Part 33 (1/2)

Fuller among us, and rejoice much that I am by him satisfied touching your judgments of the outward form of G.o.d's wors.h.i.+p; it is (as far as I can yet gather) no other than is warranted by the evidence of truth, and the same which I have professed and maintained ever since the Lord in his mercy revealed himself unto me, being far differing from the common reports that hath been spread of you touching that particular.”[191]

I have thought it worth mentioning that the church at Salem was the first completely organized Congregational church in America. It was gathered August 6th, 1629, when Rev. Mr. Higginson was ordained teacher, and Mr. Skelton pastor.[192] Governor Bradford and others deputed from the church at Plymouth, coming into the a.s.sembly in the hour of the solemnity, gave them the right hand of fellows.h.i.+p. Robinson never having come over, Plymouth was without a pastor for some years.

Under Charles I. the Pilgrims fared little better than in the preceding reign; but they had seated themselves firmly by the period of the Civil War. On the day before his arrival at Shrewsbury, the king caused the military orders to be read at the head of each regiment. Then, mounting his horse, and placing himself in the midst, where all might hear, he made a speech to his soldiers, in which this pa.s.sage occurs:

”Gentlemen, you have heard these orders read; it is your part, in your severall places, to observe them exactly.... I can not suspect your Courage and Resolution; your Conscience and your Loyalty hath brought you hither to fight for your Religion, your King, and the Laws of the Land; you shall fight with no Enemies, but Traitours, most of them Brownists, Anabaptists, and Atheists, such who desire to destroy both Church and State, and who have already condemned you to ruin for being Loyall to vs.”

Here, then, were a handful of men repudiated by their king, cast off by their commercial partners, a prey to the consequences of civil war at home, and living by sufferance in the midst of a fierce and warlike people, compelled at last to work out their own political destiny. What wonder that with them self-preservation stood first, last, and always!

All other settlements in New England were made with the hope of gain alone, few, if any, colonists meaning to make a permanent home in its wilds. We may not withhold the respect due to these Pilgrims, who were essentially a unit, embodying the germ of civil, political, and religious liberty. They beheld from the beach the vanis.h.i.+ng sail of the _Mayflower_ as men who had accepted what fate may bring to them. They did not mean to go back.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

FOOTNOTES:

[171] In possession of New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston. It is by Corne, a marine painter of some repute in his day.

[172] Other portraits are of Dr. James Thacher, by Frothingham, and of John Alden, great-grandson of John, of the _Mayflower_, who died at the great age of one hundred and two years. He was of Middleborough. Dr.

Thacher, a surgeon of the old Continental army, deserves more s.p.a.ce than I am able to give him. He has embodied a great deal of Revolutionary history, in a very interesting way, in his ”Military Journal,” having been present at the princ.i.p.al battles.

[173] ”Pilgrim Memorial.”

[174] John Newcomen.

[175] Jones's River.

[176] The _Mayflower_ was only one hundred and eighty tons burden.

[177] Mourt.

[178] I do not find any exact authority for this.

[179] ”This is to certify that I took the schooner _Harmony_, Nathaniel Carver, master, belonging to Plymouth, but, on account of his good services, have given him up his vessel again.

”HORATIO NELSON.

”Dated on board H.M. s.h.i.+p _Albemarle_, 17th August, 1782.”

[180] Governor Bradford's ”History of Plymouth.”

[181] Green's Harbor, perhaps.

[182] Followed as literally as possible, to preserve the style.

[183] Named by De Monts, and supposed to be Brant Point.

[184] ”The south part of New England, as it is planted this yeare, 1634.”