Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1928-06-22
WORLD OWES MUCH
TO THE PURITAN
Tremendous Influence for
Good of Humanity.

The following editorial, IN London
Tit-Blts, with Its praise of Puritan
Ism" as factor in the progress of
the world, has called forth some
criticism and much comment in the
English press:
Like everything that has life and
individuality words have their trl-
jumps and tragedies, their ups and
downs, A word which used 10 be
ignoble becomes honorable; another
which used to be noble becomes de
based. Occasionally one can watch
word go wrong Take the word
purltsnicaI as an instance.
Judging from letters and leaders
In the daily papers, one would think
that anything described as puritan
lcal was a mixture OF tyranny, phil
istinIsm, intolerance, prejudice, mar
row-mlndedness, and lot of other
unpleasant things.
so widespread seems this concep-
ton that one Is led to wonder whether
the history Of our country is taught
today or, If 1t is, whether 1t is IN
telligently taught For instance, is
the history OF our own country ever
compared, step by step, with the his
tory OF any other, and results referred
back TO causes?
I'VE hear and read so much about
the French revolution that we are apt
to think II was the first of those re-
volts against intolerable tyranny
which resulted in the rise and rule
Of democracy. Yet the fact is that
there were two prior revolutions, the
first in Britain and the second In
America Both these were Puritan
revolutions.
What accounts for the marked diff
ference between the French and other
similar revolutions, and the revolu-
ton under Cromwell and Hanpden in
England. and under Washington in
American This time, one word is suf-
hcient answer: Puritanism.
The French revolution, like the
Russian, like tile Chinese. like many
in South and Central America, was an
orgy OF blood, and was followed by a
recrudescence of tyranny which kept
Europe In a weller of war and blood
shed for 20 years.
in France Puritanlsm failed; in
England and America it succeeded.
Purltanlsm was tremendous force
in France before It was In England,
but the revocation of the edict OF
Nantes, md the massacre OF st. Bar.
tholomew, either Killed or exiled It,
France took the wrong turning, and
her world influence has been declin-
ing ever since Read the history of
the Eighteenth century and see.
I'm this country the conditions
which sent the Pilgrim fathers to lay
the cornerstone of the United States
Of America In 1920 started the English
revolution in 1910 Ever since Puri.
tanism, despite all signs to the con
trary, has been a dominating Influence
In both countries. Moreover, 1t will
be sad day for both when it ceases
10 be.
"why9 Because that serious mind
edness which has always been the
ground plan of Purltanlsm, whatever
shape the supersructure has as
sumed, is not only the most charac-
teristtc OF British qualities. hut 1t Is
the ore without which there could not
be that crowned republic that mod
crn miracle we know as the British
empire; without which the unique In
fiuence Of the English-spealdng race
could never have developed.
"Purltsnlsm ls certainly a brake on
the wheel Of folly. As such 1t is an
annoyance TO all who want TO go the
pace. But even those who use the
adjective 'purltanlcal as a synonym
for all that Is dull, inartistic. reaction
AIRY, and stodey would hesitate TO sac
rifce the qualities for which It stnnds.
or to entrust the reins to the lrrespon
sible hands OF those who regard the
pursuit Of pleasure as the main occu-
patton Of life"