Anne Hutchinson The Threat Of Arminianism

The Threat of Anne Hutchinson

In November 1637, Anne Hutchinson was tried by the Massachusetts Bay General Court and was later put under house arrest to be scrutinized by the church.
It seems most probable that Anne Hutchinson was tried for Arminianism and holding meetings that supported Arminianism in her home. Arminianism was the belief that people could achieve salvation by doing good with their life. Puritans believed strongly in Calvinist ideas, which meant that only God and his grace saved the people. They believed that salvation was for the predetermined not for everyone like the Arminians believed. Puritan leaders had allowed arguments about bible passages or how Christians should live but to disrupt their idea of a “perfect city”

was not condoned. The Puritans also believed that they needed to follow God's laws or they would be punished, consequently anyone who was not not following their ways was either fined, imprisoned, banished or even executed. Family life in the Puritan society was very important. They considered husbands to be the head of the family and to lead the women and children. The women were not allowed to vote or speak at public gatherings that men would attend. In this society church rules were also government rules. For instance, Adultery was against both the church and the state.
“You have maintained a meeting and an assembly in your house that hath been condemned by the general assembly as a thing not tolerable nor comedy in the sight of God nor fitting for your sex”(43) When Anne had the meetings that talked about Arminianism beliefs, it was against the church to speak of anything the church didn't like. Since Anne was a women, it was not acceptable to speak up or say anything she wasn't supposed to.
“Besides the occasion that it is to seduce many honest persons that are called to those meetings...souls that resort unto you.”(46) As a result of Anne being the leader she was the one of few punished. The court believed that it wasn't any of the followers fault because Anne had mislead them into their wrongful conduct.
“We do not mean to discourse with those of your sex...so you do dishonour us.”(44) Since Anne is a women and she had spoken up when she wasn’t supposed to it was considered disrespectful. The court did not like that she done this because they thought she had put a bad name to their to town. The city was supposed to be the “city on a hill”, so they did not want Anne to mess it up for them.
“There were divers things laid to her charge...and the weakening of the hands and hearts of the people towards them”(49) When Anne talks about her beliefs, she is making it seem as though the Puritan ministers are wrong. The court also believes that Anne is feeding lies to the innocent and trying to get them to not listen to the church.
“But within half a year after… but Mr. Cotton had cleared himself that he was not of that mind.”(46) Anne had had been influenced by Mr. Cotton and Mr. Vane but when Mr. Cotton was asked about it he said he had nothing to do with the way she thought of things. Considering Mr. Cotton was a man, he was looked at in a more respectful way than Anne. Therefore, they believed Mr. Cotton over Anne.