Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-08-27
The Influence on Puritanism /.
]. X. Reed, in Chicago Journal

New Eagland by the severe disci sliue
received previous to the coming. The
p~ersecutions of a mother country. the
perils of an unknown sea, the landing
at Plymouth Rock with garments
frozen by the spray" the long night
of cruel winter, the ravages of dis
ease, could be born only by a people
filed with a noble spirit and iufu~
enced by the highest principles Of
human action. Their character was
founded on the Rock of Ages, and it
was this that supported them when.
in the dead of winter and in a strange
land, sickness lad so reduced them
that at one time there were but seven
of their number able to. perform the
daily labor. But this little band of
devout Christians - brave men and
noble-miLded women - contained the
germ of a mighty nation.
In England, they were the subject
of rIdicuIe for the press and the Stage
Prosecuted by the government and
the church, their life was a struggle
we'll fitted t. develop strength OF
character and force Of purpose. Many
of the writer's of to-day charge them
with bigotry and fanatism. That the
Puritants as a class were austere ia
their daily life, and unattractiye 10
many Of the outward graces that give
polish TO the manners, can not be
denied, But at the same time thew
possessed many deeply~hidden prin-
ciples of virtue, which are, after all,
the true foundation of character.
They were plan. in dress, somber in
aspect and, as q whole, not as well
educated as the ROyalist; but that they
were opposed to education and adj
vaHcement, as some writers claim.
facts do not prove.
Most of their unattractiveness was
on the surface. Their defects were in
their outward culture, while deep
down in the soul they were moved by
a lofty purpose TO secure q wider free
dom for human thought.
To this class belong the Pilgrim
Fathers, although they do not embody
all the characteristics of the Puritans.
The twelve years residence in holland
of q part OF them gave a new stamp To
their thoughts; nor were they imbued
with the spirit Of those who after
ward fought in the army of Ccom-
well. The Pilgrims OF the Mayauwer
were the highest type Of P~uritanism.
They embodied all that was true and
noble Of their sect without any Of
their a~bsurdities.
When we compare the motives that
impelled them to leave their native
land for the wilds of America, with
the motives of many others, they rise
IN our estimation to a still grander
height. They crossed a stormy sea,
enduring hardshlps and privations,
that they might escape religious per-
secution and enjoy freedom Of thought
the highest freedom belonging to
man.
The Spanish were allured to the
New World by an Unsuitable greed for
gold and the love OF conquest; some
came TO satisfy "a longing curiosity
some, TO bring relief to the spirit OF
restlessness; and others, TO extend the
possessions OF their sovereign. It was
none of these things that brought the
Pilgrims to our shores.
Nor lure of conquest's meteor beam,
Nor dazzling mines of fancy's dream,
Nor wild adventures love TO roam,
Brought from their fathers ancient home,
ger the VIDE sea, the Pilgrim host!
Theirs was a grander motive than
any of these; it was &c plant a colony
which should give freedom of thought,
freedom of action and freedom CT
worship to themselves and TO their
posterity.
1t is interesting to trace the history
OF these heroic people from their land
ing at Plymouth until the last of
them wa laid to his final rest. Their
number was small at first, only 102.
and half of these died during the first
year. yet they gave stamp of character
10 all the other settlers of New Eng
land. Others of the puritans in the
mother ~coantry soon followed the for
tunes OF the Pilgrims. Many of them
were well educated and nearly all
were devout Christians. Still IL was
the compact formed in the Mayuower
and the noble integrity Of its trainers
that nodded the mindsof The ~colonists.
The flower of liberty was fir planted
at Plymouth Rock; o it bloomed
IN other places, and now its ripened
trult blesses a nation.
Freedom always promotes edcation
n develops a more elevated tone of
morality thus it was an New Eng
land. Our free school system of
which we ere so proud had its origin
among the Puritan Fathers. Sixteen
years after the landing at Plymouth,
Harvard College was founded, among
whose graduates are ONE of the Ma
tons greatest men.
1t IS Puritanism that mas stamped
the character at our country. Through
1t have come most Of our laws, which
were brought hither from England,
and afterward our statesmen breathed
INTO them the spirit OF freedom. The
sacramehts OF the Sabbath, the pure
moral lone of our customs and insti>
t%utlons, the freedom of religious o
ship-all have their origin in New
England. Other aationalities plant
ed themsel yes on u soil, but Puri-
tan thought has been infused into
tsem all. The French OF the great
Northwest Territory have left no trace
OF their settlement except a few geo