Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-07-06

do deeds which work an epoch in tn
history of the worlds progress. 1t is
not given to all men to find the oppor-
tunity OF doing great things. The
lives of so many are cast in such oh.
scure places, within such circumscrib-
ed limits, that it seems impossible to
get out on the heights and view and
do the great things of the world. 1,
is TT, therefore, that we who do not
seem to have the power and oppor-
tunity OF doing great things should
pause moment in our daily labor to
contemplate the work OF those who did
have the opportunity of doing some.
thing truly great, and who proved
themselves equal to the task imposed
upon them. 1t is eminently fit that we
should do so now, when so many OF
US are about to set out. to do battle for
ourselves in this great world. 1t is
no mean company that we shall hold
before our eyes on this occasion. For
it is true as they said, "God sifted q
whole nation, that be might send q
chosen people into the wilderness. :"
And chosen people they we're, in
deed. Poor, lowly, humble and per-
secuted, they we're a remarkable band,
and did remarkable thing. To strike
out boldly into an unknown land, to
brave unknown dangers, the more
terrible because they we're unknown,
and to lay the found alton of q great
nation, was something far out of the
ordinary. 1t was nothing short of the
miraculous. Still, it is an indisputable
fact that whenever the Almighty has a
great work to perform, he always has
the tools at hand with which to do it.
His work in this instance was the
founding of home for freedom, and
his tools were the Pilgrim Fathers.
Developed and made fit by q long
period of trial and hardship, they
were ready at the appointed time, and
performed the appointed task.
During the time that Queen Elizabeth
occupied the throne OF England, there
arose religious sect which insisted
that certain changes should be made
in the established church of that
country. These people we're called
Puritans. It was not the purpose of
the Puritans to separate themselves
from the church, but to remain in it,
and reform it according to their own
notions. They sought for q higher
degree of religious freedom, and what
they esteemed to be purer form of
religious worship, than was allowed
to their choice in the old world. For
time they were partly successful in
their work, especially in simplifying
the ritual aud giving Calvinistic
tinge to the doctrine.
1t was early in the reign of Eliza
beth that the zeal of these people, in.
famed by persecution, gave rise to q
radical party to which was given the
name, Separatists. These now denied
the royal supremacy over religious
affairs, and took upon themselves the
right of building churches, and en-
ploying pastors as they preferred, in
dependent of queen or bishop, The
Separatists we're brave and sincere,
but their trials were great. Their
congregations were broken up, and
m any of their members sent to prison.
They we're hated and despised. Many
of them were beaten to death, and
several of their leaders sent to the
gallows. At last, when it became i'm
possi BILE for them to suffer more under
the hands of the royal authority, some
of them determined to exile themselves
to Holland, that they might enjoy
their religion unmolested, and serve
their maker in the way which they