MATHER, Increase, American colonial divine, son of Richard Mather (q.v.) : b. Dor chester, Mass., 21 June 1639; d. Boston, 23 Aug. 1723. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1656, and in 1658 at Trinity College, Dublin. He afterward preached in Devonshire and the island of Guernsey, and on the Restoration was urged to conform and settle in England; but he refused, and on his return to Boston was in vited to preach to the North Church, of which he was ordained pastor in 1661. This office he held for 62 years. He was a member of the synod of 1679, and drew up the propositions which were adopted concerning the proper sub jects of baptism. In 1681 he was elected presi dent of Harvard College, but the reluctance of his church to relinquish him induced him to de cline the position. In 1684 the office was again offered him, and he accepted it with a stipula tion that he should retain his relation to his people. He continued in this station till 1701, when he retired in consequence of an act of the general court requiring the president to reside in Cambridge. He received the first diploma for the degree of D.D. that was granted in America. When in 1683 Charles II demanded that the charter of Massachusetts should be re signed into his hands, Mather was foremost in opposing the measure; and when that monarch annulled the charter in 1685, he was sent to Eng, land as agent for the colonies. He was in Eng
land during the revolution of 1688, and, hav ing found it impossible to obtain a restoration of the old charter, accepted a new one, under which the appointment to all the offices reserved to the Crown was confided to him. He returned in 1692, when the general court appointed a day of thanksgiving for his safety and for the set tlement of the dispute. He is stated to have condemned the violent proceedings which fol lowed relating to witchcraft. He was accus tomed to spend 16 hours every day in his study, and always committed his sermons to memory. One-tenth part of all his income was devoted to purposes of charity. He was the author of 92 distinct publications. His 'Remarkable Providences' was republished in the 'Library of Old Authors' (1856), and other works by him are 'A Brief History of the War with the Indians in New England' (1676); 'Relation of Troubles of New England from the Indians' (1677; 1864); 'Cases of Conscience Concerning Witchcraft> (1693; 1862); or a Discourse Concerning Comets' (1683). Con sult Pond, Enoch, Mather Family' (Bos ton 1844) • Walker, Williston, (Ten New Eng land Leaders' (New York 1901); Tyler, M. C., 'History of American Literature> (Vol. II, New York 1881); Sibley, 'Harvard Graduates' (Vol. I, Cambridge 1873).