The Coolidge examiner., 1935-05-03

young mothcrS-Mary Hopkins who carried In
her arms little oceanus Hopkins. born the
high seas. and Susanna white with her little son.
fercgrine White. who lrSi saw the light OF day
IN the hnrbor AZ Proylnceiown, where the May.
flower had stopped before going on 20 Plymouth
In the Plymouth of today stands the Pilgrim
Memorial fountain. erected by the National SO.
eieiy Of the Daughters Of the American Revo-
lu,ion "a It's part os the Pilgrim Tercentenary
celebration of 1890. The fountain consists Of
massive square shaft supporting a lofty bowl
from which water pours In continual streams
into a pool below. on the side OF the shaft
facing the harbor Is the lfe-slre figure OF the
Pilgrim Mother by G. L. Jenneweln. a New
York sculptor.
Dressed In Pilgrim Earb. the figure expresses
in face and attitude the faith. patience strength
endurance and devotion Of the founders OF New
England. on the opposite side OF the shaft are
engraved the names of the women passengers
OF the Mayh0wer aud below them these words /:
They brought up their families ln sturdy vir.
tue and living faith in God without which ma
tions perish
Al the time Of the dedication az this fountain
Mrs. George Maynard Miner. honorary president.
general Of the II. A. r.. paid this tribute 10 the
Pilgrim mothers:
After daring The perils Of the unknown land
after sharing with the men all the hardshlps
and prlvations ard suferings Of a voyage OF
weeks In cockle-shell OF a boat and landing
desoate and savage coast In the dead Of
winter. Inhabited only By Wild men and wild
beasts. after experiences that might well over.
come the hardest and most gallant nature they
settled down 90 the making of homes with
faith In the daily presence and guidance OF God
which sustained them I'm every hour OF need
Through hunger and starvation. through sick.
ness and death which exacted the toll of half
their number. they toled on and endured. looking
only toward the goal OF their high calling in
Christ Jesus.
I'VE hear far more about the Pilgrim fathers
than we do about the Pilgrim mothers While
In no way wishing TO detract from the rightful
glory OF the fathers nevertheless II is time that
the world realized the part that these women
played In civilization. II is time that history
took note OF them Rarely. II ever. are they
mentioned by name. except In the genealogies
or by specialists In Pilgrim history. Their names.
with few exceptions. are not household words
tongues. ike those OF Miles Standish. or
William Bradford and the rest. They figure only
ia the passenger list OF the Mayfower and only
as Mary or Katharine etc, wife OF So and So.
The family names OF but few are given. The
names OF some are literally unknown not even
the baptismal name being recorded. These latter
figure solely as the wives OF the fathers without
further Identification
We may read the tragic list for ourselves
The wife OF John Tilly-who was SheY Rv what
name was she called In those terrific years of
sorrow and suffering? The maidservant OF the
Carvers-who was she? What faithfuness and
courage must have been hers to follow her mas
ter and mistress into such an adventure Yet
her name is lost and her identity sunk In OBJ
nvion. We have inscribed on our fountain all the
names that are known; we have cut them into
deathless stone. that all coming generations may
read and remember. And we have so indicated
TIE uameless that they may share In the Immor-
tally OF the rest. Unknown soldiers of a future
nation. we salute you"
Worthy successors OF these nrst pioneer moth