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Show 11 minister in the Anglican church and served well in that 'Opacity until he could no longer reconcile Anglican doctrines and practices with his views on religious tolerance. At the time of Laud's appointment as Bishop of London, John Lathrop had been serving for some six years as minister of the First Independent Church, a Separatist group which held its illegal church meetings in secret. The Separatists, so called because of their belief in the separation of church and state, were considered to be one of the Puritan sects most vehemently and uncompromisingly opposed to Laud. They utilized the underground press in a tactical offensive, distributing tracts and books to counter attack Laud and to promote the cause of religious freedom. Because John Lathrop was a Separatist, it is probable that he was involved to some extent in utilization of the press. In an effort to portray the oppression of both religion and press, the author has taken the liberty of portraying Lathrop as a Puritan who did seek the press so express his grievances and to build a case for freedom of religion. Whether or not he did resort to the press, history does not reveal. What is known is that it was in London that the underground press flourished putting out anonymous |