Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-17
.MEMENTOES OF JOHN BUNYAN
Presented to the Baptists of the
City of Wilmington.
GIFTS FROM HON. 7. +. BAYARD
Obtained by. Him WhileH He Was
in England.

A Reproduction Oh a Chair Used by the
Author of "Piigrin's Progress" "a Fac
Arrested anda Copy OF His Famons Book.
In; Second BAPTIST Church. Ninth
and Franklin streets, Monday, Hon,
Thomns +. Bayard presented to the
Baptists at Wilmington three memen :,
toes OF the great Baptist, Johp BuDyan.
The gifts comprised reproduction of
the chair used by Bunyan while in
Bedford Jail, a fac simile of the writ
under which hetwas arrested and fac
emile ofsthe first edition Of bis famous
book. . Pilgrims Progress, ',all OF which
wore secured by Mr.. Bayard while be
was in England. Mr.. Bayard presented
they we're received on behalf Of the
Bantists of Wilmington By the Rev.
Richard d. Cook, ID. d.. and on be.
half OF Second Baptist Church, which
will be their custodian, BY the Rev.
Frederic Il. Briggs. The Rev. Henry
@. Vedder, d. d., professor OF church
history in Grocer Theological Semi
nary. also spoke concerning the effect
of Bunyan's stand for freedom OF con-
science.
The exercises we're attended by a
large congregation. The thrae gifts
we're on chair near the reading desk
and the f0ur speakers occupied seats on
the PLATFORM. Behind them were a
number OF clergymen,e including the
Rev. Lafayette Marks. D. H., OF Han
over Presbyterian Church. the Rev. DIR.
Moss. president of the merican Bap-
tIst Historical Society and the Rev.
Wesley Sullivan of Philadelphia the
Revs. Moses Heath, o. q. Budding
ton, A. =. Mihm, b. T. Moore, II. q.
Jones and Elmer W. POWELL
Under the leadership of N. b. Dan
forth the choir sang ths selection Like
Shepherd after which the pastor OF
the church, the Rev. Mr.. Briggs. made
the opening remarks, saying that the
occasion was one Of pleasure and de-
light. 4 few days ago while Mr..
Bayard was uppackine his effects be
expressed desire that some OF the
things should be given to the Baptists
of Wilmington. To receive those gifts
was the occasion and Mr.. Briggs took
pleasure in introducing lion. Thomas
f. Bayard, formerly United States Ser
ator, Secretary OF State and until rs-
Gently Ambassador to Great Britain.
Mr.. Bayard was cordially greeted.
In opening his address he, referred to
the book entitled "Our Old Home"
written ny Nathaniel Hawthorne, who
had served term of consular service,
it had been SO fitting, for in the old
country at almost every step one comes
across something OF home interest.
"a Among the places ofnote which / had
the fortune to visit,n continued Mr..
Bayard, was the town OF Bedford where
john Bunyan, had lived ana preached
and undergone term Uf Imprisonment; ;
and there found some few things of
personal reminiscsnce Of this most re-
markable man. / WAS taken to the resi-.
dence OF this Rev. John Brown, pastor
Of the leading Baptist church of Bed
ford, with congregation in which was
once enrolled the mans OF John Bun
yam. first as o member, ] think about
ld60, ana afterwards as a very impress.
sive and foreible preacher.
There is in Bedford, Of COURSE, but
little left of Bunyan's house. Where
he was born, about mile out. is
pointed out, hut it ia not very we'll dis
tinguished. The Jail where he was
confined 1860 TO 1872, was very long
since demolished, nothing being left
hut the subterrnneRu cells, happily
now unused. and scarcely ACCESSIBLE for
inspection. The building has been re
placed by storehouse or other build
ing and all that you are told is that
there once stood the Jail.
"But DR.. Brown had preserved the
original chair which Bunyan used, and
the only piece of furniture saved, and l
sat in the chair in DR.. Browns study.
lie also had book concerning John
Bunyan's private accounts and small
daily affairs. l was then taken to the
church Of which DIR. Brown was pastor,
and to the congregation of which in
the old days Bunyan had preached. /
saw in the vestry room a rude iron gate
which formed the door of the cell when
John Bupyan was in prison. There it
hangs in tho room, one Of the most
eloquent OF things through those that
the poor prisoner looked for IL long
years. -
Mr.. Bayard read from Bunyan's
words in Green's Short History Of the
English People. showing his feelings
concerning his imprisonment and tine
har,lshipit wouln he likely to bring
upon his family and especially upon his
blind child. Mr.. Bayard said that he
cited this because il gives the keynote
tu what he wrore and shows the patnos
behind what hs suffered, and suffered
for the sake OF his conscience.
1.-THE uther thing in the chapsl that
struck my notice was reproduction in
fac simile of the writ for thu arrest Of
BunyHn. He had undergone good
deal of hardship iu the.days uf the Pro.
tectorato, but when Charles III. came
he was again imprisoned for the bold
declaration of his religious belief which
was in conflict in some things with the
Established Church. -
Mr.. Bayard spoke also of the oircum-
stances under which he secured d copy
of the writ. The writ had been found
inside a book. 1t bore the seals of 13
Justices; one being seemingly not
sutiiGient to procure the arrest of John
Bunyan, who was but poar tinker,
having followed the trade Of his father.
1t is said that his wife taught him TO
rpad and write. But when the writ
came he went to priuon for conscience
sake. The only books he had wers the
Bible and the Book OF Martyrs and
with those two books preached to those
confined. sume ON the same charge as
himself, and having only those two
books and only. those two SOURCES of
thought, it is not surprising that he
became so we'll imbued with the
language and the feeling of the Bible.
That 10 the reason, suspect, that this
book Of the illiterate man became tine
.l.It Il