The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-25
NEW ENGLANp FEsTIvAL.
fOREFATHERS' DAY IN KEOKuK.

FOk1fATHERS' DAY IN KEOKuK.
According to announcement heretofore
nsds, ~ Plymouth Society Of Ksokuk cele-
bsaAs4 ~ aaaiversary Of the landing Of the
PilgriA Fathers, on the 22nd instant, in a
becoming naaner.
The Society assembled at the Unitarian
Church, 70 which free admission was given
70 the public, and which was accordingly
Allsd Aserly to its uthost capacity, where the
following exercises were had:
|. Music, by the choir.
any Country, ',is Of thee
2. Prayer, by Rev. Mr.. Briggs.
5. Muso, BY the choir.
ssThe breaking waves dashed high.''
I. The President then announced the
OnATfON.
BrJ. =. RR,sGs, IN.
There seems to spring instinctively within
the human breast, love for the land where
on our eyes first opened to the light. Patri-
otism 10 a natural and important sentiment.
Upon il depends the defence Of the State, the
welfare Of society, and the safety and happ-
moss OF the individual The foundation of
patriotism is local attachment fondness
for ones kindred and neighborhood. Ny
friends, we should be less than patriots, less
than men, did We forget that spot Of earth
from whence our wandering feet departed.
This - why. though we are true and loyal to
the Great Republic, our hearts yet turn to our
New England homes, faithfully ~ the trem-
bling needle to the pole This 10 why, ~
grateful children, we are met in memory Of
the men who gave us a home and country,
upon the day when first they stood upon the
coil of the strange, new world.
We of New England, without disparage-
ment of others. may indulge just and honest
pride in the stock from whence we have
sprung. Our fathers possessed q force Of
character, with distinguishing and enviable
traits, which has moulded and fixed forever
the spirit and tendencies OF the community
which they planted. In what the peculiari-
ties of chat character consisted, and how it
CHANGED to seek the new world AZ the theatre
OF its display, are topics TO which we will
briefly turn.
Our fathers were Puritans. The Pilgrims
to the new world were the Puritans Of the
old And who and what were the Purtans
Not, think, class Of men Of whom Repub-
hcans and free inquirers need be ashamed
Early in the history of England there were
found in the church sincere and pioua mer
who protested against its superstitions, ant
to what seemed to them its tyrannical conduc,
and its worldly greed. They wished to rem
der II stainless, and wholly spiritual; to west
out error, to correct abuses, and to guart
against the encroachments Of spiritual tyran
nv and worldly ambition. Their primary mo.
tive was unexceptionable and commemorate
They were no enemies to the church. They
were its truest and sncsrest friends. They
had no desire to impair its influence or to limit
its Just authority. They sought, by estab-
fishing and maintaining the spirit Of reform,
TO perfect the one and extend the other. But
in the exercise Of this pio,n and commendsble
spirit, they were unconsciously commencing
in the bosom OF the church a struggle which
was to be prolonged for centuries, and finally
to terminate in the grandest results. not only
to.the Church and State OF England, but to
the world. They cannot be greatly praised
or greatly blamed. Their motives and their
aims were good. But they had no consist
ntly-digested scheme, and were not con-
sciously rendering themselves parties to q
long-continued contest. They simply acted us
good and jealous men with clear understand
ings will always and every whore act,--spon-
taneousy, from q sense Of right and justice.
They were not des,gnedly initiating a contest
for the vindication OF truth and purity. II
Was simply M expression Of sentiment and
IN exercise of influence uttered and exerted
in the presence OF what was, or seemed to be,
error and abuse in the body OF which they
were members, entertaining common inter-
est In the presence OF error and wrong,
men will always divide, and incline to this
side or TO that as conscience or interest or
understanding prompts. They took position,
as others take it. That is the extent OF their
merit, or their offence, from whichever point
OF view their conduct il examined. Ii was
their merit, as believe. But, consciously or
unconsciousiy, designedly or nndesignedly.
struggle was actually commenced in the
church which was grow in depth and inten-
sity with the lapse Of time, developing and de-
fning principles and dividing its members, I'M
Ill it was found both undesirable and mpossi-
Bile for the two opposing parties To which the
contest was substantially narrowed, to remain
within the pale OF the same communion Ia
fact, principles and sentiments became so
sharply defined, were found to be so pointed
ly opposed, and were so zealously defended,
buoe ofV parry WVAtG HVt ICH3htii, WIilt the
other accommodated them in scorn The
progress Of the movement, with the gradual
Development of principles and the clear diyis-
ion OF parties, from its first inception to it's
ultimate issue, Is al once interesting and m
portant. But it is the province OF the histori-
an, and not OF the casual reviewer The par
ty Of reform, who sought to correct abuses
and resist usurpation, from the nature OF their
conscientious objections were called puritans;
During the controversy, they were led on from
point 10 point in examination and discussion
until the grounds and nature of authority and
prescription in Church and State, the ele-
ments and character Of Christian truth and
discipline and Of theological dogmas were
passed in review and sifted to the botte m
The final and fixed opinions OF the Puritans
and the spirit which prevailed among them, !
win endeavor to define They tolerated nc
ceremony unless it was specially enloined by
she word Of God. They were Jealous sdyo-
Gates for the independence OF the churches
They admitted no authority but the Bible
The Bible alone was their fixed and infsllbls
rule. They read it for themselves, and woult
allow neither Parliament hierarchy nor KIM
10 interpret II for them, They maintaince
the equality Of the clergy. They secuted tn,
doctrine Of the divine right and superior m
thcriiy Of the bishops. Formal garments an,
stems they rejected hacsnse thew ~eve l.ae-..