The Hartford herald., 1885-12-09
Che f'urtsRns

The Puriians
hsiior He,ad.
This people originated in England in
opposition to the doctrine of the estab-
lishcd church, and were stiematizad
with the name of PorH0ns from their
desire To have II ''piTer church" and be-
cause they bad resolved, Eat All hazards,
To enjoy the rights of conscicnce." They
were not organized into body till the
reign of Queen Elizabeth, when some
of them, in the North Of England,
Joined themselves together for free re
ligious worship" "They believed that
every man has a right To know the
truth If the Scriptures for himself"
This doctrine was "repugnant To the
Church Of England" and prosecutions
followed, which, in 1907 or lGOS. drove
many Of them to Holland; they remain
Ell at Amsterdam short time and then
Seilt to lyden, where they made their
home for several years Finally they
decided To remove To America; and H.
September 1920. l02 Puritans set sail
for the New World, and hade farewell
forever to the land that would know
them no more. After "a tempestuous
voyage of -iXty-three days the desolate
shores of Cape Cod appeared in view,
and On the 9th of November, they ar
chored their vessel in the bay, which,
in the cabin of the Mayfiower, they
formed, "a solemn compact for their
future well-heiug, of which Ridpath
says: "A nObler document is not to be
found among the records of the world"
form of government. On the 22nI of
December 1870, "ihe Pilgrim Fathers
landed On the Rock of Plymouth II
is useless 20 trace them farther, the read
er is acquainted with their subsequent
history, he knows that like all other
men they have committed wrongs, that
like all other men they were liable tn
and in some instances did entertain er-
TOIiOus views.
The following is the entire running
up Of their character 10y AN able histO-
riau, who, il will be seen, reserves
neither good nor bad:
The history of Massachusetts has
now been traced through period of a
hundred and thirty years. \ few
words on
THE CHARACTER OF THE rURTTANS
may be apparently added they were
in the beginning IA vigorous and hardy
people, tirm-set in the principles of hon
esty aud the practices of virtue They
were sober, industrious, frugal, resoiuie,
Jealous and steadfast. They esteemed
honor above preierment, and truth
more than riches. Loving home and
native land, they left both for the sake
of freedom; and finding freedom. they
cherished it with the zeal and devotion
of martyrs. Without influence, they
became influential; without encourage
ment, great despised and mocked and
hated, they rose above their revilers.
In the school of evil fortune they gained
the discipline Of patience. Suffering
without cause brought resignation with
out despair. Themselves the victim of
persecution, they became the founders
of "A colony "a commonwealth 20 IA ma
tion. They were the children of adver-
sity and the fathers of renOwn. "The
gaze of the Puritan was turned ever To
pOsterity. He believed in the future.
His affections and hopes were With the
coming ages. For his children he toll
Ell and sacrificed; for them the energies
of his life were cheerfully exhausted.
The system of free schools is the endur-
ing monument of his love and devotion
The printing-press is ms memorial.
and asylums are the
tokens of his care for the unfortuna e.
With him the Outcast found sympathy,
aud the wanderer home. He was the
earliest champioG of civil rights, and
the builder of
THE Union