Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-07-05

massacres of the Jewish people in
darkest Russia in our own enlightened
age of churches and other religious
and humanitarian organizations, all Of
which profess to teach and practice
the religion of Him who came to open
the way for the evangelization of man
kind and the establishment Of the.
reign of peace and good will through
out the earth.
Fenwick was the type of many
man whom the connections OF the
trying times of the civil wars in Eng
land elected and brought out from
among "the worlds people, to labor
and suffer for the amelioration OF the
condition of all mankind.
To the dwellers in all the homes OF
Old England, Ireland and Wales:
wherever the religious doctrines of the
unlettered shoemaker of Nottingham
had found a friendly and practical re-
cognition, the tidings of the purchase
of the Jersey lands by John Fenwick
and Edward Byllynge brought the first
long looked for glimpse of better days.
1t was the first bright rift in the
clouds which had been hanging so
darkly and .fatefully over their exis.
tence. The star of their annunciation
arose in the west, and not in the east,
as in the olden times of the Magi, and
they made ready to follow its guiding
light. That way then, was long and
perilous one over a thousand leagues
of ocean wastes. But it was one of
destiny and surely of Gods special APP
pointings for all conditions of those
who suffered. Old age, middle age
and childhood, and infancy, and frail
ships to carry them in which no one
would hardly venture to-day-mere
coasting vessels they were, and lily
fitted to buffet the stormy pillows of
mid ocean. But courage born Of their
sufferings impe1led them, and antici-
patton was their beacon light. Condi-
lions could not be worse in the land
to which they were going, than in the
one from which they were fleeing, al
though that was the land of their birth
and childhood-the country which
boosted of the great Common law"
and its safeguards so they thought
in their extremity OF that exodus
from the cruel sword of the ungodly,
what strange and startling histories
might have been written by chronic
"
selves for opinions sake-of the sep
aration of friends and families-of the
severing of home ties, of the weary
ages-of the long and heart sick
waitings for tidings of the absent ones
of sickness and -death-of failure
and successes. What interesting read
ing would they be for US now, who live
to see what marvellous events have
followed from their ventures; what
lines of progress have developed from
their small beginnings And the let
tiers; the precious letters which went
home by the outgoing ships as the lit
tie neighborhoods increased, telling of
all the every day events of social life
in the families, and how they were
faring in their new homes, and grad
ually surrounding themselves with the
conveniences and comforts of home
1ife-had they been preserved and
handed down; how eagerly would we
unfold their time worn pages and read
the quaint and affectionate messages
from the hands and hearts so long
since dead! They would give us
doubtless, fond glimpses Of life in the
early times, of their first colonial ex
periences, which in no other way we
shall ever know.
In the long intervals of time since
then. we are apt, as we go our ways
to and fro, to forget the extremities
of those brave pioneers and their
many sacrifices. For the trials they
underwent, we owe them at least the
debt of kindly remembrance and CRATE
full appreciation. We have built no
monuments to their memories and yir-
tues, raised for them no commemora-
tive piles of marble and bronze. but
they deserve them no less than the
stored Puritans who came to the
shores of Massachusetts fleeing from
only to revive them in
all their vindictiyeness against 9th
ers who differed in religious belief
from themselves.
It was not until after many vexa-
ed interference of the English author
tiles, that Fenwick saw the realization
Of his long anticipated object of col
The story of his difficulties
is long one-too long to be told here
but it shows the indomitable cour
age and perseverance of the man for
the success of a purpose SO dear to
his heart. The little ship Griffin was
chartered for the first venture and
from the London docks in the autumn
of 1875 the company of prospective
settlers numbering about one hundred
persons set sail with the good wishes
we may suppose of some and the ex-
ecrations of many. And now in ina |
ginatiQp, let us follow them as they
float Slowly down the waters Of the
historic Thames. They stand on deck, |
and wave their adieus to friends on
shore. They watch the towers and I
spires and shipping and old city /
wallis disappear one by one. and then !
the widening distance shuts from their
view the last fond glimpse which most
Of them, perhaps all Of them are to
have of the fatherland. That was the
supreme moment to touch all hearts
and open the fountains Of tears, and
the ties Of brotherhood as
had never before been known among
FhPm With fau0ri1ao aiYc fhav carnnr