The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-08
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
JUDGE LYMAN I. BREWSTER
TALK
Before the Connecticut Historical So.
ciety.


AT the regular monthly meeting of
the Connecticut Historical Society.
held Tuesday evening, a very interest,"
ing and instructive paper was read by
Judge Lyman I. Brewster of Danbury
on the subject: THE Rev. William
Brewster of the Mayfiower." The speak,
er started by giving life sketch OF his
subject and stated that after receiving
his degree at Cambridge the Rev WILL
lam Brewster became involved In ec-
clesiastical troubles and fed to Hol-
land, whence he wrote, edited, and In
many instances printed small pam
phlets the substance Of which was the
proclaiming of worship as mans con-
scious dictated. Here he was again the
victom Of adverse circumstances and
upon returning to England, he soon be-
came the leader of a small body Of peo-
pie who believed as he did and the re-
suit was the voyage to America. and
landing at Plymouth, to worship God
as they saw fit and not to have their
religion dictated to them by any King,
Prince, or potenate. He was then the
founder of the first free church in
America, and not only the first free
church but the first free settlement as
well. He was man of magnetic pres
ence and was admirably suited to the
! responsibility that was imposed upon
him.
| In his native land he was held in the
highest esteem by Her Majesty's secre-
/ tary of state. But the influence that
ha tI1,ro dariund in M Jvn1y offaafnd him
in the treatment of his little body Of
pilgrims in this land of the free. He
was loved by all who knew him, and
respected by all with whom he came
in contact. 1t was necessary for the
faithful worshippers to bear arms and
be ready to defend themselves at all
times even when they entered the
house of God.
| This mans great craftsmanship was
manifested by. the admirable way in
which he governed and ruled his peo-s
! pie 1t was he who drew up the come
pact of the Mayf1ower, the little ship
which carried with it the destines Of
the world. This mans great energy
was shown when he founded church
without a bishop and a state without
a king. The chest that he used as
a writing desk while drawing up the
compact of the Mayfower is at pres
ent in the possession of the Connects
cut Historical Society, and is highly
esteemed as one of their most valuable
relics. -.-
The Rev. William Brewster was a
/ great reader and at the time of his
4 death which occurred in 1914, he was
sfcsft
of 400 volumes, a very large one, in
deed, for that early time. The speak
err was rendered vote of thanks for
his admirable composition. Those who
were descendants of the Pilgrims were
then requested to arise, about rs being
present. 7s. 5 5s "A
Previous to Mr.. Brewster's address,
a, short business meeting was held In
which Mrs. Jane T. Smith presented
the society with a valuable relic In the
form of piece of wampun1 which was
at one time in the possession OF Red
Jacket. chief of the Senacas. The fol-
lowing inscription was enclosed: Ii
This string of wampum belonged to
Red Jacket, chief Of the Senacas and
after his death came by inheritance to
Mrs, Caroline Parker, Mount Pleasant.
The five silver brooches belonged to the
squaws and daughters of the chief Of
Red Jackets clan, the Wolf The
wampum and brooches were presented
by Mrs. Mount Pleasant to Miss Vir-
ginia Dox and passed from her to Mrs.
Jane T.. Smith, who presented him to
the Connecticut Historical society JAM
uary /, 1908" .%S
The donor was rendered unanimous
vote of thanks. &.@,E5