The underlying goal of Cotton Mather's "The Return of the Several Ministers" was to encourage the Salem court to continue prosecuting individuals accused of witchcraft. Mather, a prominent Puritan minister, believed in the reality of witchcraft and saw the trials as a way to protect the community from spiritual threats.
The only clergyman who effectively opposed the witchcraft trials in Salem Village was Reverend Increase Mather. He urged for caution and demanded more concrete evidence before accusing someone of witchcraft. Despite facing criticism and accusations himself, Mather's efforts played a significant role in ultimately ending the trials.
Cotton Mather's book, "The Wonders of the Invisible World," fueled the Salem witch trials by promoting the idea of witchcraft. Dr. Grigg's opinion, as a prominent figure in Salem, validated the accusations of witchcraft, leading to more widespread fear and hysteria in the community, exacerbating the situation.
During the Salem witchcraft hysteria, Increase Mather and other leading ministers played a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing the judicial proceedings. Mather, along with his peers, initially supported the witch trials but later expressed concerns about the reliance on spectral evidence and the fairness of the trials. He advocated for greater caution and urged for a more rational approach to accusations of witchcraft, emphasizing the importance of due process. Their intervention eventually contributed to the decline of the witch trials and the recognition of the need for legal reform.
Joseph Mather has written: 'The songs of Joseph Mather'
How did Cotton Mather die?
William Williams Mather died in 1859.
William Williams Mather was born in 1804.
Anne Mather was born on 1946-10-10.
Brian Mather is 5' 11".
Dibbs Mather was born in 1932.
Dibbs Mather died in 2010.