The New York herald., 1873-12-22
LYRIC HALL.

Make-Ur OF the New England Pilgrims-
Heterogcneousness of Character, but
Unity of spirit-Sermon by the Rev. O.
b. rockingham.
The subject OF Mr. Frothingham's discourse yes.
terday morning. 'sThc Puritan Spirit,r was one
calculated to attract very large assemblage, and
the result was that the hall was crowded to Its
utmost capacity. He took no text, but plunged
directly into his subject, saying that the 22d day
Of December recalls one OF those events that are OF
vast significance through the whole modern world.
1t has shaped some Of our noblest institutions.
refer, he said, to the
LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS
on the rock OF Plymouth and intend TO dwell on
the spirit Of this event. and not OF its history BY
the spirit mean the intentions ana purposes Of
that little band OF men and women. They were a
community, and included people from every condi-
tion OF life-the rich, the poor, the rude, the
refined the learned, the illiterate. They numbered
among them some OF the finest scholars, some Of
the greatest poets and some OF the deepest think
ers OF their generation The Puritans were many,
their soul was one, and 1t Is OF this spirit that
made them one OF which am to speak. In what
did that spirit essentially consists The Puritans
were the Protestants OF the Protestants. They
were believers in the doctrine OF justification by
faith. This meant that every one that
that believed in the Holy Scripture ana
was faithful to the revealed Word, stood face to
face with the Lord Christ This soul, whether rich
or poor, educated or ignorant, could go to Christ
without any introduction. They were opposed to
the Pope Of Rome and TO every other Pope. Every
ecclesiastical institution that served to introduce
them to their Master was an obstacle and an i'm.
pertinence. How must they have felt toward the
KingS He had control over conscience. What
mans religion was concerned his private soul.
1t involved his strength in temptation and his
everlasting felicity. lie would sacrifice anything
rather than have any one domineer over his birtn.
right ne men ~ e wno ow bn JON ees oau ws '1Ss tS
rack, the dungeon, the stake, exile and utter mis-
cry for their children. They were dreadlully per.
seemed as though every particle o.humanity must
be crushed out OF them 1t is not enough to say that
they were merely Protestants. Their idea Was to
start
NEW CHURcH AND NEW SOCIETY.
Their religion was the simplest They were
Calvinists and stanch believers. They believed In
the depravity OF human nature with all their mpds.
They believed in a future OF endless bliss or OF end
ss diy Se wSrS e s1
tics or doubters among them. They were be.
ncyers, and they would have desplsed themselves
not hierarchy, but spiritual society. They made
no confession Of sins and asked no absolution,
They read the Scriptures without questions In
own hymns. They chose their own pastors and
teachers. they married without minister. At
their meetings women and young people
we're allowed to speak. They were foun-
tains OF law, and from them cmapated Judgment
All women we're disfrancnised. lie tune had not
come for them to admit women. Alter all their
government was an arstocracy. person to be q
voter must belong to some church In the colony.
HOW can men who have no conception oil law enact
laWsr Can corrupt men build up an incorrupt
governments They centred justice In the church
members or saints. as the kings and emperorS do
IN themselves. The Puritan was reformer. He
Ielt ms dear Old England the home OF his fathers
ana the scene OF all his early enjoyments, and
crossed the sea- landing on an inhospitable shore,
that ne might build up new society. The evils In
the Old World he would have TO pull up.by the
roots, and he was not strong enough; but here he
could build his society on fresh soil. Ii was very
high idea-a glorious dream-and the spirit that
they had was as brave and beautiful as has ever
been seen on this planet. They were
NOT DREAMERs.
The Bible was their book OF laws, and tbev took
the Old Testament In preference 70 the New. We
say the code was very severe. II was very stern
but they did not make 1t. They accepted il be.
cause 1t was the purest While they studied Its
austere provisions they studied It's sweet provisions
too. No man could be imprisoned for debt unless
1t was proven that he was withholding what he
could pay The greatest OF our historians says
that up to the time OF his writing no nation In
Europe had so humane criminal law as that OF
the New England Puritans. The Puritans were
the children OF an epoch; they were not for all
time, but Tor their own time Question the doc
trlnG OF total deprAvty on which they r0gted and