices of those very few Dissenters
which were in the Parliament in King Charles the Second's
time, who thereby united themselves to the country
gentlemen, the advantages of which they found many
years after. But now they have tested themselves with
those who have first denied our Saviour, and now have
sold them. I have written this only to show you that I
am ready to do anything that is practicable to save people
who are bargained for by their leaders, and given up by
their ministers. I say their ministers, because it is averred
and represented that the dissenting ministers have been con-
sulted and are consenting to this bill. By what lies and arts
they are brought to this, I do not care to mention ; but as to
myself, the engineers of this bill thought they had gained
a great advantage over me ; finding I had stopped it in the
House of Commons, they thought to bring me to a fatal
dilemma, whether it did or did not pass. This would have
no influence over me, for I will act what I think to be
right, let there be the worst enemies in the world of one side
or other, I guess by your letter that you do not know that
the bill yesterday passed both Houses, the Lords having
agreed to the amends made by the Commons, so that there
is no room to do anything on that head. What remains is
to desire that the Dissenters may seriously think from whence
they are fallen, and do their first works, and recover their
reputation of sobriety, integrity, and love of their country,
which is the sincere and hearty prayer of, Eeverend Sir, your
most faithful and most humble servant, OXFORD.
THE OLD JEWRY. 113
houses with increased antipathy now that the Kevo-
lution had brought the Act of Toleration. A small
thing sufficed to excite their spleen or to occasion
an unwonted stir among their ranks e.g., when a
civic dignitary ordered the City symbol of justice to
be borne before him into Pinners' Hall. The Occa-
sional Conformity Bill originated with this party,
and was their leading hobby through many succeed-
ing sessions. Englishmen influenced by sentiments
of barest justice, or even of common sense, con-
demned this measure as one likely to draw down
only odium upon the Established Church. Messrs.
St. John and Bromley, the two Commoners who
fathered the Bill, were in all respects fitting tools
for their work. Each represented a university.
The first, by writing a book of travels, had so re-
vealed his conceit and ignorance that out of pity
the family stopped its circulation.* The measure
in question was introduced during the session of
1702, and provided for the exemption of "Dis-
senters from such offices as cannot by law be exe-
cuted without receiving the sacrament." By the
Lower House it was immediately passed ; but the
Lords, whose mien throughout more became them as
Englishmen than did that of the Court or the Com-
mons, proposed fourteen amendments. The majority
* Oxford once repaid St. John, a grudge by reprinting an
edition of this volume and circulating it among his morning
callers. He could devise nothing more likely to effect his
purpose.
8
114 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
of the Commons were chagrined at this miscarriage,
but with the best grace they were able to command
they agreed to hold a conference of both Houses. Ac-
cordingly a conference was convened, and the abettors
of the measure adduced some far-fetched arguments
in vindication of their action. If unchecked, Dis-
sent would ultimately gain an ascendency in cor-
porate towns, or even in the Parliament itself.
Occasional conformity was to add hypocrisy to
schism. The Nonconformists, moreover, only
wanted power, and they would destroy the Estab-
lished Church. Such sophistries chiefly emanated
from the " October men " (fox-hunters), of whom
the Commons' majority was largely composed. The
better educated peers proceeded to answer the charges.
The last they entirely denied. They pointed out the
beneficial effects which sprang from the Act of Tole-
ration. They demonstrated that harsh and unsettling
laws would be improper, because dangerous, at so
critical a season, for hardship would be imposed upon
a large section of the population at home, while a
corresponding disgust would be created abroad. Op-
' posed by the Lords, the bishops, and the reasoning
i | of Locke, the Tory scheme for the time was defeated.
In the reign of Anne a high churchman was
usually supposed to sympathise with the Pretender,
and to approve of Nonconformist persecution. In
1703 the Tories again pressed to the front with
their pet measure. Two scribes were found to re-
present the faction in literature one of whom was a
THE OLD JEWRY. 115
worthless Jacobite fanatic, while the other was
an unprincipled adventurer. One of the leading-
supporters belonged to a family which had endea-
voured legally to murder some Worcestershire Dis-
senters. Among the bishops, Burnet eloquently
denounced ' as infamous this attempt to annihilate
the liberties of a loyal class an attempt made by
known enemies of the Constitution. One peer face-
tiously advised the tacking of the Pretender to the
Bill if their Lordships seriously intended passing it.
News, however, soon reached the City that the Tories
were once more defeated, and the intelligence brought
great joy and relief. Nothing daunted, the country
squires renewed the attack in the session of 1704.
Their movements were characterised by cautious
subtlety. Their rendezvous, the Vine Tavern, in
Long Acre, was nightly thronged by rural politicians,
who at heart were with the Pretender, and whose con-
victions were that heresy only abounded without the
Anglican pale. This enlightened conclave threatened
to tack the Bill to another which the Lords would
be unable to reject ; but even in the Commons the
stratagem met with determined resistance, and was
finally abandoned. Out of the hundred and thirty- '
four members who voted for it, fifty lost their seats
at the next election, and tackers became the oppro-
brious epithet by which the clique were known in
Liberal circles. Nevertheless, the Bill passed in its
separate form to the Upper House. Queen Anne
attended the debate, which ended as others of pre-
8*
116 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
ceding sessions had ended. In 1710, however, the
Sacheverel riots acted as a stimulus to bigotry, so
that the country party took fresh courage. A change
of ministers likewise occurred. Robert Harley, a
Presbyterian, " sacrificed religious principles to his
political views " till he betrayed his former friends,
and won the earldom of Oxford. Harley belonged
to a Nonconformist family which had sided with the
Parliament in the Civil Wars, and as a renegade he
earned the contempt of the three denominations,
when the iniquitous measure at length was carried.
Time, as it so often does, brought retribution, for in
the succeeding reign the obnoxious measure was re-
pealed. Oxford impeached, and committed to the
Tower.
Shower accounted it a great happiness that he
lived to witness the triumph of the Protestant Suc-
cession. During his declining years the pastor, in
search of health, removed from one locality to another.
At one time we find him benefiting by the air of
Epping, at another drinking the waters of Tunbridge
Wells. Last of all, he retired to Stoke Newington,
there to make one in a circle of which he and Watts
were distinguished ornaments. In June, 1715,
Shower entered into rest, leaving behind him twenty-
three separate publications, one of which, The
Mourner's Companion, gracefully commemorates the
loss of his wife.
The assistant lecturer from 1691 to 170 8, was
Timothy Eogers, son of the ejected minister of
THE OLD JEWRY. 117
Croglin, Cumberland.* Timothy early manifested
serious predilections, joined to talents of a high
order. He prosecuted his studies in the north
* Timothy Eogers was born at Barnard Castle. His
father, after his ejectment, officiated as a Dissenting minister,
and as such was sorely harassed by a neighbouring High.
Church justice, Sir Eichard Cradock. This magistrate
prided himself on the faithful rigour with, which he enforced
the statutes against Nonconformists, and he truly used
every device to hunt them into prison. He once hired two
spies, commissioned them to attend Eogers' meeting, and
take down the names of the persons composing the congrega-
tion. This business the obsequious agents accomplished to the
letter. The sequel was, that the pastor and a number more were
cited to appear at the Hall. The little band duly attended ;
but, as will easily be imagined, harboured many misgivings.
While waiting to be called before their persecutor, they at-
tracted the notice of the squire's granddaughter, who was a
child of about seven years. Eogers inherited a nature which
children found very attractive ; and in the present instance
a strong friendship immediately sprang up between the little
girl and the venerable-looking gentleman. On account of
the illness of a witness and his consequent absence, the
party were dismissed, yet were commanded to reappear when
required. On the day of their second appearance at the
Hall they were of course all committed. The justice, in his
satisfaction at so auspicious a result, proceeded to make out
the mittimus. Eogers had not forgotten his little acquaintance.
The child came flitting across the hall, and gladly accepted a
present of sweets which the pastor had brought her. The
grandfather, it seems, had over-indulged the little miss, till
she, in her waywardness, insisted upon having all she desired.
She had once pierced her arm and endangered her life on ac-
count of having received a denial. The established custom was,
therefore, to refuse her nothing. "What are you here for,
118 ANCIENT MEETING HOUSES.
of England, but completed his curriculum under
Edward Veale, of Wapping a tutor who then in-
dustriously applied himself to the work of preparing
sir ? " she asked Eogers. "I believe," he answered, "your
grandfather is going to send me and my friends to gaol."