Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-04
NO. 26l.
#isfella
From the Salem Observer.
A REVIEW OF THE PAST FROM THE QUAK.
ER STANDPOINT.
SALEM, MASS, emo. 30th, 1878.

To the Editor Of The Observer: -
My DEAR FRIEND Please allow me,
| through the colums of thy paper, to pre-
| sent few facts and reflections brought to
mind as have read, with interest, the re-
port OF the exercises in Mechanic Hall,
9mc. 18th. to commemorate the landing of
| Gov. Endicott upon our New England
| coast in the seventeenth century. With
| much. Of course, both of the letter and the
spirit of those exercises l am In warm
sympathy, but l have been led to see
| clearly that they present to the public,
| facts, solemn historical facts, in . some-
what one-sided manner. In simple JUS
| tice to the present and rising generations,
| 1t seems to me that more OF the truth,
| the whole truth, in the case should be
| stated. Had the scenes of violence and
intolerance which married the annals Of
the early days of this colony. transpired
but ten or twenty years ago, We should
consider our Christian faith and dignity
and charity not a little compromised, If
we came together to celebrate them
with song and Grafton and feast; why
should the interval of two hundred and fif-
ty years that has elapsed make US to feel
so very differently in the matter? Why
not, with equal propriety, push this mat
ter of historical research and commemora.
tion yet a little further; perchance we
should find line OF descent with some
| unimportant breaks, running away back,
through the years, as far az the founders
of the Spanish inquisition.
Now about this time, there were In differ
ent parts of England. some ten thousand
Quakers, taken from their homes, their
vocations, and their meeting houses, and
placed in ails. prisons-honest, indus
trious, inoffensive, aud God-fearing peo-
pie. Many of the prisons were vile and
filthy places; oit-times they were placed
in the same apartments among murderers
and criminals of the lowest order, and
numbers Of the prisoners died during their
| incarceration from disease contracted,
some being thus shut up for years.
William Penn was about this time COM
mitted to Newgate. and in response to Sir
John Robinson, who sentenced him and
who accused him of sedition, he said:-
1--WE (Friends) have the unhappiness
| man that Will dare to justify this accusa-
ton to my face. and if l am not able to
make it appear that it is both my practice
and that of all the Friends to instill prin-
ciple of peace on all occasions, (and
war only against spiritual wickedness.
| that all men may be brought to fear God
| and work righteousness) l shall content
| edly undergo the severest punishment
your laws can expose me to. As for the
King, make this offer, ii any one living
can make appear directly or indirectly
| from the time have been called Quak-
err (since it Is from thence you date my se-
dtion) have contrived or acted anything
| injurious to his person, or to the English
government, shall submit my person to
your utmost crutlties. But it is hard that
being innocent should be reputed guilty"
Robinson said, "You bring yourself into
trouble, he aiding parties and drawing peo-
pie after you Penn responded II
would have thee and all men know scorn
| that religion which is not worth suffering
| for, which is not able to sustain those who
are afflicted for it. Mine is. and whatever
be my lot l am resigned 10 the will of
| God. Thy religion persecutes, mine for
gives, and desire that God may forgive
you all that are concerned in my commit
ment. l leave you. wishing you everlast-
ing salvation" Well, it was natural amid
such surroundings and trials that some
should be led 10 leave their native coun-
| try and seek an asy lum in our wilderness
colony. Endicott now had the opportuni-
| ty to play the part OF hero and true
Christian but no, he chose rather to be
tyrant and prosecutor; whippings, i'm
prsonment and death here awaited the
coming of the poor, down-trodden Quak-
ers. He had them publicly lashed, con-
| fined in jails, and three were hung on
Boston Common. Between Penn and En-
| dicott it was not so much question OF
time, of education, of generation. (for
they both figured in the same century. rs
of obedience to the Light; the former fol-
lowed and obeyed, the latter tram
pied 1t under foot. And surely these must
be rated as days of religious declension
when high functonaries in church and
state could so far come to ''believe lie,"
as TO give their countenance and their aid
to the preparation and the consummation
of the follies. the horrors. and the crimes
of the witchcraft delusion.
The names of the three victims men,
ton above were William Robinson, Mar
maduke Stevenson, and Mary Dyer.
William Lenra was also executed later, 10
another place. Mary Dyer is described
as ..person of no mean extract and par
entage, of an estate pretty plentiful, of q
comely stature and countenance, of .
piercing knowledge in many things, of a
wonderful sweet and pleasant discourse,
fit for great affairs" She was q minister
| in the society, AS were also the other two.
Nicholas Upsal, Notwithstanding the mfr
mites of old age, was exiled from Bos-
ton in the winter of 1866. 'He had ven-
tured to demonstrate with the rulers of
Massachusetts, on their passing law for
the banishment of that cursed sect Of her
etics lately risen up in the world. common
ly called Quakers, and prohibiting all
commanders of ships. under penalty Of .
heavy fac, from bringing them into that
Jurisdiction Leaving his wife and chill
Idren and the colony in which long before
he had taken refuge from persecution at
home. the old man at last reached Rhode
Island.
Although during many years he had taken
deep interest In the particular Puritan con-
gregation of which he was a member, be
had found that forms and ceremonies could
not satisfy his soul, and on hearing the
l