Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-02
CELEBRATION
OF THE LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS,
BY THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY,
AT THE

By IdE NEW ENOLANO oUC1Ex1,
- THE =
wINSI.ow HOUSE, DECEMBER a2d, 1854.
The first Celebration of the kind ON the shores Of
the Upper Mississippi.
A large number present -Speechcs, Toasts, &c.
One of the largest and most interesting gather
ings of the season, took place at the Winslow
House on Friday evening last in commemoration
of the landing of the Puritans on Plymouth Rock.
Upwards of one hundred and ten persons sat down
to the tables in the Dining Hall, and many more
could not gain ingress, but were obliged to pass
the evening around the festive board in an adioin-
ing room.
Music from Hoisington's Brass Bank gave addi-
tional charm to the occasion. We have seldom,
anywhere, met SO happy an assemblage of ladies
and gentlemen, who well might boast as being the
descendants of those glorious Pilgrim Fathers
and Mothers, who by their intelligence, religion
and virtue have shed halo of glory on the world.
We give below the toasts and a report of tie
several speeches.
Judge Sherburne opened the proceedings by the
following remarks as nearly as we could catch
them from our remote positions GIVE have met,
Sons Of; New England, on this, the 22nd day of
December to commemorate the landing of our
Pilgrim Fathers: and while We hold them in fond
remembrance, we would desire to emulate their
virtues. On such an occasion am proud to see
SO many sons of New England present in Terri
tory so remote from the spot where their forefath
ers landed. More proud and happy that the great
truth is demonstrated that the sons and daugh-
tiers of these pilgrims, wherever they may be, are
imbued with their feelings and Intelligence 1t is
we'll that we are here to join in the festivities
of the passing hour. 1t will serve to extend our
social relations and trust that the memory of
those gone from us, whose names we now connect
with this happy occasion, will tend to increase
our social virtues"
Rev. Mr.. Secombe here followed in an eloquent
and appropriate prayer. 3,
The eatibles were attacked with vigor and
when justice had been done to the excellent sup
per prepared by Clement & Parker,the first regu-
lar toast was announced.
LIST. The Pilgrims who landed from the May
flower upon Plymouth Rock.-May their names
and the institution which they founded, be as last
ing as the rock upon which they landed.
Responded to by Rev. Mr.. Neil.
Though not IL New Englander, nor the son Of
New Englander, my heart beats deep and full
response to the sentiment which has been read,
and in appreciation Of which this goodly company
Of the stcrner and gentler sex have assembled in
this hall.
The Pilgrims of the May Flower! who are they,
and what were their principles? Queries thou
sand times asked and as many times answered, but
as oft as they have been asked and answered, we do
not tire with the repetition, but the story appears
to our mind fresher, by the lapse of TIM.
Who were the Pilgrims of the May Flower?
In the rotunda of our Capitol at Washington, a
large, appropriate, impressive painting, the pro-
duction of the gifted Weir Of the Military Acad-
envy of the United States, occupies one of the
panels.
The scene represented is the cmbarkation of the
Pilgrims from Delft Haven.
Among other objects is thit barquc Of only
$50 tons burthen, known all the world over, as
the barque May Flower.
IIuddled together ON the deck, are fearful
countenanccs listening to the parting, faltering,
soul stirring bcncdctions Of their venerable pas
to-.
On the 22nd day of December, 1920, we behold
that vessel in the harbor Of Plymouth bay
and those debarking and occupying the site of
the Indian village Of Accomack, recognized in the
sentiment as the Pilgrims of the May Flower.
We remember them tonight. Why? Not be-
cause they were rich in this worlds good, clothed
in purple and fine linen, and Jared sumptuously
every day, for sober history doth affirm that they
not 'born with silver spoons N their mouths
but were so poor that they were obliged to hire
themselves out for seven years in advance, to a
soulless corporation of spectators in London, to
obtain the privilege of a passage to the bowling
wilderness.
We remember them tonight. Not because Of
their connection with the ancient and respectable
nobility of Great Britain. 3
They s. dcduccd not their birth from loin's en-
throned, and rulers of the earth.''
They were generally of the poorer, middlins
class, who had been accustomed to live bv the
"swcat of their brow" But we remember them
tonight, for their principles and for the institu-
tions which have given visibility of those princi-
pies. .-, .s....
What are those principles? First.-An abiding
faith in an overriding Providence. They held to
no theory Of development from some lower Or
der of being which had asc ended from an infinite
Scii'o VI CViitihu'1i.
occurred not to them by the operation of hap
hazard or some unthinking law.
The great concave of Heaven was to them, one
great, mild, hear. piercing eye of Jehovah.
Ashley looked up to the nest of the humming- bird
they bchcld the delicate finger work Of the great
Builder of the Universe; as they looked down up
on the sparrow that had fallen dead to the ground
they felt that that event was recorded in Heaven by
Him, who considered nothing too trihing for his
notice, not even the numbering of the hairs of our
head. AS they paced on the deck of the May
Flower during the long passage and noted tho
cloud sailing in majesty across the armament,
they recognized God as their Pilot, and felt that
he would also be Pilot unto them.
Men with such faith in Him WHO ss clothes
the lilies of the feld,' We're not to be dauntcd.-
Though their garments as they approached the
Plymouth Coast were over co ated with the frozen
spray of old Ocean their souls did not SILVER for
seraphims had cine into their hearts, with
Goals their hands from off the altar of Heaven.
Though reduced to a pint of corn, they felt that
God had something in store for them.
They had another distinction, which was, the
most exalted appreciation of the Holy writings.
The Pilgrims were not prosrcssives in the cant