“A Modest Enquiry”: When a Community Leader Reconsiders Witchcraft

What happens when a community leader changes his mind in public? Reverend John Hale’s "A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft" (1702) offers a rare, candid window into that transformation. Serving as a minister during the Salem witchcraft crisis, Hale later wrote a measured treatise that scrutinized evidentiary standards, pastoral duty, and the dangers of moral panic. This lecture places "A Modest Enquiry" in its full context while guiding attendees through key chapters and lesser-known passages. We’ll consider how Hale framed temptation, possession, and providence; how he weighed neighborly testimony; and how his text helped shift New England memory from certainty to conscience. Along the way, we’ll explore Beverly connections, surviving editions, and how the book has been interpreted by scholars and the public. $10 In-person ticket $5 Virtual link Tickets available at the attached link

Cabot House

Historic Beverly

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“A Modest Enquiry”: When a Community Leader Reconsiders Witchcraft

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