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On behalf of the Comiuitteo of the New England Society, the undersigned beg 1(1 oH'cT yoM their most hearty thanks, for the very able and eloquent oration which you delivered before the Society yesterday, and to solicit a copy of the same for publication. Very respectfully yours, JOHN FROTHINGHAM. President, N. E. S. Jacob De Witt, Secrefari/. I Montreal, January, 1860. (jENTLEMEN, Grateful for your kindly appreciation of my Address on "Fore Fathers' Day," I may not withhold the copy you request, whatever my opinion of its many defects, which other duties prevent me from attempting to remove. I place it, therefore, at your disposal, with best wishes foi your Society and yourselves. Respectfully and truly yours, JAMES B. BONAR. Messrs. John FeothinghaM, Jacob De Witt. ADDRESS. Brethben op the New England Society ; A ( i I CONGRATULATE you on the return of this 22nd day of Decem- ber. Another year with its hopes, its joys, its opfjortunities of use- fulness has passed away. It has been one of many pleasures to you as individuals : I trust it has also been one of profit and of enlarged usefulness to you as a Society. You have, doubtless, been permit- ted to aid not a few of your countrymen to return to their friends, or to obtain the necessaries of life. You have been called to mourn the loss of but one of your number — ^though he was one of your oldest, ablest, and most highly respected countrymen in Montreal. The memory of Jacob De Witt's sturdy New England character, and warm, open-handed interest in the general objects of your Society is still green among us. Doubtless the return of this day reminds you of the loss you have sustained in his departure to the better home. It is cause for devout gratitude that but one of your working members has been taken from you. The year has been one of external peace and of internal pros- perity to our common country. The earth has yielded her increase freely, so that throughout all her borders there is an abundance of food for man and for beast. Commerce has enlarged her sphere — scattering her many blessings with a liberal hand among all classes of the community, while enriching those who are more immediately engaged in her service. The Republican Institutions of our be- loved country have been tested during another year : as heretofore m 6 they have proved themselves both suitable and useful. Another State has been added to the Union, and one more Star placed upon our national flag. Within the same period, two new Territories have been organized ; and, we trust, that before another return of this aimivereary, the Confederacy will be increased by at loast one new free State, and perhaps by tu>o. During the year, several momentous questions have engaged the attention of our countrymen. Some of these have been amicably adjusted, others remain for future settlement. But there is nothing in the present state of New England to awaken anxiety in the pat- riotic bosom ; nor in any of the topics before the general public, except, perhaps, the overshadowing one of the Slave power — to betoken danger to the Confederacy. Engrossed in the development of her own wonderful resources, the young giantess of the West pursues her rapid march in the paths of peace and plenty, while the nations of Europe consume their energies and waste their resources in preparing for deadly conflict in a general war. I congratulate you, then, that the return of this hallowed day finds the Pilgrims' children everywhere enjoying, in an ever increasing abundance, those rich blessings which only their Fore Fathers' God can bestow. Bands of our brethren will to-day assemble in almost every city ou this continent, and in many of the cities of Europe ; wliile they look back mth honest pride, they will also regard the present state of our country with lively gratitude, and look forward with earnest anticipations of a yet greater glory, a larger prosperity, and more extensive freedom. May every return of this day strengthen their faith and brighten their anticipations ! We instmctively love to remember those who have filled impor- tant places, or performed heroic actions in the past. We naturally delight CO mark the days on which have occurred events pregnant with rich blessings to us or to our race. The history of the past supplies us with many persons and events worthy of being grate- fully remembered and animally commemorated. Every nation has several such anniversaries. W^e honor them for honoring their an- ' / cestors ; we think the better of them for frequently recalling the noble characters, and mentioning the heroic achievements of those from whom their advantages come. And you, brethren of New England, delight to do the same. The patriotic John Adams remarked, that " the Fourth of July, 1776, was a memorable epoch, to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, — to be colemnized with pomp, shows, bonfires, and il- luminations from one end of the continent to another, throughout all generations." He was, doubtless, correct. But to my mind the day we celebrate — the 22nd December, 1620, — the day when the national existence of New England began — marks a grander epoch, still more worthy of being commemorated by us, and by our successors for ever. Lord Chatham's remark respecting the mem- bers of the first Continental Congress, is even more true of those who on this day landed at Plymouth: "he had never," he said, "heard or read of any body of men superior, or indeed equal to them, in all that constitutes mental greatness and moral worth." — This we may honestly say of the Pilgrims. On this account, the anniversary of their disembarkation has long been regularly cele- brated in prose and in verse, iu sermon, in oration, and in poem — a patriotic and religious duty, to which have been consecrated the highest efibrts of many of the noblest and purest minds ever pro- duced by the country to whose colonization they led the way. And you, gentlemen, though residing prosperously and contentedly un- der the hoiiored flag of Old England, would not forget the virtues or the deeds of those to whom we and the world are indebted for much of our virtue and nearly all our happiness. By this annual celebration you would teach your children to know and reverence the stock from which they are sprung, and to glory in the name of American. In your first annual address, you listened to an eloquent discourse on the vision of the Pilgrims. Your second one was a most searching analysis representing individuality, originality, and conscientiousness as the sources of the Pilgi'im's character. Your last was an exhi- 8 bition of the present state and prospects of our country, or the vision accomplished. In these three able and timely discourses you have had presented the leading historic facts connected with the day we celebrate. But the subject is a large one, on which we may pro- fitably linger. In full view, therefore, of your previous addresses I would to-day, without making any attempt at oratorical display, direct your attention to some of the leading traits of the Pilgrims and other early New England Colonists. I am encouraged to do this from the position I hold as your Chaplain, and from the convic- tion that some of these traits are greatly needed at the present time. Another reason I find in the fact, that gi*avo popular misapprehen- sions exist on this subject. History is not read so generally, nor are its statements so clearly apprehended as we might expect them to be in this boasted nineteenth century. All admit the early New England Colonists to have been great and good men, worthy of our reverence ; yet there is a wide-spread feeling that there was much in their principles that was stem, much in their character that was unlovely, and many things in their practice which need to be ex- cused. This feeling, unworthy of us and dishonoring to the Fathers, originates in an imperfect knowledge of the men and of the facts in their history. The sixteenth century was an age calculated to form and develop charactera of the most wonderful combinations. The art of print- ing, then only in its infancy, had begun to exert its marvellous power over the world's intellect. Mind was aroused from its long torpor, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge awakened. The spirit of investigation was abroad as never before. Men called in question everything — being desirous of understanding the foundations of every civil, moral, and religious claim. The vigorous attacks of .he Lion hearted Reformers upon the Roman Catholic system, and their zeal- ous proclamation of the long forgotten truths of the glorious Gospel of Christ, greatly aided in producing and fostering this free spirit of independent enquiry. It was an age of keen and often of bittci^ controversy— one party demanding the fullest submission of heart i \- 9 It is to be regretted — to-day we may confess it — their successors have not always possessed as much wisdom, nor manifested equal moderation in the laws which they have enacted ; yet the New England States are confessedly among the most moral and best, because least, governed communities in the world. I would mention as traits belonging to the first New England Colonists, the love of peace and order in connection with respect for the rights of others. I mention these together, because charges have often been preferred against them, which, to me, seem to be imjust and unwarranted by the facts. They manifested no disposi- tion to force their opinions upon others, or to infringe upon the rights «»f any. They would not separate from the Church of England. — They sought only its reform in matters of practice. And even this they did not seek in an illiberal spirit or uncharitable manner. John Robinson, in his last charge, advised them " by all means to endeavour to close with the godly party of the kingdom of England, and rather to • study union than division, namely how near we might possibly, without sin, close with them, than in the least measure to affect division or separation from them." Winslow tes- tifies that John Robinson " professed and held communion both with the French and Dutch Churches, yea tendered it even to the Scotch also." While they claimed toleration and the right of private judgment, they were willing that others should enjoy the same priv- ileges. They removed from Amsterdam to Leyden that they might not be the occasion of disturbance to the brethren whom they found in the former city. No charge of bigotry or intolerance can be sustained against them in aught that they said or did previous B !>,; 18 ■I to their settlement in New England. It will soon appear that this may also be said of them in their after course. Their dealings with the Indians were on the whole praiseworthy, considering the sentiments then prevalent and the course pursued l)y some of the other Colonists of America. They not only obtained grants from the English government, but they were ever mindful of the rights of tlie Indians : while they restrained their ferocity and cliecked their aggressions, they endeavoured upon every occasion to protect them in their just dues and privileges. It is matter of the most familiar history, that previous to the arrival of the Mayflower at Plymouth, the whole country, bordering upon the coast and ex- tending far inland, had been desolated by a pestilence, so that it was nearly if not quite depopulated. It was about two weeks after their first landing at Cape Cod before the Pilgrims met with Sam- osit — the first native that appeared. He informed them that four years before their arrival, all the Indians of that vicinity had died of an extraordinary disease, so that there was "neither man nor woman, nor child remaining." On the 22nd day of March, 1&21, Maa-saa-soit — the ruler of all the nations in that vicinity — came with sixty armed men to Ply- mouth. With him the Pilgrims made a treaty, consisting of six articles, which was kept with good faith on both sides during the chiefs life, and for twenty years afterwards. For more than half a century after the arrival of the Mayflower, the Pilgrims and their descendants lived in peace and friendship with the natives, undis- turbed by outbreaks or lawless aggressions. Canonicus, chief of the Narraganaasetts, early manifested jealousy of them and laid plans for their destruction ; but these were frustrated by the other Indians. Until after Phillip's war, the settlers of Plymouth never claimed nor obtained any lands belongmg to the Indians by violence or conquest. Their titles were all derived by deeds and grants from the natives. This was likewise true of the first settlers in Connec- ticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The first Colonists dealt honestly and kindly with these sons of the forest, seekmg to unite 19 them in friendship to themselves and to each other. One instance may suffice to show their mode of dealing where the Indians were concerned. During a time of severe famine a quantity of com was found in a cave. Before it was used, a diligent but useless search was made for the owner. Months afterwards he was discovered, and paid three-fold. Whatever may be said of the other or later settlers of this continent, the Forefathers of New England at least dealt honestly by the Red Man. It has ever seemed to me that the common representation of the course of the Colonists towards Roger Williams and the Quaker is not the most correct one. It is by these that the charge of bif o, ^ and intolerance is mainly sought to be sustained. To obtain correct views on this, you must remember the Pilgrims did not cross the Atlantic to form a settlement where men of all shades of opinion should be tolerated. They came for the express purpose and with the avowed intention of forming a sepa- rate organization, a community of their own, to be governed by their well-known principles. The grants gave them an exclusive title to the lands which they were to occupy, with an uncontrolled right to establish laws for its government. They owned all that tract of country lying east of the present State of Rhode Island and soutli of Massachusetts, which was at first bounded by Charles River and the Merrimac. Within these limits they had absolute dominion. To this spot they invited none except those who thought as they did upon law and religion. Hence Plymouth early passed laws pro- hibiting persons from settling within her bounds without a licerse from the magistrates. They sought to keep out the elements of discord by excluding those who were likely to introduce them. They had braved many dangers to obtain a quiet home. They were certainly justified in seeking by all lawful means to preserve it. Roger Williams* was banished in 1635, after a residence of five • See Palfrey's Hist, of N. E., vol.i., p. 405-425, where the various authorities are given in full. This is confessedly the best and only thorough history of New England. 20 ii •^ 'i 11 years in the Colony, not for his religious opinions, but because he was opposing the principles on which the Colony was founded and sowing discord among the settlers. " Our fathers," says John Quincy Adams, " turned Mr. Williams out of doors, because he was tearing their house to pieces." Dr. Worcester says, " Roger Wil- liams was not banished for being a baptist ; for he never was a baptist in Massachusetts." I desire to speak charitably of Roger Williams. lie, doubtless, had more correct views than his compeers of the connection that ought to exist between church and state ; but he was a partizan with very little fixedness of principle. Bradford says he was " a man godly and zealous, having many precious parts, but vciy unsettled in his judgment." lie insisted that the brethren in Boston should declare their repentance for having communed with the Church of England before they left that country. He openly taught that no one should pray with an impenitent person, — not even though it should be his own wife or child or parent. He proclaimed that oaths should not be administered to those who were not members of churches ; thus virtually excluding such persons from office, and also obstructing the Avhole course of justice. He insisted that the title of the Colony to its lands was not good, and openly preached against it. All this is well authenticated. Being Avamed not to assert these dangerous opinions publicly, he set the authorities at open defiance. Then the sentence of banishment was passed upon him in October, with the understanding that it would not be enforced until spring, provided he remained quiet, which his restless disposition would not permit him to do. He therefore fled to Rhode Island to escape being sent back to England. In all this, it seems to me, the Fathers dealt not only lawfully and prudently, but tenderly even with the founder of Rhode Island. If it had been in England, he would have been whipped at the market place and then cast into prison. The Quakers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were no more hke the gentle, law-abiding Friends of the present, than the latter are like the Mormons. The former were ranters and fanatics, 21 disturbers of public peace and decency. They were in the habit of entering the churches — " steeple houses," as they called them, — during the time of service for the purpose of insulting the ministers and disturbing the worship. An old writer says, " They invaded public places, uttering their wild exhortations and foaming forth their mad opinions, like persons possessed ; disturbing also the relations of private life, and meddling everywhere with matters beyond the pale of propriety or even common decency." It was, doubtless, against such disturbers of the peace as these that the often-blamed laws of the colonies were directed. A careful exami- nation of the facts respecting the persons punished, will, I think, show that the Fathers of New England, instead of being bigoted or intolerant, were only the strict supporters of order and good morals. Doubtless, some of their laws were stern, and often enforced with what would now be regarded as unnecessary severity. But that was true of all the go/emments of that period. We claim only that the laws established and enforced by the early Colonists were milder and more moderate than those then executed in Europe. Their most unjustifiable laws against witchcraft were simply copies from the Statute Book of England. And even this law was a dead letter in the Colonies ever after 1676, while in Britain witches were punished as late as 1725. The moderation of the Fathers appears in striking contrast with the intolerance which then prevailed in every country of Europe — Holland alone excepted. They were human, and therefore imperfect, as they themselves were ever most ready to confess. They lived in circumstances of peculiar diflSculty, yet they let their moderation, their intelligence, and their piety appear in everything. They were so simple minded and unambitious that the Colony of Plymouth found it necessary to enact a law imposing a fine of twenty pounds sterling upon whomsoever, on being elected, should refuse to serve as governor. They desired only to live in peace, in the free exercise of what they justly regarded as high privileges, and in earnest efibrts to honor the Great Being, whose smile of approval was their most coveted reward. They ^ 8fi '1 .1 ; i 1 it k fl hated nothing so much as intolerance, and feared only God's dis- pleasure. Take them altogether, there is hardly anything to be excused, while there is much that is worthy of imitation and praise. They left their children the nohlo heritage of a good name and a virtuous example, as well as a goodly country ami free institutions. Their heroic, self sacrificing virtues ought to be, and will be held in everlasting remembrance. They acted fully up to the light which they possessed, while they eagerly sought for more. It 18 true, brethren of the New England Society, your ancestors were noble men, animated by lofty principles, and engaged in a holy cause. The contest in which they wore out their lives was begun on Calvary. It was a contest between light and darkness, freedom and despotism. In that struggle they nobly fought, and more nobly suffered, even while gaining most decided advantages. But, gen- tlemen, they were not permitted to end the struggle. The contest has been proceeding ever since ; it is still continued ; and now it rages more fiercely than ever. Many victories have been gained during these two centuries ; the battle field is now greatly enlarged, and every day becoming larger. New and more definite issues are being made, and new peoples enlisted in the conflict. But the contest is the same; — darkness and despotism on the one side, light and liberty on the other. The Forefathers of New England ranged themselves under the banner of light and liberty: that banner, never dishonoured by themselves, they bequeathed to their descen- dants to be honourably carried forward to victory. A holy trust ! and one which the children have nobly kept, so that to-day no despot rules, and no slave clanks his chains in New England. Nobly are the children treading in the Fathers' footsteps. Long ago they penetrated to the mighty West, carrying knowledge and liberty with them. They secured the freedom of Kansas. They have imbued all those noble Western States with a mighty spirit of liberty that must prevail. Even now they are settling in Western Virginia. Armed only with the Bible and an all conquering spirit of love, they still pursue the Pilgrims' path. Gentlemen, the con- 28 test may be long ; but while the . -^ns of Now England wield the Pilgrims' weapons, success will attend them. The Forefathers' God "Virill yet, in answer to the childrens' prayers, deliver the confederacy from its every danger, — including that of slavery. The Divine blessing is pledged to them for thousands of generations : the higher law insures their success so long as moderation and love direct their counsels and animate their efforts. I am well assured that the warm heart and prudent intellect of New England are both truly enlisted in this contest, whether waged in her own, or in other countries. Her children have gone to all quarters of the earth as the heralds of light and the messengers of salvation. She watches eagerly the heroic efforts of Old England, who, engaged in the same contest, is ranged on the same side as herself. She loves Old England for the Fathers' sake, as well as for her noble principles ; should the despots, now arming, dare to invade the land of the Pil- grims' birth, there are thousands of the Pilgrims' children ready to cross the Atlantic, as their Fathers did, in behalf of the right. Old England and New England are one in heart and one in effort for God and light and liberty. Certain I am, that the men of New England, resident in Montreal, will, on this day especially, heartily unite in the prayer with which I conclude : Thus may it ever be, till the Pilgrims' principles shall fill the world and govern our race ! And peace and love and friendship reign through all the earth ! » Our Fathers' God I to Thee, Author of liberty I To Thee we turn ; Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light ; Protect U3 by thy might, Great God, our King I