The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-23
A Fitting Observance Of Forefathers'
Day at Aayfower Church.
Entertaining Addresses by Revs- James Nc
LeOd, Oscar G. McCulloch and 0thers-0ld-
Time Customs and Those of To- Day.

The audience filling the neat little building was
warmly apprecative of the many good things
said of the God-fearing pioneers on the bleak
New England coast. No elaborate programme
had been arranged, but it offered many Incl
dents Of enjoyment. An hour was spent in so
cial greeting, after which Miss Willard sang.
The Rev. n. A. Hyde, D. d.. pastor of the con-
greeation, spoke of the Pilgrims virtues, their
religious zeal and love of liberty. Detailing his
torcal incidents, he touched them with
pleasing coloring of the Puritan's social life. He
said the principles of that people had taken deep
root in this country. They had quiet, religious
Sabbath. why, it was the CUSTOM he re-
marked, 'for the constable to go to the public
house on the Sabbath to see that the guests were
observing it in BETTING manner A whale cast
on shore was regarded by them as a providential
gift, for the hrst portion of the oil went
TO the community. and the next to the
church. 'They gave the oil to the Lord" he
said, 'for a whale saved prophet of the Lord"
Puritan virtues and customs needed no greater
proof of excellence than the health and long life
of the forefathers. Sixty years after the land
ing at Plymouth" the reverend gentleman said,
twelve of the original colo ~ still lived They
had reached ages between eighty-fve and nine
ty. John Alden lived to be ninety years of age,
and descendant of his reached the age of one
hundred and two years"
Mrs. Allen then read very effectively Long
fellows miles Standish," after whom came the
Rev. DR.. Mcleod. of the Second Presbyterian
Church. He said:
When my friend. DIR. Hyde, invited ma to
Join in this celebration. / hardly knew what
TO make of it He said that his people were
going to commemorate the Landing
of the Pilgrims" Very good, said to myself,
but what on earth had to do with the landing
of the pilgrimsl And what had the land
ing of the pilgrims to do with mel
am not son OF New England
nor of old England either, for that matter.
/ belong to another of the tribes of Israel. Why.
then, should be invited2 l think understand it
now. DIR. Hyde has been long time in this city.
He loves it, and takes great delight in its pros
perity. He has been keeping his eyes wide open.
and having seen that there is tendency IN
some quarters to depreciate the Puritans. and to
abandon all Puritan notions. he resolved to do
what he could to keep the Presbyterian churches
OF this city. or at least one OF them. straight on
all theological questions | am not sure that he
will succeed but, all the same. / admire his tact;
for how could he secure his object more effect
lively than by inviting his wayward brethren,
Oh such an occasion as this to visit his May
flower and watch for little the movements of
her pilgrim crew.
But, apart from the motive that prompted my
good friend to invite me, thank him very
heartily for the privilege i. gives of seeing
goodly a band of pilgrims, and of wishing them
God speed in their onward march.
Pho memories which cluster around Plymouth
Rock well calculated to stir ones soul to it's
deepest depths Indeed it would be wonder
If some of you should believe it is greater
honor to be ineal. and especially a rectiineal,
descendant of the Puritans than to be able to
trace ones origin back to kings. There is a roy
atty nobler in Gods sight and in our sight, too,
than that which sits any earthly throne.
From this point of view the sons of the pilgrims
can lay claim to a right royal ancestry.
III were asked to state the reasons why the
Puritans worthy Of such praise my chief
difficulty would be that it would take too much
time. We have at least 265 reasons for praising,
and admring. and loving and remembering the
pilgrim fathers. From the time they landed on
our shore, in December, 1920 until now, there has
not been q year-nay, more. there has not been
day. when this land has not had reason to thank
God for their advent Their mission, like that
of the Savior of the world, meant "peace on
earth, good will to men," 1t mere sell
fish motive that prompted them to seek home
in the new world. Their declaration of principles
and their compact drawn up in the cabin of the
Mayfower made manifest to the world what
their purpose was. They expatriated themselves
'for the glory of God, for the advancement of
the Christian faith" and, further let it be
corded to their everlasting honor. they also
sought the "honor of king and country"
They were loyal to their king, but they were
still more loyal to their conscience. They were
patriotic to the last drop of blood in their veins.
but they resolved TO forsake their country rather
than suffer tyranny. All honor to their mem
DRY! Miles Standish, John Alden, Brewster, and
Bradford. and Winslow, Priscilla Mullens. and
not forgetting Mary Chiffon. who was the first of
the foremothers to pland her feet on Plymouth
Rock. We can fancy how her merry laugh
made music with the water as she waded through
shem to the shore! A grand day that for New
England! A grand day for this Nation! A
grand day for the world!
We are not called upon to indorse either, all
she theology or all the conduct of those old Pur
ftans Some of their ideas were a little too jew
ish to be Christian. But they are to be judged
by that age and not by this; and judged by that
age they tower far above their contemporaries.
They loved liberty, but they had respect for law.
They hated everything inconsistent with truth and
righteousness They were honest they were de-
cent. they were united. they were patriotic.
They endured trials and hardships like the Son
of God And so to. those hardy sons of hardy
sires owe under God. all that a
nation. 1t their sons who declared the
truth that "All men are born free and equal" 1t
was their sons our fathers, who wrote down and
signed that historic document which wiped out,
so far as this country is concerned. that dogma
which so long had cursed the world. touching
the divine right of kings. 1t was their sons who
laid down the sublime political axiom that Gov
ernments derive their just power from the con-
sent OF the governed Let US bear these things
IN mind as we celebrate the landing of the pill
grims
But have been wondering why the celebra-
ton of this event should be observed by only
one church In this city Is not every church
interested in itl Why. even our Roman C.th-
olic fellow citizens ought to hold jubilee over
fhis historic event. And, indeed. all good citi-
xens, irrespective of creei OF nationality. or
political differences. ought to remember Fore
fathers dew, and thank God for it.
That distinguished Englishman who recently
vioi I'D ri a sOno az ha hat
cuted and drove the forefathers from England,
said many pleasant things about America during