Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-11
SAILING OF TIE PILGRIMS
Translation of Records in the Old Church at
Delfshayen.

A&RAAcesesSS4A
Delfshaven.
!
The Meeting HoussSef the Puritan.
and the oldPier Al sstnl standing
Aid Given tn aggregation.
Consul Listoe has kaH to the State De-
partment from RotteE5an. under date of
February IL. description of the town
whence the pilgrim fathers sailed from
Holland to America. Consular reports are
usually limited to commercial and indus
trial subjects but In View of the general
interest of this subject the consul saws
he has received several requests from
America for copies of the church records
herein given, an exception is made in this
case The report is as follows:
One of the points within this consular
district. possessing most interest for citi-
zens of the United States is undoubtedly the
| ancient town of Delfshaven, situated on the
river Mas (Meuse), a couple of miles be-
low Rotterdam, and, in fact, now a part of
this city. The town derives its name ola
yens. harbc) from the fact that it for
nerly was the seaport for the city of
Delft, once an important city, where Will
liam the Silent-the lberator of the Meth
eriands-and most OF his descendants lie
buried. and in later years famous for it's
manufacture of the decorated porcelain
known as delftware. Delft is located eight
| miles inland from it's haven on the river
Sche, which empties into the Mas
Delfshaven is the place whence the Dill
grim fathers originally started for Amer
lea. and here stands yet the old Her
formde Kerk' (Reformed church, in which
they worskiped and in which the last SER
mon was preached to them prior to their
departure for the new world. The old pier
where they embarked is also still in exist
enCe.
In the records of the old church is found
an interesting description of the departure
OF the pilgrims, of which 1 am able,
through the courtesy OF the church author
tiles here. to present a copy translated
into English:
The Pilgrim Fathers.
ION the 22d of July, of the year 1920. the
pier of Delfshaven was crowded with peo-
pie. A vessel was riding at anchor-the
Speedweil-waiting for large number of
passengers A severe act of parliament,
which had been passed in 1892 in England
caused cruel persecution of the so-caiied
Puritans. Many of them fled to the hos
pitable Netherlands, and, having settled at
Ileyden. they chose for their minister the
Rev Robinson, belonging to their own
church and residing in this country since
1907. They gloried in bearing the name of
Pilgrims Their stay at Leyden lasted
twelve years. AS for religious freedom and
liberation they rejoiced. in favorable cir
cumstances the municipal government
having not the slightest reason to COM
plain of their conduct; but they had hard
vcrk in providing for their subsistence
The fear of being pressed into the mill
tGry service ON account of the war with
Spain and the painful feeling of exile made
them resolve to found a colony in America
vessel was bought and lay ready to sail
on the aforementioned date. The whole
congregation those who We're to leave for
be hind waiting for aGsnfsequent opportu-
nity. was assembled an the quay. The in
habitants of DelfshaEeA sbeheh a scene
which should never be. forgotten. This
scene of parting was touching; but first
the Rev Robinson, kResliAg down. sent up
feryent prayer, inHgstng to the Lord
and His grace all The members of his
as those who hoped to follow their breth-
rem before long -tI.nt
once more embracing each other, they
babe farewel-for many Yf them the last
farewell on earth-hAd&, the Speedwell
weighed anchor, steering ITO Southampton
where another ship, the, Mayfower, was
waiting to take the5l to- America. They
arrived there safe and sound and founded
New Plymouth s:Hs
Church of the Pilgrim Fathers
! 1t is only of late7 yssfs!,shat the atten-
ton of the American travelling public has
of the pilgrim fathers, but now Delfshaven
and the old church is annually visited by
many tourists. The church is well worth Il |
visit. 1t is a very plain building. but the |
interior has Undergone few changes since |
1871, and the pulpit, the altar, even some |
OF the Bibles in the pews, are the same as |
Were In use in those days. In the So-callel |
konsistorfe kamer' (conSistory chamber) |
are to be seen portraits Of many of the |
leading pilgrims.
los
gentleman from Philadelphia Mr.. L. c. |
Vanuxem, visited Delfshaven and secured |
from the church authorities two old grave
stones and an old contribution or aims box |
for the New England Society of Pennsyl- |
vania; and he has since interested himself |
IN getting support in the United States for |
the old 'Herformde kerk." The church is |
POOR, as but few wealthy people now reside |
at De!fshaven, they having gradually |
changed their residence to Rotterdam; and |
Tears nave been entertained that the pres |
ent congregation might not be able to retain |
possession of the old church. and that il |
might be sold and torn down. |
AT the annual meeting of the New Eng |
land Society held in Philadelphia on De- |
cember - last, the aforementioned aims |
LoX was presented to the society by Mr. |
NanuXcm. The society voted to donate |
500 to the old Reformed Church of DELI |
shavea, and at the subsequent banquet the
aims box was passed around and the sum |
or so was further collected for the church |
1T would be desirable" says Consul Lis
toe, If other patriotic people in the United
states would follow this example. The peo-
pie in the Netherlands have, of course not
the interest in and generation for the pill
grim fathers that we have, and could
hardly be expected to make any great effort
requiring pecuniary outlay to preserve
THIS old church for future generations; and
1t would, indeed. be pity if this interest
ing edifice should be destroyed for want of
little timely support
In conclusion, I would call attention to
the fact that Delfshaven is easy of access
for European Travellers The great majori-
~ or tourists come to the continent via
England. and there is nightly steamer
from Harwich. England, to Rotterdam
Passengers leaving Liverpool street station
In London at o'clock in the evening arrive
at Rotterdam about the same time the next
morning. and can from here reach Delfs-
raven by steam tram in few minutes.
Ihey can thereafter proceed to Cologne,