The New York herald., 1873-12-22
UNITY CHAPEL.


tans- -Forefathers Day and the Fathers
or Our Civilixa xation-Scrmon by the Rev.
w. r. Clarke.
The Rev. w. T. Clarke preached to a goodly sized
congregation yesterday morning on 'The Puritans
in America" He took no tcxt but after the simple
but somewhat novel ritual, in which the congrega-
tion took part, nc began by saying:
IL Is Foreiathers Day. The Puritan was hero
without knowing 1t. We write history but he made
It, lie would have burned the house over his head
rather than have had novel inside of It,, but he
lived the romance of modern times. Down at Ply
mouth, where they had been collecting relics for
half century, they have only paltry gathering
to show, such as pieces OF crockery, an old nint
lock with which Miles Standish may have killed
q half dozen Indians, and a spinning wheel
at when Priscilla Mlen may have been
at work when John Alden came to press his elders
suit and ended by pressing his own The place Is
stepped in an indednable spirit, bracing as the
east wind, but impalpabe as the air. You look
for the Puritan, but find only an epitaph and an In
nuence. The old Puritans were so intent on doing
the business they had In hand that they could not
stop to posture before looking glass ana get
photographer to picture them at prayer. The
Puritans were
THE ENGLISH CoME-oUTERs
and Observation-Disclosures OF the sixteenth and sew
land sldewise and only one-half of 1t wes con-
verted. Henry vIII and Elizabeth mixed little
Rome and q little reason together to make re-
llgion which should satisfy everybody. But there
were courageous Catholics who were dis
obiging enough not to be content, while thousands
The naongrel religion as new idoiatry. They were
prosecuted, but the more thumbscrews the more
thinking. Some Of them ned to Holland, but got
homesick there. 1t was under foreign rule. They
didn't like the free ana easy ways and religion or
the Hollanders. They feared the intermarrage OF
their children with the eLowanders, and the thought
Of becoming the grandfather OF Dutcn baby made
their hair stand on end. They couldn't understand
Dutch, and questioned whether God could be wor.
shipped in such Church. They said, Anywhere
but here.u Non-cOnformists had multiplied in
England, and the seeds Of emigration filled the air.
They puCked themselves up by the roots for q
new planting, and departed for America. in face
OF policy, in defiance OF political economy, upon
principle. The heroism OF their trust lett their in
significant enterprise 10
HISTORIC IMMORTALITY.
The preacher quoted from their words and writ
ngs to show that they felt they were charged with
mission and responsibility Tor its success. The
compact in the cabin ol the NARROWER showed what
were the seed germs OF our civilization Their
landing was no sucn picturesque affair as modern
hour or two in the wintry surf poserlty to ad-
mre their pose, but got out OF II soon as possible:
wealth, but . nome. Tney had come not TO look,
but 10 stay. The moral intrcpidity and culture OF
years ssaU we're Su.er he Other blood ns
Iormists followed. But they did not agree.
The Massachusetts colonlsts were theocrats.
wealth built on Old Testament principles, and as
Tue Connecticut colonlsts were CalvinIsts OF the
bluest school, while the Plymouth coionsts were
FAITH or THE NEW ENGLAND pyaITAss
was as many-coiored as Josepss's coat; but they
agreed ln repudiating the laanulactured religions
OF the English Court, which was neither Roman
else. R0ref
Puritan than the Puritans. They got tired OF per.
scouting for opinions sake; New necessities and
was only rationalism in the making. Every year
thought br99adened and they began to see that II
religion is till 1t is free. Their history Is
Continent wheFe Il fad I agiintsq room % for expan.
planted s so and nd s PIT S' syYsy sy sss adbcSa
on brook which br0adened and dcepcned until
they found themselves on the ssaoreIess sea: The
lNED fIIEk FAITH STRAIGHT ouy
opinions are leaves, while convection ii ( tree.
Most men are buried In opinions beautiful as
Ss and orea cat Sa q snSs s
the fire OF thought or fertilize the sentiments or
the heart The puritans had convictions and sacrl.
Lob. Lob, III Its beams broadened and its glow warmed
their souls, and tncy wciv s,o...-a Nv its Traoia-
tions. They were
II Is easy to ridicule reformers and idcaIists,
Nobody wants swapping turtle tor companion,
nor porcnpine for Dedfellow. Bat moral quail
ties are more than peculiarltles OF manner or
auRularites OF character. The old Puritans looked
into the heavens and saw what they thought was
the truth or God shining there, and they hitchcd
their wagon TO that star and 1t drew them TO
new world and made them the pioneers OF DEM
ocrattc civilization and the founders OF new
nationality Their lesson TO us is faith 10 ideas
and fidelity In truth, which is the moral gravlta-
ton oil tho universe.