Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-16
BROTHERHOOD HEARS
PILGRIMS PRAISED
''1'he Mission of the Exile"
Theme of Eloquent Address
by the Rev. G.. G. Atkins De-
livered from Pulpit of His
Former Church

Our Pilgrim Fathers. exiles from their
home land brought to the world the
message that life il greater than its
forms. that Justice is bigger than law
that right Is higher than any covenant
that religion is greater than any creed
Spirit and life and truth and faith are
greater than the forms that hold them
The best conservatism is that which looks
after the spirit and not after the form.
The better thing always comes through
the larger life. This was the burden or
the message brought last evening by the I
Rev. q. Glenn Atkins. D. D., or Detroit /
Mich. speaking In the pulpit which he
occupied for several years at the Ftrst
Church. hts address being the feature OF
the Pilgrim anniversary at that church
His subject was Mission OF the Exile
The Pilgrim anniversary was celebrated |
under the direction OF the First Church
Brotherhood, About 100 men of this or |
ganization met for supper In the parish |
house shortly after ak o'clock. with the
Rev Mr. Atkins as their guest Foilow'nR
the supper. which was excellently pre- |
pared and served by the ladies or the
church. Mr.. Atkins spoke brietly' re"
calling pleasant memories Of his pas
torate in Burlington and testifying to
his abiding love for Vermont. Il. y. |
worthen. presiden, OF the brotherhood
presided at the supper.
A well filed auditorium gave the speak
ar hearty reception In the church ~
eight O'Clock. The pastor. the Rev. G. e.
| Adams. presided at the anniversary eh
| ercises which included an organ prelude.
| Fantasia on Duke Street; reading or
| SCRIPTURE by the pastor: singing OF the
| ode 1.-THE Breaking waves Dashed Hlgn
| prayer by the Rev. C. G. Merrill; anthem
| tot "RecegSiOnaI the al
dress by Or. Atkins; hymn, The May
flower still Is Sailing On" benediction
organ postlude. Grand March from
Beethoven's Fifth symphony
| THE ADDRESS
| Dr Atkins power a. a speaker. remem-
hared nv many of those who had heard
him In former wears, drew a large audi
.pce from the various churches In TINS
o,ty and the forcefulness OF his address
last evening left no room for dlshppoint-
ment
/ II is natural for ali Americans. or
| whatever creed to remember the Pilgrims
at this time of year Or. ATKINS SAID
| Their story is rich In human interest,". ne
| continued. and proceeded TO outline tnat
| story TO prove hts point Describing
briefly the coming of tho Reformaton IN
Germany. led by Martin Luther. he told
German church Then he pictured the
Reformation under John Calvin which
was very different Gradually, the Re-
formation spirit worked Its way into Eng
land but there II took new form. II
I feeling that something entirely new must
come in religion.
All this was but the beginning OF
Democracy. The proponents OF the ne"
faith suffered at the hands OF the estab-
lished church In England. but persecution
only made them more determined. unoer
the leadership Of John Robinson. they
ls+arted for Holland and finally reached
there after many trials. Having once
started to gain freedom. they decided
to go all the way and to take up the'r
home In the New World.
THE MAYFLOwER SAILS
II The voyage Of tho Maynower was the
, result. It was no slight task to brave
the uncharted seas in those days. but
they finally arrived on this side and
I landed at plymouth Vivedly. with brief
? word sketches. the speaker told OF that
, first winter on the new soil. when at
, times only six or seven were able 10
take care of the sick. and the Pilgrims
. | planted corn over the graves of their
dead in order that the Indians might
/, no, know the large number OF the dead.
, But when the Maytiower sailed back TO
, England the following spring none OF
= the Pilgrims went with 1t.
The Indians proved friendly. Under
e the leadership of Myles Standish and
T.. Bradford the Pilgrims prospered and
t the fall found them celebrating the
Z first Thanksgiving.
o WHAT CAME OUT OF IT.
l. But what came out OF all this
asked DR.. Atkins There was the shee,
:" courage devotion and steadfast faitf
y Of IT, but there was more than that
Il These men. fret OF all discovered fol
| our modern time the secret OF COLOMBIA
:. ton and they taught the modern worlc
- this secret wherever coionists have
{ eons ont into new lands since that day
. they have been indebted TO these moi
who first taught how to build thes
, homes on new soil The Pilgrim
brought over from their homes thu
- heart of what Is best In England. The,
y brought over the names OF their town
and they brought the love OF thos
= towns in their hearts. They brought
~ marvellous genius for the development
of self government.
Beginning as corporation. the!
H. changed until they were citizens OF
- little self governing State. They work
ed out practically the first gong con
.. Germ OF representative government un
;" der the stars. They did this because !
WAS necessary to their existence herr
ve Dee per than recognized forms, lies tn
~ direct application of self-governmsn
10 to the challenge OF life.
10 The Pilgrim spirit and conscience
nj have had an Immense power In the de
r. velopment Of our land. The lesson o
% what they did is not only for yester
IL day but for to day and tomorrow. !
W Is the lesson of tho unfolding of lif'
y giving chance to new things.
Nv teaches us TO be patient with the othe
~ mans differences 1t reveals to us hoy
g. constantly life outgrows It's forms,
or MISSION OF THE PILGRIM
IS 1t is the mission Of the exile. exen'
he plified by the Pilgrim, to build tn
mt new upon the foundations of the oil
as new upon the foundations of the old de
err clared Or Atkins. True liberty is a liber
ell, ty which never breaks entirely with tn
xt past The Pilgrim ever maintained hi
ID love for England. This new experimer
he began in the name Of the old, the love
-er and the honored Though they steere
rs the way to the new world. they steer
c. ed by ancient stars" The CONSERVATISM
m of the Pilgrim was in securing ne
ss forms for the ancient spirit His Ill
- cralism was in carrying new spir