New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-01
PILGRIMS AND PURITANS.

To the EditOrO Of The tribune.
SIR: Among the addresses made at the New
England Festival IN Brooklyn December 81 was one by
Judge Noah Davis He very correctly assigned 10 the
Pilgrims and the Plymouth Colony and Government a
higher place In the matter of religious liberation than TO
the Puritan Government Of Massachusetts Bay. IL
certainly that persecution for opinions sake never
hourlshed among the former as among the latter Inc
Purans and Pilgrims had both suffered from Oppres-
on but the latter who had quit the Church of gland
which the had not done at their settlement in
America, had prodted by their hard experience, and
been led into advanced ideas To the rights of
conscience: This better spirit largely characterized
their entire history under their separate political organ
ization. As Judge Davis truly says NO witch was
ever hanged and no Quaker was over executed in
the Old Colony.
So far agree with him. but think he goes beyond the
facts when he ads Through the hates and contests OF
religious ZEAL and the crueties of superstition which
ragged around them the Pilgrims OF Plymouth Colony
walked the path of their own religious faith; but
they kept unbroken the of their compact and
held the body polite 1t created pure but ere In equal
laws and eyen-handed justice TO all Several laws
were passed against the Quakers as the records show
and these people found them TO be not an Idle Letter.
Quaker settlement effected in Sandwich. nj that
early period and the descendants OF the present day
who III that town stil maintain the faith aud worship OF
their fathers have welpreseryed traditions OF hard
sbps which certainly savOrcd strongly Of persecution.
The most glazing Instance OF intolerance was the treat
mcnt of Captain Cudworth-a brother Of Ralph Cud-
worth author of The intellectual System of the Uni
verse by the Plymouth Government He WIS one OF
the very earliest settlers ana Ter many years heid h
portant positions in the Government lie was Jealous
church member and man ot influence throughout me
cnlouy Hut he was 80 unort ulmc t0 he liberal in
his ideas Contrary to the laws he did alb Quaker 10
pdrtake OF bis hospitality ana whtn called 20 account ny
- authorftes for so fragrant breach the statute
against herec ne said that he thought II wen to INFORM
himself personal acquaintance as 10 tht hhcler ana
opinions OF me 1ahefs oTdoS err 10 tie
General Court. OF which he was himself member be
sides being magistrate authorized aud directed 10 en-
force the laws. This however was born win, III the
hope of amendment, but when la proceeded iuTiLct 10
NM his tolerant ideas into letter 10 friend who was
also leading man IN the colony and OF kindred spirit bu
at that time In IOndOn,-JOhn BrOWn,-Wlnch htltf or u
cony somehow found It's way back to Plymouth and
INFO the hands the stern Governor Prince, II was
thought necessary TO advance from grass 10 stone
when confronted with this letter WlI , na;, II Ne
which would like to give IN his own admirable words
and asked whether he was the author IT, he frankly
reptile that he And he stood his ground Where
upon Governor Prince aud his associates III the Govern
ment had an act passed dis!ranchisllg hul cJeGtng
CHILE to any Office thereafter. Thus they put n1eT TIC
ban OF the bcstnen OF the colony Tor no other crime
than cing better Christian than themselves And for
thirteen years shut ont from all participation In
the rig is and privileges of citizenship ,.,., 800,
But time wrought change IN the pubic MIMI ana
when Prince-whO had been the leading spirit IN ms
persecution there was general demand Tor On-
Indian war threatened destruction 10 the colony, he II
was who by universal consent was called Ia the mead OF
fine army Of defence, under the title OF General Cud
worth when Il charter for the colony-which II never
had-was sought 1t was he asau who was sent to
| /" accomplish his mission. He died in ondon.
II ehould be said the other hand, that the ruling
men of the Massachusetts Bay Colony quite
satisfied with the tolerant measures o the sister
colony and occasionally reminded its Government Of
the duty of enacting stringent laws against hcroy
II largely an influence from across the border That
put persecung laws upon the statute book OF Ply
laws. however. of mder type and even as such less
4 rigdIy executed, than In the neghbOring colony
Boston. Dec %, 1882. j. CHAPLIN.