The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-03-25
IRELAND ONCE AIDED AMERICA
Sent Substantial Relief to Early New
England Colonlsts.

Sent Substantial Relief to Early New
England ColonIsts.
"Were Vermont Ireland what
would Ireland do for the suffering wo-
men and children OF Vermont
1t would appear to be easy to find
the answer, for judge by what Ire
land has done in the past the IRISH
people would be most liberal in their
contributions to relieve the suffering,
and want OF distressed Vermonters.
A little history recalled at this tine
will prove that the heart of the Irish
beats true in rccogn ton Of the suf-
fering even though the sufferers be
remotely located across the seas.
In 1881 stressful times confronted
the Pilgr ms Of Massachusetts, They
were in most Strengthened circum.
stances and had not aid come to them
the little colonies would have been
completely wiped out Had this hap
pened thcrc might then have never
been a Vermont or even a New Eng
land
It was through the kind Offices of
Ireland that rescue came TO those
early settlers on the coast Of Massa-
chusetts
Here is the story of what Ireland
d d to relieve the suffering of the Pill
grims in that early day, according to
Rev. Thomas Pierce of Boston, who
publ he'd a chronological history Of
New England in 1886 lie relates the
story OF ireland coming 10 the rescue
Of the Pilgrims and saying them from
starvat on. The young colony sent a
Mr. Pierce TO ireland for provisions
to save the colony. Then the story
reads.
Upon this a day Of fasting and
prayer to God for relief S appointed
ito be ON the 9th day of February
But God who delights TO appear in the
greatest straits. works maryellously
OF this me, for ON bruary 9TH the
very day before the appointed fast In
comes the ship Lion, MIR. William
Perce. master. now arriving at Nam
tasket laden with proyis Ons from Ire
land
but t6is was not tho only relief
that ireland extended IT, the young
colonies. for we find I'm later story
related by the Histor. Theological
Society of New England oil The bloody
war Waged by King Phi p, chief o!
the Narragausett Indians, who had
devastated the home Of the colonists
The war began in 1915 and continued
through the year 1876. I'M these
times OF distress and misery the peO-
pie of ireland promptly came to the
relief of the sufferers which event is
known i'm the New England annals as
The IRISH Donation
The ship katherine of Dublin,
brought the relief. II was directed
that ii should be distributed among
the people distressed by the late war
with the Indians and 1t was further
d reCtdd that there was to be no dis.
tinction as to religious belief All
were TO share according to their
needs The charity was TO be divided
among the united colonies of Ply
mouth, Massachusetts and Connect
cut N sucn portions as the committee
should adjust.
Among the people assisted Ivy this
kindly act of Ireland We're G60 fami-
lies consisting 2256 persons in dis
tress. hes DIES 10 towns from which re.
turns were not received
Thus, il is seen, that Ireland, cen
turtles ago did for suffering New Eng-
mders what can now he done by
America for the suffering women and
children of Ireland.
win Vermont do her part during
contribution week which begins on
Monday, March IS? The answer may
be made with full assurance that she
will.
This movement to raise funds to re
lieye the suffering in Ireland is coun
try wide with some eff the best known
men and women interested in making
/ it one of the big generous acts Of the
people.
Contributions may be sent to NJ. d
IcNIahon. treasurer Champlan Trust
Company, Winooskb Vermont, or civ
en- to the county chairmen.
The opportunity to do a LIBERAL ant
human tartan act should not he
passed over and contributions should
be made at once that Vermont may
keep pace with the other states.