The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-03-11
ABOUT PILGRIM Fathers
THE START FROM DELFsHAvEN,
JULY 90 1920.
Some Interesting Details of the I'm
portant Event Given by Consul Lis
toe to the State Department.

The record of the departure of the
Pilgrim Fathers from DelfshaVen was
forwarded to the United States by Con-
sui Listoe of Rotterdam. The report is
as follows:
One of the points within this consul
lar district possessing most interest
for citizens of the United States is un-
doubtedly the ancient town of Delfs-
haven, situated on the River Mas, a
couple of miles below Rotterdam, and
in fact, now a part of this city. The
town derives its name from the fact
that it formerly was the seaport for
the city of Delft, once an important
city, where William the Silent-the lib
orator of the Netherlands-and most
of his descendants lie buried, and in la
ter years famous for it's manufacture
of the decorated porcelain known as
delftware. Delft is located eight miles
inland from its "haven" on the River
Schie, which empties into the Mas.
Delfshaven is the place whence the
Pilgrim Fathers originally started for
America, and here stands yet the old
"Herformde Kerk" (Reformed church,
in which they worshipped, and in which
the last sermon was preached to them
prior to their departure for the new
world. The old pier where they en-
barked is also still in existence.
In the records of the old church is
found an interesting description of the
departure of the Pilgrims, of which l
am able, through the courtesy of the
church authorities here, to present a
copy translated into English:
ION the 22nd of July, of the year
1920, the pier of Delfshaven was crowd
ed with people. A vessel was riding at
anchor-the Notwithstanding for a
large number of passengers. A severe
act of parliament which had been pass
ed in 1892 in England, caused a cruel
persecution of the so called Puritans.
Many of them fled to the hospitable
Netherlands. and having settled at
| Leyden they chose for their minister
the Rev. Robinson, belonging to their
own church and residing in this coun-
| try since 1907. They gloried in bear
| ing the name of Pilgrims Their stay
at Leyden lasted twelve years. AS
for religious freedom and tolerance
they rejoiced in favorable circumstan-
ces the municipal government having
| not the slightest reason to complain
of their conduct but they had hard
work in providing for their subsistence.
! THE fear of being pressed into the
! military service on account of the war
with Spain and the painful feeling of
exile made them resolve to found a col
! ony in America. A vessel was bought
| and lay ready to sail on the above
mentioned date. The whole congrega-
| ton, those who were to leave for Anne
| RIGA and the rest, who were to stay
| behind waiting for a subsequent oppor-
tunity, was assembled on the quay.
The inhabitants of Delfshaven be-
held a scene which should never be for
gotten. This scene of parting was
touching; but first the Rev. Robinson,
kneeling down, sent up a fervent pray
err, intrusting to the Lord and His
Grace all the members of his church,
as well as those now departing as those
who hoped to follow their brethren be-
fore long.
"Once more embracing each other,
they bade farewell-for many of them
the last farewell on earth-and the
Speedwell weighed anchor steering to
Southampton, where another ship, the
Mayflower, was waiting to take them
to America. They arrived there safe
and sound and founded New Ply
mouth"