Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-12-31
THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY'S ANNIVERSARY


Asor House Nearly three hundred gentlemen sat down
the sumpuous largest number ever attending the
Socetys anniversary All the dinner arrangements were
upon liberal SCALE and planned with that excellent Judg
men which has given the Actor House highs reputation
Moses FL Grinne the president of the society, presided
having Daniel Webster Secretary of State, his right
and Sir Henry Bulwer, on his left.
Mr. Grinne, very happily introduced the following toast
"not in the catalogues"
The Constitution and The Union and their great DEFENDER
This sentiment received with applause, which
broke forth and prolonged in umuuous cheers, wher
Mr.. Webster TO respond. He spoke as follows:
Mr. President and Gentlemen Of the New York New Eng
land Socely:-Ye sons of New England! Ye brethren 0
the kindred tie! | have here tonight, not withou
Inconvenience that might behold such congregation
whose faces bear lneaments of New England origin
and whose hearts beat with full New England pulses will
lngly make the sacrifice Not young with BLOOD
In my veins very young but, thank God yet pretty fully
and freely fowlng-I here TO this great osoo
of the Pilgrim Society Of MASSACHUSETTS,. And gentlemen
derp9 TO you nav thanks for extended to me
and by wishing all sorts OF happiness Gentlemen th
has been stormy cold boiserons and ncement day
The winds have been harsh the skies have been
if we had no houses heads- we had security
against the incemency of the skiesif we were wan and
worn ou-f half of US were sick, and tired and ready to
descend into the were on the bleak coast oil
mouth houseess homeless with nothing our heads but
The heavens and that God who sits above the heavens
had distressed wives upon arms, and hungry and
shyeng children hanging upon our skirts we should see
something and feel something OF that scene which, in the
Providence of God enacted at Plymouth the 22nd OF
December, l620.
Thanks be TO Almighty God, who from that distressed
early condition. has raised to height Of prosperity and
happiness which neither enjoyed could
have anticipated Would God that when carry
affections and reflections back 10 that period we would arm
ourselves with the virtues which supported them in
that state of peril and exposure! Would to God that
may possess the resolution which they possessed stronger
than bars obas on that patience Sovereign DER trans
muted ls" and above ALL that faith, that religious faith,
which, with eye fast fixed upon heaven tamples all things
earthly beneath its triumphant feet Gentlemen the scenes
of this world change. What ancestors and felt,
we shall feel. The calls for the virtues of life,
were theirs They called upon for perseverance, ab
stnence and aborto exercise those ausersr virtues the
exercise of which before they here made them they
were auslere men. Things have changed
in the progress of society," the fashions Of e the habits
OF life the conditions Of human life have all changed
Their virtues not called In every respect
emulate commend rather TO emulate for we should
commend them always when consider the state OF socie
ty in which they were exercised.
They had that religious sentiment, that trust in Prov
dence that determination TO do right and to seek through
every degree of toll and suffering the honor OF God and
the preservation of human liberty which shall do well to
cherish In the progress of society it may be- and it is true
that the miIder virtues belong especially TO u.s. They
great sufferers from inoleTance and their faith and
practice as consequence became rigid II may be hoped
that the greater spread Of the benign principles of Chris
tany, we have improved upon the sentiments that prevail
ed with them. They attached TO particular forms oil
public worship and religious tenss. No doubt they es
eemed their religious tensts and the obseryances which
they practised be borrowed from the Word of God II
is true think that in the progress OF society," in the gene
raj advancement of human sentiment we find what they do
not seem have found that greater tolerance OF religious
opinion catholic feeling toward all who profess re-
verence for God is not inconsistent with the religious IL
berty which they professed.
We have think without any departure from the esab-
shed principles of fathers, more enlarged and com
preensve Christian philanthropy. II seems to be the Anne
rcan desnyihc mission which God has entrusted 10 us
here this Atlantic shoreto show that all sects and de-
nominations that profess reverence for the authority oi
God and live by His will, may be safely tolerated without
prejudice either religion or TO our liberties You all
know that there presdes the head Of the Supreme Judica
ture of The United States Roman Catholic; and no man
supposes that the Judcaure Of the country less SAFE the
administration of justice less respectable secure because
the Chief Justice the u States has been and ardent
adherent of the Roman Catholic religion.
And is 1t in every department OF society with us. In
both Houses of Congress- in all departments Of educaton
we 90 the idea that mans religion s matter above hu
law; that question to be settled between nm and
his God because responsible to but his God for IT,
And here is the great distinction which s sometimes over
Iooked-which am afraid is too often overlooked
Men, for their religious sentiment accountable TO God
Religion is communication between man and his Maker
but when men come together in society, and when they
form government the protection of the rights OF ALL II
becomes indispensable that this right of private Judgement
shall in be renquished and made subserven
to the whole. Religion may exist while every man may be
left responsible only TO God But society," civil rue and
civil government exist while every man Is response
bic to nobody but 10 his own opinion.
And our New England ancestors understood this quite
WELL Gentemen there Is the constitution which was adopt
ed on board the Mayhower in November 1920 What is III
mandments to live his obedience But they never
teless that for the establishment OF civil poly Tor the
greater security and preservation of their civil rights and
liberties they agree that the laws and thans
God they put in the word constitution say after In
vokng the of the Deity on their resolution 'hose
laws and ordinances and constitutions established oy those
whom we shall appoint to enact hen we wl IN al que SUB
mission and obedience support The constitution is no
long; but il nvokes religious sanction their cr obga
TONS 1t doctrine of theirs that civil obedience was
matter of expedlency
"In the name of God-Amen we whose names un
ewrittcn the loyal subjects of dread Sovereign Lord
King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain France
and Ireland King, defender OF the Fah &C., having an
Christian Faith and honor Of our King and Country, voy
age plant the first colony 10 the heather parts OF Virginia
do by these presents soemny and mutually IN the presence
of God and of another covenant and combine ourselves
together civil body poc for our better ordering and
preservation and urherancc of the ends aforesaid and by
virtue hereof to enact constitute and frame suen us' ao
equal laws ordinances acts constitutions and offices from
time to time shall be thought most meet and convenient
s the general good of the coony unto which we promise
all due submission and obedience"
The right of mans private judgment in matters between
the Creator and himself and submission and obedience 10
the will Of the WHOLE upon whatsoever respects civil pocy
and the administration of such affairs concerned the col
ony about to be established the doctrines embod
ed in that Constitution. The topic might be enlarged but
pass from II.
Gentlemen we are near hundred and thirty years from
that event There is the May Flower, ponting to small
figure OF ship in confectionery that stood before him
There Is little resemblance but correct one OF the May
Flower. Sons of New England! there was In ancient
times ship that carried Jason 10 the acquisition OF the
Golden Fleece There flag ship at the battle of Ac
tium which made Augustus Cesar master Of the world In
modern times there have been ships which have carried
Hawkins and Howe, and Nelson on the other continent,
and which have carried Hull and Decatur and Seuart on
this to triumph What they l-what are they ALL in
their chance Of remembrance among men, TO that little bark
the Mayfower-which reached these shores Yes, my
brethren of New England that Mayhower flower Of
bloom (Cheers) Its vedure stands the suy
blasts of summer and the chilling winds of Autumn.
will defy all climates and all tme and il will continue to
expand its petals TO the world and exhale everything
odor and fragrance the "atest syllable OF recorded time
Brethren we of New England, whom have come some
hundreds of miles here tonight let to you
one of the most distinguished of those who came here
the deck of the Mayfower Let fancy that see Elder
William Brewster entering that door, at the further end
Of this hail. tall and erect figure, Of plain dress, OF no
elegance of manner beyond respectful bow of no merr-
ment that hardly reached the expression OF smie-sup-
stood there Suppose his image was there and
he was looking upon this assembly "Are ye our chldren
Ia this scene OF refinement of elegance, Of riches may
say this of luxury, does this flow from our labors
"Qu@ rego in erris nosrum pena laborumr
at WAS for this that my father and my brethren and
myself endured life of toll and of hardship. We lived in
faith and hope God granted the spirit look forward
but this scene we never anticipated Our bones lie the
hill in Plymouth observation-disclosures unmarked seceted
preserve them from the desecaon Of sayages No stone
tells where they le and yet let say to you who are
who enjoy this glorious country and all cen
tans who enjoy this hour of prosperity and the blessings