Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-21
Bishop Hughes ut the New England Festival

Our esteemed friends of the Vermont Chron'-
Gle take d,c;ded exception to our notions respect
ing the presence of Bishop Hughes at the New
England Society's Dinner in New York, on the
22d ultimo, and refuse to "own IN" to our rep.
RESERVATIONS touching the Pilgrims. For the
instruction they vouchsafe TO Us in regard
to what were and what were not the fruits OF
ascctic purtanism, we are OF course Obliged =
though it is possible we do not look at their
view of the matter as being quite as clear as
it undoubtedly appears to Them But let that
pass. We yield to no man of our limited infor-
nation in admiration and respect for the many
noble qualities-the unconquerable love OF Free
dom, the inhexiblc resolution, the stern integrity
of character and motives, the solemn regard for
Law and Order, tive resolute epubcanism-of
the Puritans. And the rronicle VIII per-
haps be surprised to learn, Chat 1t is precisely
because we admire and respect those qualities,
so remarkably developed by these early pioneers
of Liberty that we should rejoice to see Roman
st and Protestant, Jew and Mahometan, thrown
in the way of doing honor to them! The
Chronicle says:
Doubtless the members of the New England Society
of New York are very respectable men but we con-
Toss thn we see in their celebrations little evidence OF
any proper appreci on their part, OF the OCCASION
Tie celebration ongh be 50 cond uctedas tosrcngth-
en- in our hearts the principles md To cherish the spirit
OF The Pilgrims of 1880 Otherwise it is good for no
thing 1t is appropriately ,hena celebration by such
as sincerely honor the character OF those men, and
earnestly desire that their PRINCIPLES and their spirit
may bc perJetuatcd among US. Nothing inconsistent
with such purpose ought to be admitted.--The man
ayers false to the object and dishonor the OCCASION
when by the of intoxicating drinks the dinner
table they drive from il those ministers OF the Gospel
who are in time the proper representatives OF the
devoted men who preached to our fathers two hun
dred years ago and whcn instead they invite TO the
feast such have no sympathy IN the spirit whlch
belongs to the OCCASION
AT this celebration, there ought TO be the freest ut
terance Of the Pilgrim spirit ana OF the truths that the
Pilgrims loved. But how can that be when l'aplsis
! and High Chuuhmcn by speridi inritafi0n, occupy
prominent places among the guests! The managers
| are too courteous to invite the Wanwrighls ana ihe
| IIughcscs on purpose TO throw unwelcolnc uulh III
| their faces.
All this would he well and cogent, and the
Chronicle and ourselves would be at no logger
heads ON the subject, if 1.-THE New England So
ciety" were (wlat it certainly is noD an asso-
citation of Presbyterian Or Calvinistic Clergy
men, and if the sole object of It's organization
were Gas it certainly is noO to celebrate and
memorize the particular religious faith of the
puri,ans In that case, undoubtedly, "Papists
and High Churclmcn would receive no invi-
tatiou to these annual Festivals. Our Jealous
friends of the Chronicle overlook the considcra-
bic fact however, that the New England So
cicties, in New York, and elsewhere, are EN-
phatically NOT Sectdrian associations. They
number among their members, as descendants
of the Purtans and admirers of their characters
men of every variety of Christian creed and wor'
ship; including Papsts and High Churchnen'
linen who find no difficulty in honoring theil
sturdy ancestors (not, by any means, as the
Chronicle intimaies, exclusively the "Pilgrims
of plymouth") for their sturdy and heroic vir
tues. 1t is not to be expected that the Purltan'
are to be Ionorcd oniy on account OF their rell
gous views and creed; and i not, then they
are to be honored for the possession OF qualities
which, in their transmission, have elevated ant
benefited our race and for which all of our race
eau appropriately celebrate aud honor their mem
ories. The Chronicle may, if il chooses, mag
nifty our Pilgrim ancestors for their reiis'on
: institutions alone 3; are are glad that Bishop
lluGHEs so far appreciates their GIRL institution
as to magnify them for their Schoolmasters.
n. Al.