Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-08-07
Dedication of the Monument to the May
flower Pilgrims

OF KY, AND POEM BY JNO. O'REILLY.
AT Plymouth, Mass, on the LIST inst,
was dedicated the Monument to the Pill
grim Fathers. The orator of the occasion
was the eloquent Hon. W. G. ?. Breckin-
ridge, of Ky, and the poet was Mr.. John
O'Relly, the Irish patriot. The weather
was unpropitious, as there was down pour
of rain during the ceremonies. The report
of the New York Herald says Ex-Gov-
ernor Long made most felicitous address
as president of the Pilgrim Society, recall
ing the many that had aided in the monu-
ment building by money or work. He then
presented Mr.. Breckenridge as one who
symbolized that common love and interest
which now MARKS our country.
A KENTUcKIAN's TRIBUTE.
MIR. Breckenridge was greeted with a
storm of applause and cloud of waving
handkerchief. His grafton occupied some
thing over an hour and was fine pro-
duction. Sharp, logical and eloquent, it
excited the interest of all and held their at
tention every moment of its delivery. The
theme was religious and political liberty as
embodied in the life and labors of the Pill
grims. He said in substance =
sit has been urged that one of the honors
to be given to these revered men is that
they were at the beginning Of our institu-
tions; that they left behind them the old
forms and institutions of the other CONT
nent and started new institutions based on
new principl and protected by new gov
ornamental modes. But institutions are
growths, rot manufactures. The option of
institution II material at any given time is
limited, the choice left to statesmen is mar
row, the margin between the lines of de-
velopment is relatively small, and herein
lies the claim to honor among the immor-
tai who lave deserved we'll of mankind,
that at the critical moment, perhaps amid
the din of perilous battle, they chose wisely
and herocally. And as the growth con
tinues eeaselessly there constantly recurs
the necessity for new choice, the obligation
of fresh decision. Thus it is that On the
one hand each generation must meet and
solve Its own problems, and yet on the
other each generation finds that what has
been done before it came into power has
limited It's action and shut it up in straight
eued lines f choice.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
"No hi orian has given, to those who
fist suffered for the sublime truth that
! human free dom was impossible except by
the separa ion of Church and State, that
place Of emiuence which is by right theirs.
This is he truth to which the Pilgrim
Fathers testified. This truth they first
brought to America. This is their true
| honor; til 5 their fadeless crown. The
compa which came over in the May
flower vas the Calvinistic Protestant
Church. It's popularity was that it was a
s5paratist church. It was purely English.
1t differed alike from the Catholic and
English Cj1reh, including the Puritans in
the English Church, and the difference was
wide, fundamental and irreeoncilable. 1t
| involved thing less than the whole ques-
ton of enforced Or free religion, the differ
ence which separated and still separates the
State CHURCHES from the free.
"What IS involved in this belief? That
the church Is a voluntary, spiritual associ-
stion, TO b. governed only by the laws of
Christ and entirely free as a church from
| the domination of the State. The honor
due to the Plymouth Fathers is that they
| first brought that truth as a practical, vital
| principle Of governmental life to this CONT
| nent. i rs an immense stride when this
| separation vas won.
"The nex5 step was more safely taken
that churches were voluntary organic tions
when tia consent of the government gave
authority ever its members. AS soon as it
is a matter Of right to unite with or with
draw from church, to organize or destroy
| a church then religious freedom becomes
-s4l.
any church presupposes the right to refrain
| from uninu with any religious body. But
for highar reason this is also true, for it
is based on he right of private judgment,
aud this is Intellectual.
| mo man can elect for himself the doc.
trines he vii believe, the facts he will &C.
cept or the FIRMS he prefers and the COM
! munion be yearns for until he possesses
mental freedom. We fail to realize how
small Were the vessels which bore the
founders Of States and how meagre was the
| largest prep iration for such ventures. Aud
when We y to weigh the necessities for
successful colonization in such a climate
and country as ours then was, that all such
ventures did not fail is the marvel. But
here, as eve ywhere, the man in the enter
prise is the factor of prime Importance
With all our marvellous inventions and &C.
complishmeuts the true factor of success is
the man. The central point in that sad
da, IS events @as that their reverend pastor
falling on b s knees, and all them with him,
commended them with fervent tears to the
Lord. It was an official act Of the paste.
as the seles cd part of an organized church
| then set apart to the task Of establishing a
| new home in America.
THE SOCIAL coEPACT.
"There was no civil government. These
immigrants did not believe in theocratic
state any III ne than in secularized church.
1t was necessary to organize form of civil
government, and ont of that necessity
| sprung that noble instrument known as the
social compact of the forefathers. That
such CON pact was deemed necessary de-
monstrates now serupulousy these men
held to the paration of State aud Church.
Already ai organised Church, they, by
their own c,.tvictions of the province of its
powers aud ine limitations of it's authority,
felt compeli.-l to form a civil body polite
True emig ants do not leave their country
behind theU', they carry it with their faith
aud custom.
"Men die, these survive. They enter
into the beliefs, convictions, life and hopes
of composite people who are born, trained