Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-02-16

OfCISTOWn WIFI uOSS anu TAIN
weeds, and overhung with live oaks
bearing the Spanish moss Characters
tic of the south Atlantic coast, the
ruins of a church and fort mark the
spot where the first missionary enter
prise undertaken by New England,
outside her own borders, was located.
The ruins are in the county of Dor
chester, s. c., SO named for the small
company of churchmen who sailed
from Boston, Dec. 3, 1895. and founded
a colony in the wilderness, near
Charleston
How the little body of jealous Mas
sachusetts people went from the north.
sailed up the Ashley river and hewed
their homes out of the unbroken for
est, beset continually by fears of fam
inc and the Indians, forms an exceed
ingly interesting chapter in the his
tory of the country.
William Pratt was the son of Thorn
as Pratt of Weymouth, Mass. In 1880
he married Elizabeth Baker of Dor
chester and about the middle Of April,
1880, became a member of the church
there. When, five years later. an ex-
petition was organized to carry the
gospel to South Carolina, Mr.. Pratt
Joined 1t and took prominent part.
Until a few years ago, at least,
Joshua Crane Of Bridgewater had
diary which was kept by William
Pratt; and a curious combination Of
almanac and notebook it is. Two hun
bred years old, 1t is still in a good
state of preservation, and has afforded
the material for biography of its ear
ly owner.
A teacher, Joseph Lord, was chosen
pastor of the missionaries.
ION Dec. the 8, 1896, we, the church
that was, gathered In order to carry
ye gospel ordinances to South Caro-
lina," says the author. "At this time
some of us went in long bote to go
on bord the Brigantine friendship of
boston In new England, in order to our
passing to Carolina; but missing we
vessel at first, we by reason of We
| strength Of the wind could not come
| up with here again, but constrained to
endure We cold or hours before we
could get at any land, til at length we
| got to Dorchester Neck, and from
there returned to boston in safety"
Not Easily Discouraged.
1t may we'll be imagined of what
| sort of stuff these old fellows were
made, when they floundered around in
Boston harbor in an open boat for four
hours In midwinter, and never once
| lost their ardor. They waited two
days, and then made another attempt.
The brigantine had returned to get
her belated passengers, and they set
off in strong gale on one Sunday
| evening.
Off the Virginia coast they encoun-
tered tempest, and for several days
1t seemed that South Carolina would
have to get along without the sturdy
missionaries. They pulled through all
right, though, and accounted for their
safe conduct through the storm by the
efficacy of two days of fasting and
prayer.
OF the voyage from that point the
leader tells in his notebook-with
some quaint spelling which may be
translated:
ION Monday, and so forward We
wind often shifted, yet not so often as
to hinder our going on in our desired
course, though we could not go with
so much speed as we desired. Thurs
day morning, being We 10Th day of We
month, we came In sight of the land of
Carolina, but were by a disappoint-
ment prevented from getting in that
day; but the next day we got in
through divine goodness, being the
goth day of December.
when we came to We town our YES
sci fired three guns, and the people to
welcome us to land fired about nine
guns. which was more than the usual,
and when we came to ancor, being in
We evening, many Of We people being
worthy gentlemen came on board and