The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-25

:
liberty. They left their Impress not less
marked and permanent upon the British laws
and constitution, than upon the religious feel
ing and policy OF the times. II they rendered
it Impossible for the English Church to fall
back into Papal subordinstion and to contin-
ne in the belief and practice of many promi-
nent requirements Of the Church OF Rome, SO
they exploded forever in the British mind the
doctrine that the King could do no wrong
and they made it part of the national I'M
destanding, thnt Parliament, the People, or
the Commonwealth could rule as truly by the
grace of God as crowned and titled monarch
Since their day il is conceded that upon grent
occasions Parliament can lawfully change the
succession, or declare the throne TO be va
cant, while passive obedience has become d
term that requires the consultation OF history
to understand. How much that In good and
true in the religious life Of the people Of Eng
land how much that is just and enduring in
the public law and political sense of England,
which sprung from the reflection, the resolu-
ton, and the power of the Puritans, the his
torian delights to display, for it is a theme
over which his heart can expand and his pen
grow eloquent. They had their extravagan-
cies Of conduct and sentiment, and their lud-
crous side it is true And so had their oppo-
nents. The literature OF the times has en-
embalmed it all But who now turns with
least delight to the record Of the former, or
finds less to forgive in the lattcrt
But there came time in the development
of sentiment, in the formation of opinions,
and in the decision of conduct, when the pro-
testing puritans, equally obnoxious to the
priestiy and the kingly power, were no long
er safe and free under English rule. Their
thoughts were denied expression. They were
forbidden TO worship God, except after an es-
tablished form. Their congregations were
broken up. Their ministers were executed,
imprisoned, or exiled A months absence
from the service of tho establishment, SUBJ
jected them to interrogation, to suspicion rs
non-coniormists and to the menace Of exile
or death. They could do nothing that they
would. They were compelled to do that they
would not. colony went TO Holland, from
thence to Switzerland, and finally returned
In the year 1902, near the close Of the reign
of Elizabeth, 4 congregation in the north OF
England, under charge Of John Robinson,
despairing of such reforms in the national
church as their conscenees required, formed
themselves into an independent body. The
Hear il They resolved, whatever it might
cost them, NJ the Lords free people, to Join
themselves by covenant into = church state. ~
They were Calvinists in faith, but they re-
fused to wear any human name. They re.
served the perpetual liberty of modifying
their faith and practice according TO the hgh'
they acquired. And they took the Bible n.
| their sole authority. Men of New England
mark the words, give heed TO the spirit, ane
watch the wanderings of this little flock, fol
il is the seed from which you have sprung
| They were prosecuted, like their brethren
They were "harassed by imprisonmenis
| scarch-warrants, and trivial prosecutions.
At length, weary OF persecution, longing fol
rest, they resolved to seek the free worship o.
God in a foreign land. They turned then
eyes to Holland, where others oil the brethren
had previously found peace. William Brew
stcr, a ruling elder in the charch, had resided
AS a diplomatist there, and many common
sympathies with that people led them to Sc
lect the Low Countries as their future home.
In 1907 they made an attempt to emigrate
thither. But they were not permitted to
leave. The officers of the law arrested and
detained them. Another attempt was made
in 1908, which was successful. BY previous
and secret arrangement, they met at night ON
lonely moor, and under cover OF darkness,
in the midst of raging storm, they escaped
from an oppression that denied Thorn the poor
privilege of voluntary exile. They landed at
Amsterdam. From thence they removed to
Leyden There they remained eleven years.
They were years Of harmony and happiness.
They enjoyed their religion undisturbed.
They commanded the esteem of the commu-
nifty in which they were located. Even the
nuncio of Rome spoke Of them with respect
The fame of their Pastor and the liberty of
his people attracted new members to the
church from England. But Notwithstanding
all this, they were unsatsfed. The Lam
guage and manners of the Dutch were un-
pleasant. They disliked the climate The
dssolute habits oil the disbanded soldiers en-
ployed in the late wars, was corfupting to
their young. Nor were they content to oc-
cupy so subordinate n position. They were
conscious of qualifications for higher rank
and wider influence than was open to them
in u foreign land. And besides, they were
Englishmen, and wished to live where Eng
lish laws, language and customs prevailed
They thought Of the new world, and resolved
to plant colony in America. After much
difficulty in the arrangement of preliminaries,
they finally procured two vessels, the Speed
well and the Mayilower, in which, on the 2ad
OF July, 1870. the greater portion OF their
number embarked AT Delft-Hayen. They
arrived al Southampton, where they remained
several days, leaving on the 9th of August
The Speedwell suffered damage, and they put
into the port OF Dartmouth for repairs Re-
naming in port eigh, days, they sailed again
When ialrly out Of sight OF land, afoat upon
the high seas, in new and almost untrayeicd
path, the Captain and company Of the Speed
well, dismayed at the enterprise, fegned fur
ther damage, and they returned again to Dart
mouth. Then the little band was winnowed
OF all waverers. The timid were left in the
harbor with the SpeedweIl The resolute
and strong-hearted all went aboard OF the
Mayflower, and on the 9th oil September one
hundred and one human souls babe adieu to
their native land forever. They had u long
and tedious voyage For sixty three DAYS
their little vessel was tossed upon the pillows
of the Atlantic. Their design was to land in
Virginia, but they lost their position, and ON
the 9th OF November they entered the harbor
Of Cape Cod. Spending some time in the ex-
ploration OF the coast, they finally, on Mon
day, the 22nd day OF December, two hundred
and thirty eight years ago this day, entered
the bay oi Plymouth. The season was dreary
desolate aud forbidding. Without it was
stormy, and gloomy, and cold Ruf II w.s