Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-17
Editors Letter Box
From a Mayfower Descendant


Mr.. Thomas :. Hopkins OF Washing
ton. u. c., who always spends his
summers and early autumnS in this
town, has just returned from an in
teresting trip to Plymouth. Mass, and
Cape Cod.
The tri-cnnial congress of the Gen
eral Society of Mayfiower Descendants
met in Plymouth last week General
Leonard Wood, who was the governor
general of the society, was prevented
from attending because of his absence
in the Philippines. Mr.. Hopkins
states substantially as follows:
This being the ter-centenary of the
landing of the Pilgrims, the attend
ance at the congress was double that
in any previous year. Out of so dele
Getty, AZ were in attendance, Many
states sent complete delegations.
Chief Justice Taft, who is a member
of the District of Columbia society.
was detained in Washington by reason
of his official duties.
The congress sat for two days At
the opening compact, signed on board
the Maytower in PrOVincetown Har-
Dor before any were allowed t. land,
was read. Its quaint phraseology is
In We name of God. Amen.-We
whose names are under-writtcn, the
loyale subjects of our dread Sow
eraigne Lord King James. by We
grace of God of Great Britaire,
Frame g ireland King Defender of
the Faith. &C
Haveing undertaken for We glorie
Of God and advancemcnte Of We
Christian faith. and honour of our
King q Countrie. a voyage to plant
ye first colonie in We northerne parts
OF Virginia. doe by these presents
solemnly 4 mutually in We presence
of God and one of another. covenant
& combine our selves toeeathcr
into a civil body politick. for our :
better ordering and preservation.
and furthcarance of We ends afore-
said; and by vertue hearof to eracte.
constitute and frame such just and
equal lawes, ordinances. acts con-
situations & offices from time to
time. as shall be thought most
meete & convenient for We general
good of We Colonie: unto which we
promise all due submission and
obedience
under subscribed our names at Cane
Codd ye 1 day of November in We
year Of We raigne of our Soveraigne
Lord King James of England.
France & Ireland We eighteenth, and
OF Scotland ye fifty-fourth, Ano
A large part of the proceedings were
of routine character; but a lively
debate was precipitated by the intro
auction OF resolution proposing to
h
lie schools at the last session before
Thanksgiving. 1t was finally laid UNION
the table.
There were three very striking and
Interesting incidents connected with
the meetings. -
The first was the sunset service held
on Fort Hill which was the burial
place of the pilgrims after their first
winter in Plymouth. 1t consisted of
the singing of pilgrim hymns and
reading Cns >fr,t,
stood on the emincnce and looked out
to sea. on the Spit, Clark's Island ana
the dim outlines of Cape Cod shroudcd
IN maze he realized that the view was
ewes of that little band 800 years he
fore
The second was a reproduction in
costume, Of the pilgrims marching up
Lsyden street to Fort Hill, to the roll
of the drum. each man carving his
matchbox musllet, as they did three
centuries ago Capt MyIes Standish
the fiery soldier. who was more sue
cessful in fighting than in wooinc.
marched at the head with Elder Brew
ster and Governor Bradford Everv
man. woman and child in the march
was the descendant of a Mavf1owar
passenger They came with slow and
m measured tread. and there was much
movements and in their facial express
sion. Th@e were many moist eyes
among the onloollers as the little nro.
cession climbed the same hill and trod
IN the very footsteps Of their ancns-
tors. The one who represented Eliza
beth Hopkins seemed to most excite
the interest ard admiration Of these
who watched the pageant sire was
accompanied and protected by her
husband. stephen Hopkins. and by
her side marched four children two
of the little girls clinging to her
skirts. while in her arms she carried
an infant (Oceanus, born on the vow
age). A. intervals she pattcd the
baby and looked down into its face. Az
all mothers have done since the world
began. and. anon she would lift her
rves up as If praving to the Father
Abon that he would protect the 1T
tie helpless one that Law in her arms.
Reaching the top of the Hill thew
gathered on the very spot where tho
pilgrims built their fine fort in 1921
and mounted upon/ its roof -four
peeces' of artillery. Within its
strong log wallis they Were wont ~
gather for the worship of God. and
there thew foreFathered in haste. when
the roll Of the drum sounded an alarm.
The third was the gathering of the
members on Coles Hill. a little pIa-
Ieau or about an acre. adjacent to
Plymouth Rock, for the purpose of
defeating the memorial of the so
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