Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-11-30

IOI WHICH the IiigIlm EdluCiS Ia
ltentionally braved SO many perils.
From whence came those sturdy,
brave and determined men and
women, and what did they endure
for the establishment OF true re-
ligion, more especially than for the
secular civilization?
In the year 1902 small band OF
Christians in the north of England,
having been enlightened by the
word of God, entered into solemn
covenant to reject every human in
vention that had been introduced
into TIE worship of God, and to or
ganize themselves into church OF
Jesus Christ, whose main object
should be to worship God in spirit
and in truth, to keep themselves
unspotted from the world and to do
all in their power to bring souls
from darkness into light. Their
fathers and mothers had for the
same cause passed through great
tribulations. Students Of those
times will confess that the accumu-
lations of the past were such that 1t
would be impossible to reach their
ideal religious liberty, freedom
of conscience and simplicity OF splr-
ual worship without the most COM
plete revolution in society-church
and state. The efforts of these
earnest people, only served to ex-
pose them to continual vexations,
misrepresentations and suffering.
In 1910 they peaceably and will
lingly. we are informed, embraced
a Punishment to the Netherlands
and settled in the city of Leyden,
but did not meet with their anticl.
pated success, nor could they make
impressions on the Netherlands,
and after many deliberations &C
companied with the most solemn
huniliations and supplications
before the God of heaven
they took a resolution to remove to
America. These good people were
satisfied they had plain command
to attempt a removal as ever their
Father Abraham had for leaving
the Chaldean territory, and it was
nothing but such a satisfaction that
could have carried them through
such insuperahle difficulties. After
making preparations and the two
ships, Speedwell and Mayfower,
being ready for their transportation
day was set aside for fasting and
prayer. A sermon was preached
from the words found in the 2Ist
verse OF the 9Th chapter of Ezra
81 proclaimed a fast there, at the
river Ahava, that we might aff1ict
ourselves before Our God to seek
of him a right way for us and our
little ones, aud for all of our sub
stance" offering again their earn
est petitions for guidance and COM
mendipg their all to Gods loving
care. They babe adieu to those
left behind and went aboard the
vessels waiting to bear them across
an angry ocean to their new home
One writer says: "The account
of the departure of these English
exiles from the Netherlands to the
unknown wilderness is the most
pathetic in the history of human
annals" After four months OF ter
rible experience which God caused
to work for their good, they landed
at Cape Cod; on going ashore the
first thing they did was to fall on
their knees and render to Almighty
God their praises and thankfulness
for safety. On the second day, a
meeting was called, a constitution
drafted, and they solemnly cove
nanted to obey the law, ordinance,
acts and officers that from time to
time should be thought best and
most convenient for the general
good of the colony. At this meet
ing the pious and prudent John
Carver was elected governor. 1t
was now the dead of winter; there
an incessant storm of sleet and
snow, and many died from cold and
exposure. At one time only seven
men were able to work on the
sheds, being built for shelter from
the storm. Such were the priva-
and griefs of that terrible winter
when New England began its exist
ence. Compare this comfortless
waste with our bright, cheerful
homes, and multiplied comforts and
luxuries of today and answer the
question, Have we cause for
thankfulness?" Are we not enabled
to appreciate the sacrifices Of such
men as laid the foundation of this
American nation? We are proud