The New York herald., 1851-12-23


his society end the two hundred aud thirty nr Of that
isy-sver. memorable in Anssiesn History which v-
messed the dsbarkakon Of the Puritan pa sngers Of the
Aayfowsr on Plymouth Rock, In 1920 the assooia
ion commsmorassd the event by evening exercises stA
bls thereto In the Broadway Tabernacle. Mr. Moses
H. arinnell presided. The proceedings opened BY
voluntary the organ after the execution OF which
Rev DR.. Adams offered prayer appropriate to the o.
sso The In the order Of exercises, ~ set down
in the programme, was the singing Of slss-the
Shades of the Heroes but through some mssppre-
henson of time other circumstances the singers were
not in attendance and the Pres dsn apoogzing to the
aude for their absence introduced the orator OF the
evening Hon George 8. billiard, who delivered the
GRAFTON.
Mr. President and Gentlemen Ladies' and @ ntismsn
Man is being OF large discourse, looking before and
ater From this power Of dwelling the nsat and fu
.Ure, is essential grandeur ana dignity derived The lie
OF the Individual but momentary speck but the life
of humanity is luminous web, flowing from the bosom
God iD.o which the hours Of every day are woven
Their memory and hope born to great Inheritance
OF records and promises, and poor indeed the lis
II proud privilege to be able to break away from this
ba, and shos OF time and to seek whst shall be IN
what has beento turn experience to prophecy and with
Retrospective glance tsoern in the mirror Of the past
the airy shapes of the unborn future.
The origin Of country lies in the open field Of his
tory. We cannot go back to that morning twilight Of
tradition from which poetry draws so much Of ts nspi
ration and so many of its themes Such forms as Ar
thurs and Cyds, In which the real and the fancful
meet and blend like the mountain and cloud upon
the distant horizon, have NO place upon soil
The simple dignity OF men like Carver and Bre xster
and Win hrop borrow no attractions from the hurs Of
romance. Ii We lose something BY nearness and dis
tnctiveEess in the history Of the settlement OF
sentiment which led to enterprise has the nobest quail
ties impressed upon It, and the nns traits Of character
do not present pcturesaus com parison wild strug
gstho.e lsviess and those genial hres OF molly
nature which lying IN the delusive gtt OF distance be-
come the from which poetry draws materials.
Yet it q sufficient compensatlsn to their manly
spirit be able their Institutions founded in re
gous faith that their progress secured by the AMI
mating principle of civil liberty, which consecrsted
by lives OF spotss purity enforced by deep seated
spect for law Other nations can trace begnnin
in the social and civil state to early purties but who
find them lying in higher sources than religion,
liberty, and law! (Applau,e This day is the birth
past ard TO the future. Our thoughts, dseng aged
from the objects about us-the impor tuDate and
clamorous pre,ent-lead and draw into serener
contemplation and farer emotion. The irresistible
power with which interests and fervd excitement
of greatness to seize and subdue the spirit
Of man is for moment paralyzsd When your crowded
warehouse and stately mansions and streets through
which such tides of life roll and far more, your noble
rivers shadowed by many sails and furrowed by 50
many kees-when they shut out from the eye Of the
mind far other unfold themselves TO its gaze
We see desoats coast whitened with SHOWS and swept
with the storms Of wnter-we desolste vessel
weather stained md tempest ehsttered-we band
of and children shivering with cold, suf-
feriDg the effects long and and
already touched with mortal sickness but all ami
mated with the expression Of fortitude and faith
which give noble dignity to the brow Of man. purer
light to the eye Of VIC man. and produce Q Thoughtful
gaze the face Of childhood itself Behind them
the before them the forest above them the sky
danger and otude and mine and winter are the grim
shapes which welcome them to t. cir unknown home.
There no friendly faces-no cordial greetines-no
warm smbrsces--po food nor shelter in the bowling
wilderness before theni--they alone with their
God (Applsuse) Phe experience by which these
men and women were guided, has been ripened
fer the task which lies before them and embraces them
like segment Of all that circle Of action and suffering
by which trained and tempted Few Of the
sorrows which try DE- rmns,s OF man the love Of
woman wanting in their lives. They have known
the codness OF riends-they have known the wrath Of
enemies they have known the sharpness Of persecution
and the drear heartache Of exile Poverty and low
estate accounted among their chief burdens The
necessity Of their position called forth whatever in
them of fortitude vigilance crcumspection and pru-
dence. Difficulties and obstacles in their path,
numerous and great that nothing but the
exercise Of Acity and self command could have
them Their life has been long warfare against
oppression OF power from without and promptngs Of
what seemed weakness from within. And they have
had great sorTovs they have had ass great satsac
ton The pressure Of persecution has bound their
hearts together by the depth and fulness Of sympathy
such as never can grow in the air of happiness and
prosperity. Domestic ife-pure: chaste, wrm-hss
they have been upheld by the unconquersble truth
the undying faith which animates and gives
And above all, they have been admitted closer know
edge with God There has been vouchssfed TO Of
higher endowed with the goods Of this world
much In csrnal gifts and eye attracting grsces but
God has bowed his heavens and passing BY the princes
and ruer Of the earth has spoken with them (the Pur
tans), friend speaks TO friend With them He has
made covenant and they are the living arks 10 whose
keeping the law Is intrusted In the watches Of the
night in the solitary wilderness and the lonely ocean
they have heard His awful yoice-rAptur dreams
splend mt visions. celestial revelations have oversnone
their souls and He erected and exalted thei- syts
beneath their feet (Appiauss) The Pilgrim Father.
Of Plymouth were Enyshmen By birth and belonged TO
that remarkable body Of men the Purans whose chief
est pride afterwards the Revolution Of less when
they performed such mighty works in Church and State
and who ned channels in which the mind OF England
was ever after to run The nam. Of Puritan opened
vide field Of controversy, embracing feuial laws
well a. church government; but they must be tried
by the standard Of their age and not that Of
standing ms smpathy might BE- received a. the
very best evidence that could be sdduced in support Of
the ea.e Of Puritanm an element struggle in the
institutions Of England and Puritanism construc-
tive element in the formation of the institutions OF New
England. The preent pointed to a like resemblance
and diversity The Puritans Of England were always In
attitude Of protest and resistance They set their
faces against the sy.tsm Of ecclesiastical tenures
against the power Of the bi.bops and the encroschmns
of the sgsinst the court high commission, and
the Star Chsmbsr-sgsinst STAFFORD and against Laud
They ccnt,rdsd FIR liberty in things sacred, and
liberty in thing, ,eiuaFs "a. liberty IN 5r'phsesy
dual. That formed the purity Of their proceedings.
and embodied the principles Of their movement and
to the New World 1t was natural and probable 20
,uppe-. that the impulse Of re,,tsnce communicated
at hom. would have proved the propsliDg motive, and
made that right which might, perhaps have other.
wife been considered wrong The soil Of New Eng
and would have been scene Of the the widest
perimtnts q government and the land would have
Keen Ike tie land Of Isrsel, when there was no
kipg--vhsn every man did that which was right
IN Bis cwn eyes. such would have osen the case
had the Puritsns been narror. misd-d fanatics.
which through ignorance and prejudice, they had
been snetinss called But Il vas fair 10 scsnow.
l'dge that nothing proved more concusvey their sxpe-
riegces than the thora In
causs Of liberty. they showed from the moment they
snted upon the shores Of Plymouth profound respect
ior the principles Of law and expressed that feeling de-
c'svey EaTiy legislation respect Of authority, the
strong OF crder and subordinstion in the ap-
Of sEirstss traits In the character f
the Pilgrim fathefs Indeed, they pusted their princi.
ts " Law too TAR and in many cases turned against
The liberty Of individuals the sharp edge q lsgi.a
ton the sart Of which they had felt often In their
persons ~ home easy 10 praise the Puritan fs-
th,rs of New E3glSrd 10 not difficult 20 name them
We had mcrc TO honor than o. praise them for
honor not always prsse and 70 praise not always
90 honor There were two positions IN which every
b. rur.i1erei. In h. fruld inc