New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-29
FOREFATHERS. DAY.
Celebration of the Two Hundred and Fif-
ticth Anniversary of the Pilgrims Land
inR-OrariOn by the II on. Robert G.. VIM
lhr0p-POem by William Cullen Bryant.


lhrop-POem by William Cullen Bryant.
The two hundred and tiftieth anniversary
| of the landing of the pilgrims was celebrated
at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the twenty
first instant. The Pilgrim Society met ut its
hall at eleven A. NJ, and marched in process
sion to the Unitarian Church.
Tho services at the church were began by
selections from I'll TrOvatOre," by GilmOre's
Band. The Rev. DR.. John Nealc then read
| an ode written for the occasion by Mr.. John
Davis. which was afterward sung. The
Rev. DR.. Hodge read selections from the
Scriptures The Rev. J. A. NJ. Chapman
read an original hymn. composed by the
Hon. William r. Davis. and the Grafton was
then delivered by the Hon. Robert c. Win
throp, himself a descendant of Governor
John Winthrop. Though an Episcopalian
the orator is evidently second to none in his
admiration of the virtues of his ancestors.
MR.. wINrHRoP's GRAFTON.
There can be 10 true New England heart
which does not throb to-day with something
of unwont.,d exultation. There can be no
| TRUE American heart, think. which has not
| found itself swelling with 20 more tervcnt
| gratitude To God. and a more profound ven
Grafton for the Pilgrim Fathers, as this
morning. sun has risen above the hill tops.
| and ushered III once more our cOnsecratcd
| jubilee. When we reflect on the influence
| which has flowed, and is still flowing. in
| ever fresh and ceaseless streams from yon-
der rock. which two centuries and a half
ego was struck for the first time by the foot
! of civilized Christian man: when we re-
feet how nightly that influence has pre-
vailed, and how widely it has per-
| vaded the world. inspiring and aiding
! the settlement of Massachusetts and,
through Massachusetts. of all New England
| and, through New England, so large a part
Of cur whole widespread country, and
| thus, through the example of our country
| and it's institutions. extending the princi-
| pies of civil and religious freedom to the
| relnotest regions of the earth, we should be
dead. indeed, to every emotion Of gratitude
TO God or man were we not to hail this
| anniversary as one of the grandest in the
| calendar of the ages. We are here my
friends, to celebrate the fifth Jubilee OF
what is now known emphatically. wherever
the history of New England. or the history
| Of America is read, as
THE LANDING"
Turn back with me to that epoch Of the
winter solstice. just two hundred and fifty
years ago, and let us spend at least por-
ton of this tying hour in attempting to re-
call the precise incidents which then oc-
Cured on the spot on which we are assem-
| bled, with some of their immediate ante
| cedents and consequences. There have
| ing, ii any one desires to boast. of what
| New England has accomplished, directly or
| indirectly, for herself or for mankind, in
later times. There have been and will be
| other opportunities for general gloritica-
| ton of New England principles, New Eng
land achievement, New England inventions
and discoveries past or present, remote OF
| recent. We recognize them all to-day-all,
at least. that are worthy of being recog-
nized at alias the legitimate result and
development Of this days dongs.
We count and claim the progress OF our
country, in It's best and worthiest sense, az
the Pilgrims Progress"-:is the grand and
glorious advance upon IL line Of march in
which they We're the pioneers. To them
file honOrs of this day are due. Once in
fifty years. certainly. we may well refresh
our remembrance OF what they did and sut-
| fered, and, still More. of the aims and ends
of all their dciu.s and sutferings. 1t is an
old story, It is true: but there are some old
stories which are almost forgotten into new
ness. There is no longer an excuse for
doubt or uncertainty as to any substantial
statement relating To the Pilgrim Fathers.
Since the last jubilee of the pilgrims was
celebrated, fifty years ago, pious and pains
taking students have seemed intiamed witt!
a new zeal to investigate the pilgrim track,
footstep by toOtstep. wherever it could he
found, i'll the Old Wurlda well as in he New.
Bradford and Brewster, if mistake not, are
the only twoof our pilgrim leaders who can
be distinctly identified with the little church
at ScroOby, of which the venerable Richard
Clifton aud the jealous John Robinson were
the associate pastors and teachers, and out
of which came this first permanent settle
ment Of New England Bradford, indeed,
was but a boy i'll age, at that early period,
hardly more than sixteen years old, an Or
phan boy, and must have been like son to
Brewster, who was forty years his senior;
but he was % boy who seems to have known
little more of the state of child
hood but its innocency and pleasant
ness,' and who was capable, even then,
OF rendering no feeble aid and com
fOrt to his maturer leader and friend.
Together they braved persecution. Together
they bore the taunts and sc0ffs of neighbors
and relatives. Together they embraced eX
lie. Together they were east into prison at
old Boston, in Lincolnshire. Together, after
o brief separation, for Bradford was hber
atcd first on account OF his youth. they
found refuge in Holland. Together they
embarked on the Mayiower. Together they
We're associated for three and twenty years,
for Brewster lived III Il vigorous old age till
i6ti. in establishing and ruling the pilgrim
plantation here at New Plymouth
Brewster and Bradford, the ALneas and
Ascanius Of our grand Pilgrim Epic-I
might better have said, the Paul and Time
thy, or be il Titus Of our New England,
Plymouth, Separatist Church-both OF them
iaymen, but beth OF them, by life and word,
byprecept and example. showing forth the
great doctrines Of Christ their Saviour, With
% power and a persuasiveuess which Isight
well have been enyied by any pastor or
preacher or lordly prelate Of that or any
other day. Forever honored be their names
in New England history and i'll New Eng
land hearts! Alas that no portrait feither
OF them is left--if. indeed, in their simplicity
and modesty, they would ever have allowed
one to be taken-so that their image as well
as their names and their example, might be
be held up to the contemplation OF our coun-
try and of mankind for endless generations.
THE FATHERS IN HOLLAND.
The story OF the flight to Holland and
their dreadful suferings are too familiar to
need repetition. Not a trace is left Of their
residence il Amsterdam. We only know
that, finding they were in danger of
being involved III contentious about women's
dresses and mems starched bands. and
other such vital matters, which had sprung
up in another little church of English Sep
aratists which had fled there before them,
and thus of being robbed Of that harmony
and peace which they priced above all
earthly things, and which they had aban-
doned home and kindred and country to
GnlON-IIiGY tuCUgEb ~ bcSt W itiiAO"O otito
more, and establish themselves at the
neigllboring inland city of Leyden.
TIE MATFLOWER.
shall not detain you with the details Of
that perilons voyage across the wintry A.
l;,ntic, with its "nany fercc storms, with
which the ship was badly shahon. and her,
upper works made very leaky: and one Of
the mainbcams in the midships bowed and
cracked;'' nor dwell on that ''serious CON
sultation" in mia-occan about putting back