The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-12-12
Puritanism.
10 the Home Journal :

10 the Home Journal
Historians have loved to eulopix
the manners and virtues, the glory mn,
the benefits Of chivalry. Puritauisn
accomplished far more. If il had III,
sec!arlan crime Of Intolerance, chiyalr,
had the vices Of dissoluicness. TN,
knights were brave from gallantry o
spirit, the Puritans from fear Of God
The knights were proud of loyalty the
rurllans OF liberty. Chivalry delighted
IN outward show, favored pleasure mul
lipied amusemcnts, and degraded III,
human race by an exclusive resDect 70,
the privileged classes; Puritanism bri
dled the passions, commanded the yir.
tues Of selfdenial, and rescued the name
Of man from dishonor. The former
valued courtesy ; the latter justice. The
former adorned society by graceful re-
hnements; the latter founded national
grandeur on universal education. The
institutions Of chivalry were subyerted
by the gradually increasing weight and
knowledge, and opulence Of the indus.
trial classes; the Purtans, relying up.
on those CLASSES, planted in their hearts
"ndiylng principles of liberty Ban.
crgf. Amen.
Puriianism had Objectionable feat.
''res But it had some saving qualities,
and these qualities have been the saror
OF our civil and religious institutions.
a son may see and acknowledge the
ianlts OF his father. but he is a son of
his father all the same. This same son
may reject the faults OF his father and
retain his fathers good qualities on
which he can build noble character
for himself. AS nation We have re-
jected the faults, but have retained the
fundamental principles of Puritanism.
However much We may ctnsure it, We
must understand that it was genuine
thing" Carlyle says, "Look now at
American.Saxondom and at that little
fact of the sailing Of the Mayhower, two
hundred years ago, from Deft Haven,
in Holland. Were we of large sense II.
the Greeks were, We had found IL poem
here, of natures own poems, such
ms she writes in broad facts over great
continents; for it was properly the he
ginning % America. There were strag
Cling s,lllcrs in America before; but tie
s,W of Il WsH frA MB"-Puritapism.
l AIN glad that the Mayhower did not
z" down III mid-ocean. Tam profound
" thankful for what the Puritans have
done for us ms people. Our strength
rs Republic lies in the principles of
PnriI"n.sIn,-frst inbibed and boldly
maintained by TIE Pilgrim fathers who
landed "n the bleak shores of New Eng.
lanl. These statements express NV
'ilIlmcnis concerning the Puntans.
Other men us free rs | am have differ
cit sentiments. lcnterno protest. The
records Of History are open for the freest
Il d iulIr't investigation. My convic-
tions haze not been crummed into me,
neither d. | want to cram them into
iiny b .dy else. dislike the cranlminq
lroc,ssany way. am willing for my
statements in regard to the Puritans on
inanhsgiTing-day TO stand, or fall, on
their own merits, in the judgment of
those who heard them.
Owing To little protest made in
your last weeks paper, | feel 1t be.
coming and just to myself to make the
above statements. They stand or fall
in the judgment of your readers. /
have nothing more to say on the sub
lcct. }. L. CURRY.