Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-28
THE TERCENTENARY OF THE
LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS

The following article from the pen OF
James Phinney Baxter Of Portland has
been printed in pamphlet form. copy
Of which has reached the Journal. Il
bears the title 1.-THE Tercentenary OF
the Landing Of the Pilgrims; How Car
It Be Made Worthy Of the People OF
New England" 1t is addressed as fol-
lows:
To the Patriotic people of New. Eng
land who are to take part in the ter
centenary Of the Landing Of the Pill
grims in 1920, and to those interested
in other noble men and women who
followed them to th0Ge shores, and
by their united efforts laid the foun-
cations of this Republic, thereby
earning the title of the Fathers OF
New England:
In four short years, which will be
pregnant with events Of world wide
Importance. since they promise to &c
far in determining problems of govern
ment among the nations of Europe
New England will celebrate the birth
of popular government on this CONT
nent. initiated by that unique body OF
Englishmen who established the Ply
mouth Colony on the shores of Massa-
chusetts. No greater event than this
can be imagined, and it calls for the
erection of a memorial BETTING the
occasion.
Eight centuries ago, by the efforts of
a pious King, Westminster Abbey was
founded to preserve the memory of the
great men of England. and today it
stands as an example to other nations
of wise foresight.
Says Dean Stanley in his Historical
Memorials of Westminster Abbey
written in commemoration of it's eighth
hundred anniversary, These Memori-
ais ought to be in fact the History of
England in Westminster Abbey" for
Of the world"
When Dean Stanley wrote these
words, eminently true, the great
Rathaus Of Hamburg had not been
completed, which, in some respects,
better represents the ideals of it's peo-
pie than the Abbey, since the latter
perpetuates the memory of many Kings
and political favorites who were I'M
worthy of the honor bestowed upon
them, while the former more particu-
larly commentaries the men who de-
voted themselves to the welfare of the
great free city In which they lived.
This splendid edifice is built of native
materials wholly by native workmen
from corner stone to final, and is dec
grated wholly by native artists. Its
wood work, it's carvings, its fine metal
grill work, it's massively wrought
hinges and locks; it's stained glass. it's
great clock; it's ponderous bell; in fact,
everything in it is of native workman
ship, and on the walls of it's several
divisions is depicted the history of
Hamburg, from the little gathering of
it's founders to the meeting of its mag
tstrates to celebrate the completion of
this unique building. Besides the not
able events of it's, history which are
depicted upon it's walls. there are busts
and portraits Of it's rulers, and those
who have honored it by noble achieve
ment; indeed, when one has devoted
few hours to the study of this build
ing, so vivid are the impressions left
upon his mind, that he feels when he
leaves it, that he knows more about
the history of Hamburg than he could
have learned from books in a month
of reading.
In 1920, in this then New World in
habited by a savage people, a band Of
men and women, especially devoted to
the establishment of a free Common
10 ho nf,.xy oh
Of Massachusetts. Before landing,
with but a partial conception of the
perils before them. they drew up in
the cabin Of the little ship in which
they had been confined for nearly four
months, compact which, says Senator
Hoar. was the beginning of q State"
Probably no band of men actuated by
so high a purpose as inspired the Al
men who signed this compact ever as
ISOLATED themselves together under like
conditions. You know Bradfocd'e; i'm
mortal delineation of them: They
knew they We're Pilgrims, and looked
not much on these things, but lifted
up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest
country, and so quieted their spirits"
To that country to which they calm
ly looked, one-half of them went
through suffering unspeakable. before
the close of the terrible winter which
they encountered. But though only a
score Of these men were left, you know
what these Pilgrims accomplished, for
1t illustrates one Of the most import
ant pages of American history and of
the world. They were followed in 1922
with that memorable landing at Cape
Ann. and six years later by Endicott
at Salem, and mis- little colony. actu-
ated by like high motives. These men
prepared the way for Winthrop and
his associa ties to establish here the
Puritan Colony Of Massachusetts Bay.