The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-23

r4vfton. John Robinson, ard ofher minis
aers II thar and The diacett shsres. also
William Bradford. Of tile neighboEing vii-
aa9e u Ansseraeld. and William Brewster.
The pfa9e IN Witch tsey weTs accustomed
70 meet xas large man,sF-house occupied
b. Brewster, then postmaster at serooby.
ard an earnest axlYocate<f the principles Of
Separation. They formed. in 1866. the
church which a. IN his house, when. in
Bradford's wcrds. they .joyned themselves
f5y covenant OF the Lard into : church
estate. IN sc fellowship 81 ye gospel 70
wake In 81 Ills ways, fnade knewn. or to
he made known INTO them. according 10
their best enaeavOrs. whatsoever il should
c0st them, the Lord Assisting them. This
was the beginning OF the Mayfower church.
They soon found that, on account Of the
fearful and Increasing persecution 70 which
they were subjected on every side. is would
he impoasible for them 20 maintain thsaI-
selves IN England. They found that King
James meant To BE true to his purpose 10
''hary them Ont Of the land. unless they
returned 10 The church they bad left. They
therefore, with much regret for the neces-
ssty, and much opposition and delay in the
land. where they bad heard was free
dome Of religion for all men
After remaining ia Amsterdam abont
a year they removed 10 Leyden. John
Robinson was formally setfied as their
pastor: William Brewster was chosen rui-
ing elder. They were joined while here BY
John Carver. Robert tsushnan. Edward
Ninslew aud others from England. Here
they continued Is church by themselves"
enjoying. - as Bradford has said, much
sweet and delightful society and much
spiritual comfort together in the ways Of
Cod and lived together IN peace and
love and holiness" Their relations were
also pleasant with those around them, and
the influence III the exile church was
strongly felt for good.
Their abode here. however, gradually
wrought within them the conviction that
Holland could not make for them suit
able permanens. home. They found il TO
be country in which il was extremely
difficult to obtain comfortable support;
that many among them were suffering on
this account, while many for the same
reason were kept from joining them.
They were also deeply exercised for the
welfare OF their children, whom. owing TO
the peculiar temptations OF a manu-
featuring city, they found it difficult
70 train in thorough Christian ways;
while they wished TO preserve and perpetu-
ate their distinctive English name and
tongue. The noble thought. moreover,
found place within them. that, by remoy-
ing they might lay "sOme good founda-
ton for advancing the RedeemeF's king
dom in other parts of the world. at length.
having continued in Leyden eleven or
twelve years, the thought of removal be-
came for these reasons their settled pur-
pose: and almost concuryentiy with the
growth and formation Of this purpose, they
were led TO choose the vast and unpeopled
countries of America. then under the do
minion OF the king OF England, as the place
OF their future home.
Accepting the memorably thard terms"
by which the relations OF the enterprise 20
the English government were finally adj
justed, il was agreed among themselves
that the younger and stronger portion of
the church should go at first; also, that
those who went should offer themselves
freely; and that, if the larger portion went,
Mr.. Robinson should 60 with them; ii not.
the elder, Mr. Brewster. only. As the re-
salt of this arrangement. the number of
those who volunteered to go was slightly
less than half. The pastor therefore re-
manned; and. as they were about to leave
Leyden for Delfthaven, fourteen rifles dis.
tant. preached TO them q memorable ser
mon from Ezra viii: q; and. just before
leaving Delfthaven. knelt upon the shore
and commended them with most fervente
praiers to the Lord and his blessing"
After repeated reverses and delays, this
pioneer pilgrim company left Plymouth,
England. September IL. i620, in number
one hundred and two persons, and ended
an ocean voyage of much anxiety ana
peril by anchoring, November II, in the
harbor OF Provincetown. On the 10th of
December third exploring party set eut
and after searching along the shore two or
three days came to "Ciark's island. 2
There. la the words of the record, "on the
sabbath day we rested. I" and on the follow
ing Monday, December a. 1870, they
landed on Plymouth Rock.
Mrs. Heman's Pilgrim hymn, 1.-THE
Breaking Waves Dashed High, was sung
nj the close Of the service