The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-01-22

HERO WoRsH1P.-The Church Weekly. q
Protestant Episcopal paper, gives the fol-
lowing "dig' at the New England ."fa-
! theirs :"
The Puritaps, not believing in Saints, de-
vote themselves to the cuitus of the pilgrim
Fathers" In the venerable town of Ply
mouth was held, On Wednesday before
last, the two hundred and fftieth anniyer-
sary of the landing of the latter on that
| memorable rock which has been bfasphem-
! ously named the Rock of Ages, and which,
1t has been suggested, may yet come to
"be adorned as a development of the Di-
| viDity that sleeps in Nature until event or
| accident wakens it to lite, and makes it the
source of energy and inspiration to the
world"
OF all ridiculous things under the sun,
the representing of the Mayhower's com-
pany, as having been driven by PreIatical
tyranny to the inhospitable shores of Amer
lea, and as pioneers in behalf of religious
freedom, IS by far the most ridiculous. In
sober, cold blooded historical writings, such
Inaccuracies are simply inexcusable. But
we are disposed to allow considerable lati-
tude to speakers before the Pilgrim Socie-
ty and if we only laugh at them, instead
OF charging them with 'fnfsifying history,
they surely cannot complain.
The Hon. Robert c. Winthrop, late ora
tor at Plymouth, represents the "Pilgrim
Fathers" as fleeing from the wrath of Eng
lish Prelates. But tile said Gathers"
sailed from Holland, after peaceful ABIDE
therein of some years and their occupa-
ton of Plymouth amounted to nothing
short of poachipg on ground secured to
another Company, known as the Plymouth
Company. Their own patent was obtained
of the Virginia Company, aud they took
possession Of the region about Cape Cod
without any leave of license whatsoever.
SIT is true" says Mr.. Anderson, "that the
Plymouth Company did not resist the en-
croachment thus made upon their borders
Their own slowness to act, and their divis-
ions and disputes at home, induced them
to remain at first indifferent spectators of
the enterprise; and, afterwards, when it
gathered strength they found it convenient
to enter into amicable relations with its
promoters. But this was contingency
which cannot make right that which in it.
self was wrong, OF convert usurpation into
lawful act" And even while thew Law at
anchor in Cape Cod harbor, they signed
solemn document-s. G., all the men signed
ia fact which may be thought by the
strong minded women of New England to
have released their mothers from all par
ticipation in the signing-acknowledgi
themselves to be ''loyal subjects of our
dread sovereign lord, King James, by the
Grace of God" etc. If, then. the sinners
meant to abide by the principles of this
document, they should have passed by
Plymouth and steered their course further
southwards. But they chose to settle in
the territory of company holding its
charter from the throne, without seeking
such company's permission, and in direct
violation of law. AS to the religious Iber-
ty alleged to have been established by the
Pilgrims, it is notorious-outside of New
Engiand-that they established nothing of
the sort. The fierce prosecutions of a Ia
ter date called forth the rebuke of their
own brethren in England, while Maryland
and Virginia were far ahead of Massachu
sets from the very start. The whole
tru!h of the matter is, that New England
Puritanism did not begin to tolerate relig-
ious differences until it began to lose its
own faith. Boston would to. day be fairly
wild with the old Protestant spirit of lntoi- !
erance, did the children of the Pilgrim Fa- |
theirs hold their ancestral belief New !
England Liberalism, in the radical mean |
ing OF the word, is the only true explana-
ton OF Religious federation in that section
of our land.
-Four Paris journals clamor every morn
inCr for tho conyocotioo oe "a ,.A.-, 49,