New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
PURITANs AND PILGRIMS.

|
EDWARD C. 1owNE DEFENDS rHE MtMoEY OF TIE
| PLYMOUTH FOREFaTHFRs AND TBEIR PASTOR
TIE LIGHT OF THE PILGRIMS Not TO BIZ HID
DEN UNDER THE BUsBEL OF PURIrANfsM.
| To the RAZOR Of The TrtbHRe.
SIR: Since | have been III England, and
engaged IN special study OF the English Origin OF tue
United sates, there have been published In NoW'foh
two works OF the highest character IN most respects
| which yet make than common mistakes about
those Pilgrim Fathers whom ust nov we cal 10 renem'
brance Professor NJ G. Tyler IN his History OF Amerl'
can Literature" does less than justice 10 the PurtaDs,
and 10 the Pilgrims does the grosscs' injustice Dy
arrayiDg them in the Gark'st eoors
OF the worst type Of Puriranism. IL
is great mistake TO use any longer the pep
uar charcoal sketch fPurtan character and manners
Neither I'm England nor IN New En GLAND we're the P0ri-
tans wholly severe ard dark and dogmatc They had
side which bright and genial and LIBERAL. SIDE OF
argeness and breadth, OF sweetness and light The his-
tOrian must recover Puritan humanity, which often
shone with bright light, and not dwell alone on the
Puritan church discipline which commonly showed
that light IN dark eclipse. Looking along the whole limo
OF Puritan history England and IN America, and AL
lowing all the lights Of that his 70 appear, we may
| easily tendencies and promise .n al PurItanism
greatly superior the character only gned 10
the Puritan
And these Tendencies to breadth, and freedom ard
light were thoroughly worked by the Pilgrims al
most nanifestly aud quite as completely ~ by tfer
great contemporary Shakespeare. Mr. Matthew Arnold
says: What poor company Shakespeare would nays
found the immortal men and women ~ tue Mayhower"
He could have endured their want Of humanity, s'ys
Mr.. Arnold. Yet the fact Is. that Shakespeare would
have found in Robinson at LeYdcn, ana
IN Brewster on the Mayf1wer, Teachers Of
broad and GENIAL humanity Ike las own NO. only had
they, as separatsts departed nom luruuirI. but IS
broad Independents they had for the sake Of iberay
well as liberty, departed from s.Ia.atsm, aud had
developed distinct type Of their OWL, much marked
by charity and federation. sweetness ard Nght the de-
pure truth and the study Of earning as the
fl Broad Church type Of the present ~. There y
whole history OF This Pilgrim Churcn and Pilgrim type
OF mind to be restored. aud long chapter would 10
required FOR even condensed statement OF tie PERT.
Bent facts, which show c0acusVey that the
Pilgrims were. Ike Shukcs3e free and ustura and
human; and that IN the better Purtans there was d.
deu the Pilgrim mood and priDcig PIE Of liberty aud igIt
To secure, IN the course % American
DEVELOPMENT, the triumph OF THE Pilgrim principe
VIDE scale. The really the 10 tie history OF
culture AMI freedom IN America, and when Professor
Tyler completely msrepres,nts IT. he make the greatest
the most dana ging. and the most unfortunate mistake
when the subject admits Of
But worse tnan thi- is attempted hy Dr. Dexter IN
one recently published lectures Coueregatonai-
ism. an stan ey, adIr, 10 the students Of the
Scotch University OF ST. Andrew, quoted the famous
farewell address Of The Pilgrim pastor, the sagacous
and sanity Robinson aud pronounced 10 the charter OF
think He argues that the address had no such mean
Ing as has been gwen To it, lie tn.uks 10 establish
another view, with the result OF having as be says,
pulled down the pastor Of the Pilgrims from
that high pedestal wherein the late genera
tions-and more especially the heterodOX among
them-Aave delig GIFTED to exalt him as the
apostle OF thought 50 progressive as
to be quite out OF sight 81 his 0"n times, and the
prophet OF a liberalism having unlinned capacity 10
embrace further light" Dr. xrer's argument in
support OF lis view ia this. He SAYS:
need hardy refund You tia the theology OF the
Synod Of bort was Calvlnlsm IN lts STREET and Stern
form. or that the spirit in which it conceived aud
carried out had in IL the opposite OF toleraon-had IN
H. indeed, hardly the disability OF much a. tie con.
ception that the good men Of any mture ags
dfiGrent from that in WHEN it conceived them.
for any cnn Si1oe pseson to read i earthly R5bpnsoSs
treatise defence OF the doctrine Of this synod without
with synod merely the articles OF faith which
it had formulated but N that anlmn OF niaiiety ana
held them Such being the fact II Is impossible that no
which he has been commonly required 10 nave spoken.
Nothing shore OF insanity coIld have made nim teach
the fashion OF the sellstyed advanced thinkers"
OF to-day.
Such is Dr. Dexter's view and there bat one dini.
Guilty about every point OF it that new can BE- shown
upon the most conclusive evidence of RObnsOn's own
many and clear declarations absolutely contrary
10 fact Robinson certainly orthodox Cavlnis:,
as against the Arminians, but he had manhood so
great and spiritual and free that the theological
garb sat lightly upon him. and be presented the unique
spectacle OF orthodox Cayluist. a. the worst
moment orthodox Calyinism saw, rising COM
pletely above his orthodoxy III a temper
Of charity toleraton genteness and lberatyl which
has never been surpassed There evidence OF the most
nere ting character that the Armnlan cause derived
lis strength from the more Christian spirit of its cham.
pions and that when Robinson Into the cOutro:
yersy on the orthodox side public dispntan his
immediate success due entirely to hts unexaDpled
superiority only the wild beasts Of Dutch Calyau.
ism around him, but the gentle aud liberal Armt
mans opposed him. There evidence also that Rob-
nsou felt that his parry had brought things TO
such Drit and violent dogmatism that lie
thought wilderness than the DaDy BE waa
forced to keep The evidence that Robinson taught tho
federation. and that the Pilgrims thoroughly car.
RED abundant aud conclusive. DR. Dexter mas
evolved a Robinson from his own logical Consciousness
OF the sayings and the steaaflst course OF lie ana
character prove the real Robin. to have been
more liberal than he appears IN tie farewell
address He was indeed, out OF sight OF his own hes
ne desired to keep unlimited ms capacity
to embrace further light " and when all the facts, 0f
what ne said and what he did and what lie was, aro
brought his pedestal is foul 10 lit HIM quito
OF the reach OF rash attempts To pull nm down Dc.
Dexter written due care; for the proofs
which he neglect both many ana conclusive III Rob-
nsons words ana they leave nothing 10 OF de- ired
IN support the most favorable view c RJblnsOns lie
usrious superiority 10 his his party, and even his
faith.
II / succeed in returning TO America with the now
year | shall make public the fascinating story or
the Pilgrim Church as have succeeded IN recovering
it, IL ; esretted that the %or-t attrmpt ever
made 10 hide Pilgrim lign under the Puritan busbel
has had exceptional o: learning the truth. d..
Dexter not GENTLY conscious OF he difference
EDWARD c. TONNE
UaderJonk Parsonage Stanhsgion, Ssegtetd eng.
tCnd Dec. I, 1880