Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-08
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Evolution OF a Free People the
Subject Of DR.. Penney. Sermon.

At the First Baptist Church the pastor
the Rev. F. D. Penney. d. D.. preached
commemorative sermon 10 a large con-
gregation. saying In substance:
To write the history OF great man.
one must tell the story Of the active
world that he knew and that knew him.
To interpret the character Of one import
ant parsonage is TO interpret the spirit
Of the age In which he lived The re-
suits Of given life of power furnish the
foundation for future structures In all
worthy enterprises. These observations
are eminently true In the care Of Cham
plain.
Champlain. born IN Bronage. France
in 1'G1 imhibed the spirit OF enterprise,
adventure and religious enthusiasm He
was of moro than usual intelligence and
improved upn every advantage offered
him. Personally he was not only attrac-
tive but commanding The resultant Of
the combined porces was rare char
acter strong self-rellant. Besides that
which belongs to every man. binding him
to home and kindred. and nation.
Champlain was tempered to the keen
edge OF loyalty by the strong fires OF
testing then raging between tho French
Catholics and the Hugucnots. While. in
after life, the great explorer and diplo-
mat became most devout and exclusive
Catholic. he was, in his early days on
tho side OF Henry OF Navarro, and IN
no sense bigot. To what extent this
course was dictated by more policy one
cannot easily tell. But impartial history
after three hundred years pronounccs
Champlain 10 have been free from many
Of the qualities which have been often
exemplified by men OF all ages. such as
narrow and acrimonious spirit, action
and speech. Almost unnumbercd voy-
ages Of the Atlantic, life in the West
Indies, and in the cold Northern forests,
shipwrccks. wilderness wanderings.
months OF starvation when he must live
on roots md herbs gathered from the
native forests. living whole winters with
the Indians who loved him. making bat
tie FOR them against their Iroquois foes
building and rebuilding his forts and
dwellings on the St. Lawrence. constant
diplomatic struggles with lukewarm leg
islators at homo. all teneted to give this
great man breadth. elasticity and firm
ness OF character unusual amongst men.
His mistakes. like tho mistakes Of all
public men have all been noted but his
virtues have kept tho results preserved
for good.
IT must be said that the one colossal
blunder OF Champlnin was. from the
standpoint Of French interests. his de-
liberate shooting OF the chiefs OF the
Iroquois at TfcnnderoRa on that FIRST ex-
cursion with tho Algonqulns up Lake
Champlain. This set the Indians OF New
York and eventually OF the whole land
forever against the French. That meant
league Of friendship with tho Dutch
and English. II meant that by that
stroke France lost tho advantage so
much longed for. and which she was
never again TO secure.
Some OF the most noble efforts ever
made by missionary were made by tho
Jesuits when estimated by the personal
devotion and heroism OF the men en-
gagged.
But the commemoration OF this three
hundredth anniversary cannot be con-
flncd to Champlain. II must involve the
recognition OF growth and development
In every way of tho life not only of this
nation but also OF all nations
The story OF the past three hundred
years involves the telling Of the noble
contributions OF life and effort made BY
France. TO tho United States. France
has made so great investment In this
country that she will always guard the
treasure with Jealous eye.
The story OF this period would be in
complies without adequate recognition
OF the mighty part played by Vermont,
In the history Of the world. She has con.
tributed men to the whole world. A hot.
bed Is small. compared with tho broad
acres into which tho plants are 10 DO
transplanted. Vermont In small In area
compared with tho vida world: but here
boys and girls have been reared and ed
ucated. who have gone forth to bless the
world and honor the place Of their BIRTH