MATHEB. 185 IIATHEB. Meanwhile he was overworkeil aiul in an iin- balanceil condition of mind, partly in consequence of attacks made upon liini for his activity in the witchcraft crisis, lie was also much worried by his father's troubles as president of Har- vard, and later wa.s disappointed in not him- self receivini; the position. He had family troubles, and was furthermore doomed to see more liberal forms of religious thought prevailing around him. Nevertheless he continued to be a prominent and useful citizen, waging war on intemperance and other forms of immorality. In 1703 he married again. In 1707 a final breach with (Jovernor Dudley greatly lessened his public influence. A few years later he was made a D.D. by the University of Glasgow, but tributes to his merits as divine, scholar, and au- thor could not compensate for domestic unhap- piness caused by various deaths and by the dissolute conduct of one of his sons. His second wife dying in 171.3, he took another two years laier and suffered greatly in consequence of her derangement. In 1721 by his bold stand in favor of inoculation for smallpox he aroused almost a panic of oi>position to himself. Then came his father's death, a final disappointment with re- gard to the presidencv of Harvard, and his own death, February 13, 1728. Cotton Mather was a man of extraordinary learning, combined with pedantry, a stanch up- hidder of antiquity, especially in matters of theology and Clnireh polity, a marvelously vo- luminous writei-, an active politician, and, wlien not misled by excitement, a public-spirited citi- zen. His connection with the persecution of the witches has given him a sinister reputation, which no efforts of biographers have been able to efface: but it is at least certain that he is bet- ter remembered than any other of the early colonial ilivines. Few persons can now find time to read his numerous books, but no student of the period during which he lived should speak of him without gratitude. His Mayimlia is full of errors, yet gives the very 'form and pres- ence' of its age, and represents labors truly heroic. The most important of his works are: Poem to the Memory of Urian Oakes {1G82); Wonders of the Invisible World (1693; re- printed in "Library of Old Authors," 18G2) ; Magnolia Cliristi Americana (1702; reprinted in two volumes, 1820 and 1853); Bonifacius. etc., or, as it is better known. Essays to Do Good (1710; Glasgow, 1838) : and Parentator (Bos- ton, 1724), a curious and interesting life of his father. Increase. For his life and writings con- sult the biography by his son. Samuel ^Mather (Boston, 172(1) : Pond'. The Mather Family (Bos- ton, 1844) : Wendell. Cotton Mather (New York, ISni); Jlarvin, Life and Times of Cotton Mather (Boston, 1802); also Sibley, Harvard (iraduates, vol. iii. (Cambridge, 188.5) ; Tyler, History of American Literature, vol. ii. (New York, I8S1); Wendell, Literary History of America (New York. inOO). — Cotton father's son, Samuel (17008.5). graduated at Harvard in 1723. seiTcd as minister of the North Church, Boston, until 1742, and then, in consequence of differences concerning revivals, a separate church was formed for him in North Bennett Street. He published among other works a Life of Cot- ion Mather (1729); An Apolofiy for the Lib- ertie of the Churches in New England (1738); and America Known to the Ancients (1773). MATHEB, Incbe..se (1039-1723). A colo- nial divine, youngest son of Richard Mather (q.y. ). He was born at Dorchester, Mass., June 21, 1C39. A precocious boy, he entered Harvard at twelve and graduated at seventeen. On his nineteenth birthday he preached an able sermon from his father's pulpit. Shortly afterwards, at the request of his brothers, Samuel and Na- thaniel, he went to Dublin, where, at Trinity College, he took his M.A. Then he preached in Devonshire and fiuernse_y with success, but re- turned to Massachusetts in lOGl. For some time he divided his services between his father's church at Dorchester and the new North Church at Boston, but in 1664 lie threw in his lot with the latter. In 1081, on the death of Urian Oakes (q.v.), ilather was appointed his successor as president of Harvard, and began his duties, but his church would not let him go. In 1085, after the death, of 'President John Rogers, he was enabled to ac- cept the post on the condition that he should still reside in Boston, He held it until 1701, the college growing under his care, but suffering, from various intrigues. As a result of these intrigues Mather wa.s finally forced to reside at Cambridge, and .soon after gave up the post,, which had been rendered most uncomfortable to him. Meanwhile he had made himself useful tO' the colony by resisting the attempts of Charles. II. to seize the charter of Massachusetts, had patriotically opposed the tyranny of James II., and in 1088 had gone to England as agent for his fellow citizens. He could not secure from William 111. the restoration of the old charter, but he obtained a new and fairly satisfactory one, and gained the favor both of the King and of the people of the colony. Fortunately for him, he was absent in England during the worst of the witchcraft delusion, and thus is not amenable to some of the censure that has been passed upon him as a fomenter of the popular excitement. It is plain, however, that after this excitement wore off, the hold of Mather and his son Cotton upon the clerg' and people of the colony was greatly Aveakened. He main- tained his personal vigor to a considerable extent, until his death, August 23. 1723. Chief among his works are A Brief History of the War with the Indians in Xeiv England (1676: edited by Drake. 1862); A Relation of Troubles of New England from the Indians (1677; edited by Drake, 1804); Cometograph- ia, or a Discourse Concerning Comets (1683); and best known and most interesting probably. An- Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Provi- dences (1684; reprinted in the "Libraiy of Old Authors," 1856). The last-named bcxik is usu- ally known as Remarkable Providences, and is a mine for those interested in seventeenth century superstitions. His Cases of Conscience Concern- ing Witchcraft (IGO.'i; reprinted with Cotton Mather's Wonders of the Invisible World in the "Library of Old Authors," 1862), is interesting and important. For Increase ilather's life, eon- suit: Cotton blather's biography of him en- titled Parentator (Boston, 1724); Pond, The- Mather Family (Boston, 1844) ; Wendell, Cot- ton Mather (New York, 1891); and Marvin, Life and Times of Cotton Mather (Boston, 1892). Consult, also: 'Tyler, History of American Lit- erature., vol. ii. (New York.' 1881); and Wil- liston Walker, Ten New England Leaders (New
