Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
The Influence OF Puritanism
j. K. Reed, in Chicago Journal.

NEW hugland by the severe dISclBIine
received previous to the coming. The
prosecutions of mother country. the
perlls 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
filled with noble spirit and infu~
enced by the highest PRINCIPLES Of
human action. Their character was
founded or the Rock of Ages, and it
was this that supported them when,
III the dead of winter and In strange
land, sickness bad 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 2 mighty nation.
In England, they were the subject
OF rldicule for the press and the stage.
Prosecuted by the government and
the church, their life was struggle
well fitted to develop strength of
character and force of purpose. Many
OF the writers of to-day charge them
with bigOtry and fanatism. That the
Purltants as a class were austere in
their Gaily life, and unattractiye in
many of the outward graces that give
polish TO the manners, can not be
denied, But at the same time they
possessed many deepIy~hidden prin-
clples of virtue, which are, after all,
the true foundation of character.
They were plain in dress, som Der in
aspect and, as whole, not as we'll
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 UDattractivenesS 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 .. part of them gave new stamp to
their thoughts; nor were they imbued
with the spirit OF those who after
ward fought IN the army of Cron-
well. The Pilgrims of the Mayfower
were the highest typ3 Of Puritanlsm.
They embodied all that was true and
noble OF their sect without any Of
their absurdities.
When we compare the motives that
lmpell6d 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 hardshIps and privatiOns,
that they might escape religious per-
secution and enjoy freedom Of thought
the highest freedom belonging to
man.
The Spanish we're allured to the
New World by an Unsuitable greed for
gold and the love of conquest; some
came TO satisfy longing curiosity;
some, to bring relief to the spirit of
restlessness; and others, to extend the
possessions of their sovereign. 1t 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 wide sea, the Pilgrim hOStl
Theirs was a grander motive than
any of these; 1t was 10 plant colony
which should give freedom Of thought,
freedom Of action and freedom Ct
worship to themselves and to their
posterity.
Ii is interesting TO trace the history
OF these heroic people from their land
ing st Plymouth until the last OF
them was laid to his final rest Their
number was small at first, only 1Q2
and half of these died during tae first
year. yet they gave stamp of character
to all the other settlers Of New Eng
land. Others of the puritans in the
mother country soon followed the for
tunes of the Pilgrims. Many Of them
were well educated and nearly all
were devout Christians Still 1t was
the compact formed in the May10wer
and the noble integrity OF its trainers
that nodded the mindsof the colonists
The flower Of liberty was fir t planted
at Plymouth Rock; soon it bloomed
IN other places, aud now its ripened
fruit blesses q nation.
Freedom always promotes edcati0n
and develops q more elevated tone Of
morality; thus it was a New Eng
laud. Our free school system of
which we are SO proud had is origin
among the Puritan Fathers. Sixteen
years after the landing at Plymouth,
Harvard College was founded. among
whose graduates are some of the Ma
ton s greatest men.
IL is PuritaniSm that mas stamped
the character at our country. Through
it have come most of our laws, which
were brought hither frona England,
and afterward our statesmen breathed
into them the spirit of freedom. The
sacrameats OF the Sabbath, the pure
moral tone of our customs and insti>
tutions, the freedom of religious wor-
ship-all have their origin IN New
England. Other natjonalities plant
ed themsel yes on our soil, but Puri~
tan thought has been infused into
them all. The French of the great
Northwest Territory have left no trace
of their settlement except 8 few geo
graphical names. o. the Dutch,
~ ! - L.