Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-10-27
Puritans could have framed that document of po-

Puritans could have framed that document of po-
litcal freedom
One fundamental difference between the Puri-
tans and the Pilgrims was their attitude toward
the church of England. While the Puritan did
not agree with all the forms and rituals of the
established church, he steadfsty refused to leave
1t. His attitude was that the church could be re-
formed more quickly from within than from with
out. Even that sturdy old master Puritan. John
Winthrop, on the of sailing for America, is
sued the Yarmouth declaration, swearing his last
ing allegiance to the dear mother church." The
Pilgrim the other hand, first separated himself
from the established church and then, rather than
worship contrary to his conscience, was compelled
to leave his native land.
The term "Separatists," which was so contempt
uOusly applied to the Pilgrims was literally true
1t is also true that his first thoughts of democracy
grew out of this church dissension. While still
living in England, the Pilgrims gave expression to
the broad principle that the people did not require
a bishop of the established church to select their
preacher but, the other hand, they per-
fectly capable of choosing their own This doc
trine startled King James that he exclaimed
"No bishop would soon mean no king"
Not only did the Pilgrims and Puritans differ in
the fundamentals of church. but in matters Of
state as well for the Pilgrims held that church
and state should be separated Any respectable
man in Plymouth could be a free man and vote
whether he was a member of the congregation or
not. Capt. Miles Standsh, one of the most prOmi-
nent men of the colony was never member of
the church. The Puritans Of Salem and Boston,
however, vigorously held that only members of
the church had the rights of freemen and the pow
er to vote In their minds the church and state
were one. The result that the Pilgrims had
a liberal form of government, while the Puritans
developed theOcracy sternly despOtic.
The liberal spirit of plymouth was never better
demonstrated than during the witchcraft frenzy
which for time completely Frustrated its more
III iJn So1n Il -Orn
hanging Witches Plymouth would have none of it.
The Pilgrims simple country folk. Gov
ernor Bradford, the one great authority of these
neonle saws of them: "They not acquainted
with trades nor traffic but had been used to a
pIain country life and the innocent trade of hus-
bandry" For u long years they had labored to-
gether In Holland. Without means TO carry for
ward their exodus into the American wilderness,
they turned to a company of London merchants
for aid Their only collateral was the pledge OF
the labor of their hands for seven years in the
forests After many grfevous dsappointments
they sailed on one ship. Most of them were with
out arms and their poverty was so pressing they
did not even have extra leather soles for their
shoes Yet it fell to the lot of these men, who
lived in log huts and fed upon the bread of corn,
to found nation.
On the other hand the Puritans included many
of the gentry. Some even were personages OF
wealth and influence. When Gov. John Winthrop
and his Puritan associates sailed for Massachu-
setts bay from Yarmouth April 1880, there were
ten vessels in the fleet. Ample food was abroad
There were numerous shep, swine, cattle and
horses Everything had been provided to make
the colonists comfortable and contented in the
new country. If John Josselyn, who was in the
colony In 1885, is to be believed the total value
of the cargoes of this Puritan fleet was upward
Of one million ndoIlars-immeasurable wealth COM
pared with the bankrupt voyagers Of the May
flower.