Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-12-29
OBSERVED FOREFATHER'S
DAY.
Ezra Brainerd, Jr., Delivered the
Address Upon Our Pilgrim
Fathers,

The Muskogee Ond. Ter.), Phoenix,
Under date of December %, in its report
of the observance of Forefather's Day,
publishes in full the Introductory address
on that occasion which was delivered by
Ezra Brainerd, Jr., formerly of this
town. The following is the address:
We meet tonight to celebrate the 285th
anniversary of the Landing of the Pill
grims in America. For many years the
good people throughout New England
have celebrated annually this historical
event with appropriate exercises, and it
is the hope of the West Side League in
holding this meeting tonight to inaugu-
rate in this city a similar custom.
| Nearly three centuries ago small
band of one hundred Pilgrims, as they
are now called, set sail from Plymouth
in England on the May flower for Ameri-
ca. The party was composed of English
Separatists who were dissenters from the
Church of England. Outward conform
ity to state church was one of the car
dinal doctrines of the seventeeth century
and to escape this, the Pilgrims had emf
grated to Holland to enjoy their religion
without molestation. First at Amsterdam
and afterwards at Leyden also, these refu-
gees found safety. But not willing that
their children should grow up among
strangers speaking a different language,
and for doubtless other reasons, they
made application to the Virginia COM
pany for land in America Arrange
ments having been completed, the Col
onists set sail "having undertaken for
the glory of God, and advancement of
the Christian faith, and the honor of the
King and Country, voyage to plant the
first colony in the northern parts of Nir-
GINA" Though loyal to their King, it
was the great desire of their hearts to be
Gods free people.
The story of the long, cold and weary
autumnal passage; of the unseaworthy
ship in which portion of them had en-
barked, and which they were soon
obliged to abandon, and crowd them
selves into one small vessel of one hun
bred and sixty tons; of the landing on
the inhospitable rocks at this dismal sea-
son: where they are deserted. before
long, by the ship which had brought
+ them, and which seemed their only hold
upon the world of fellow men-a prey to
the elements and to war, is familiar to
: us all.
The little band after five months
passage, delayed by Gains, and now
} driven in fury before the raging tempest,
Il
Cod instead of the coast belonging to the
Virginia company. They decided, how
, ever to remain where they Were and
after examining the shore, chose a spot
for their future home. and landed on
> Plymouth Rock, December 81, 1920
poorly armed and scantiy provisioncd,
y without shelter, without means, sur
a rounded 10y hostile tribes.
! Notwithstanding the keenness of the
winter, their ill health, poverty and few
ness of number notwithstanding all
7 these discouragelnents, the little band of
e Colonists persevered, Not one of these
! causes-not all combined-were able tc
blast this bud of hope. Their privatons
. were borne with an heroic spirit.
e Among the company was John Carver
= its first governor, who died from expo
=. sure the first winter, as did many others
William Bradford succeeded John Car
: yer as governor and so acceptable was
= his administration that he was reelected
@ annually for thirty years, when "by i'm
. portunity he got Off Miles Standisl
= was made captain with military author
D ity sooI after the company landed lie
g was not a member of their religious com
q munion, and his presence illustrates the
;. freedom which prevailed. Standisf
proved himself of the greatest assistanc,
n to the suffering little band, particularly
t during the first trying winter, when hal
of the members died from disease anC
exposure.
f After enduring many hardships anC
>. privations the first Colonists were jOineC
y by others from England and materia
p, prosperity followed. With the arriva
e of the ship Fortune and twenty-nine i'm
o migrants in 1921 came patent from tn
= CouOcil for New E,nUlaud The patpn