The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-02-13


Paterson, where he was to speak in the
evening. The audience dispersed, going
to their homes or standing in little knots
on the streets to discuss the speech, for
which it is said the enthusiastic Free
silver advocates of the county paid 5000.
Burlington County in History.
Last Saturday, at the meeting of the
Burlington County Teachers Association
in Moorestown, Counsellor at-law Francis
B. Lee, of Trenton, delivered an address
on the subject, Burlington County in
History"
In introducing his theme the speaker,
although not member, paid high trib
ute to the Society of Friends. He said
that Burlington county, more than any
other territorial subdivision in the United
States, was distinctively the chosen spot
where the ideals of the Society of Friends
came nearest realization. George Fox
and those who came after him, said Mr..
Lee, Sought the establishment of faith
that should be part and parcel of the
daily life of those who adhered to Its
tenets. To degree, so far as the early
disciplines of the Society sought to al
truistically affect mans relation to man,
so far was the faith institutional. There
fore it should occasion no surprise that in
1875, the Concessions and Agreements Of
the 'Proprietors, Freeholders and Inhabi-
tants of West Jersey in America was
promulgated, and was instantly recog-
nized as the most advanced document Of
democracy that the world had yet seen.
In other words, the organic law of the
Province, framed by William Penn and
his associates, included all that for which
mankind had fought since the days OF
Runnymede. Guaranteeing religious,
economic and political liberty, no bill of
rights in the Constitution of the United
States or of the several states can claim a
wider plan and scope than the 'Conces-
sions and Agreements, first given to the
people of Burlington county, are able to
show
Mr.. Lee then spoke of the lenient frame
of government of West New Jersey. He
called attention to the fact that while the
political affairs of Burlington county
were under the control of the Society of
Friends (1676-17O2), no public execution
is known to have occurred. while in
every East Jersey county, under the sew
eral dispensations of Calvinism, there
were no less than dozen crimes for
which the penalty was death
''Of all the Burlington county men IA
nous during the last century, none had a
wider sphere of influence than did John
Woolman, of Rancocas, said the speak
er. His life was briefly reviewed from
the time of his birth, 1920, until his death
in York, England, in 1772. The broad
but easily provable assertion was made that
John Woolman crystalized in himself all
the anti-slavery sentiment of his time.
Woolman had an earnest and deep con-
Germ regarding the bondage of human
beings. His mind drawn inward by Sc
we're sickness as he was approaching man s
estate, it dawned upon him that true re-
Iigion, consisting of an inward life, did
not admit of the inconsistency of loving
God and exercising cruelty toward the
least of his fellow creatures. From this
conclusion the natural sequence was that
slavery of negroes and of Indians was
opposed to the divine law" Other phases
of Woolman's public ministry were given,
and his direct influence upon the minds OF
the abolitionists, from 1900 to 1880, was
dwelt upon with particularly Mr.. Lees
eulogy of Woolman's character was re.
ceived with much applause.
Turning from religious matters the
speaker called attention to two events II
the economic life of the nation in which
Burlington county was conspicuous
These two events were in the realm O.
transportation. One was in 1881, whel
the first successful public trial of steam
boat, conducted by the eccentric JONI
Fitch, occurred upon the Delaware rive
front of the county. The other was thu
construction of the Camden and Ambo.
Railroad, under the charter of 1S30-tht
beginning Of plan of inter state trans
portation. Ultimately this was destine'
to largely work out the problem OF assim
ilation and association of the diverse in
terests of the commonwealth composin
the United States. The first mile of trac
of any road now forming part OF moo
ern trunk line" was thus laid in Bul
lington county.
As the home of kings Burlington coun
ty has become famous. In Bordentowl
resided Count de Survilliers, Joseph Boz
aparte, ex-King of Spain, while Mour
Holly, during the Revolution, was tn
Temporary home of William w., of EN-
/ land. who was in America with his reg
ment. Several anecdotes of these tw
famous men were given.
P Possibly to his audience of teacher
Mr.. Lees claim that the system OF provlt
i ing public funds for public education
New Jersey arose within the limits OF Blu
lington county, was the most interestin
part of his remarks. He briefly reviewed I'll
creation of the trust fund of Matinicun
Island, near Burlington city, and Shove
how the spirit of the West jersey Qua
ers reached fruition when the first bill
lea ding to system of free schools, WI
pass ed by the New Jersey Legislature
1917
j The address was closed by an outlii
/, history of the establishment OF the fir
Indian reservation within the limits
the United States, that at Brotherto
now better known as Indian Mills.
| Following the address somewhat nov
method of instruction was introduced
This was the establishment Of Semina
which consists of an instructor or lectur
being asked questions arising in the min
of those who heard his address. Wit
such questions Mr.. Lee was generous
bombarded, running fire being kept
between the speaker and his audience.
Upon the close of the lecture and Ser
/ mar, Mr.. Lee was asked to deliver his a
dress in several places throughout IL
county.