Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-18
Correspondence the Burlington Hawk.Eyc.
Landing Of the Pilgrims.

On Friday the 22d, in accordance with
time-honored custom, goodly number OF
such citizens, from Boston and the region.
as love to cherish the memory of the Pill
grim Fathers, met at Plymouth, to COM
memorate the 227,h anniversary Of the day
of their landing.
After appropriate music, the reading Of
select portions Of Scripture, and prayer by
Rev. Dr. Babcock of New Bedford, an elo-
quent historical discourse of an hours
length was delivered by Rev. Dr. Wor-
cester Of Salem, founded on the maxim OF
Solomon, '.Children's children are the
crown of old men, and tie glory of chill
dren is their fathers" This, he said, was
especially the case in reference TO those
who had "feared the Lord from their
youth" whose "hoary head was crown
Of glory" because "found in the way Of
righteousness"
While our pious ancestors sought, on this
bleak coast, ar asylum for the full enjoy
ment Of civil and religions freedom, they
came not for their own sakes only: far
from it. II was truly Missionary enter
prize. This country was known 10 be all
heather ground. And the few bold pio-
neers of liberty and equality had respect
to the conversion Of the then unnumbered
wanderers Of this Wilderness world" as
we'll as to the mighty generations that
were to come after.
The Christians Of Europe had long been
accustomed to pray in their songs
"Dark america convert
With every Pagan land"
And, in thinking of our obligations to
Heaven and benightea world, never
should it be forgotten in New England,
that we, (like our British Christian bretll-
rem, are on lands rescued from Paganism.
II was not for political immuni.ies nor
republican institutions, that the Puritans
came hither. BIT, the 'slove of Christ
constraining them, it was for the advance
ment Of that Reformation which century
after il had moved all Ch,i>tendom, was
yet but in small part accomplished, and 70.
the full accomplishment of which, in the
emancipation and conversion of all nations,
America seemed to them destined of Heav-
en- TO act most conspicuous part. These
lofty aspirings Of generous, self-sacrifc-
ing ancestry should never be forgotten by
"children's Children" whose aglory is
their father's."
In accordance with these benevolent de-
signs, most Of the early charters obtained
from the Crown, contained stipulations in
reference TO Missions; as also some of the
earliest acts Of the Colonial Legislatures.
And, as results, some thousands of,he In
dams were early converted to Christianity.
In 1890 there could be numbered among
them upwards Of thirty Indian churches.
The Puritan settlers, first and last, re-
garded personal religion also, as the Zone
thing needlnl," to themselves and posteri-
ty. Hence, they Immediately planted free
schools. that oil might be able ''to read the
Bible" and within ten years from the first
landing, they laid the foundation Of Uni
rersiiy, chiefly with reference 10 training
an enlightened and pious ministry. Along
every river. they resolved, in humble de-
pendence on God, to have ''the tree Of
knowledge, laden with frnit which the chill
dren could REACH" and, by the side Of it,
''the tree Of life" whose ''leaves were for
the healing Of the nations.''
Those labors, those devont as pirations,
those hopes were not vain, or enthusiastic. |
Then, as at all times, Heavens richest
blessings were commensurate with the
appropriate, judicious use Of means. For
the first hundred and fifty years, the tami-
~ was pre-eminently religious nursery
Tor the school, the church, and the State;
and an injfdei, at that period would have
been regarded Gas monsier!" And If,
IN few cases, there seemed something like
he spirit Of intolerance and persecution,
rom which they had just broken away;
till, be it remembered, that, in this respect,
hey were very far in Advance Of the age;
md, like their posierity, the most tolerant
,eople on the face Of the globe. be-
ng ever the result Of pure Christianity.
DIR Worcester referred, with graphic
nd touching eloquence, to numerous re-
irnls, which had pervaded the churches
t the first centuries after the landing
the one Of l74O-4l; during
which, of the population OF 800, 900. then
in colonies, upwards Of 10000
we're judged TO be savingly enlightened
)ther like scenes Of wonder toihe wisest,
ad been witnessed at different periods
;hich, for want OF Magazines and News
apers, had not been particularly handed
own TO us.
Patriotism, he said, wa. but another
anne for enlightened piety. And those
rho thought only of the bold adventure,
lie chivaIrous spirit Of liberty, the wise, ,
'r-reaching political counsels of our Pill I
rim fathers, did them gross injustice I
hey thought no institution, religious or :
olitical, safe, only SO far as il was based
pom the Eternal Rock.
No nation, he said, had ever been favor t
like ours, with temporal as well as
,iritual benefits. And when we thought .
our 10000 preachers Of the Gospel Of !.
'rious orders throughout the land, our !,
MOO Missionaries at home and abroad, ),
II 30 Seminaries for training others, our !
indred Colleges, our Academies and !