Anne Hutchinson's Way

By: Jeannine Atkins

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Synopsis: "The Lord blessed us with minds to use and mouths to speak what we see as truth." In 1634, young Susanna Hutchinson travels from England across the Atlantic with her parents and siblings, finally landing in the New World. There the family hope to practice their religion as they see fit. But Anne Hutchinson, Susanna's mother, does not like the minister's manner. A preacher's daughter, Anne begins holding meetings in her home and speaking about Scripture. The gatherings grow crowded as more and more people come to hear her. However, some of the townspeople aren't happy about a woman preaching, especially since her thoughts differ from the minister's. Even after a rock is thrown through the Hutchinsons' window, Anne refuses to keep her beliefs to herself. That simply would not be her way. Then Anne Hutchinson is charged with disturbing the peace of the colony and is summoned to court, and Susanna can't help but worry. What will become of the family if her mother is found guilty? Jeannine Atkins's story about one of our country's first heroines and her struggle to uphold what later became our most precious freedom--that of speech--shows the impact of such bravery not only on the individual but also on the family. Michael Dooling renders the time, the place, and the people in paintings so rich and poignant that each seems a tale in itself.