In 1741-2, thirty-nine males and fifty-eight females were admitted to full communion. About this time Rev. Chandler Robbins, D.D., became the pastor of the church, the number of members being 154. His ministry continued to about the year 1800, when Rev. James Kendall became pastor, and still continues to administer with a colleague. During Dr. Robbins's ministry two hundred and fifteen members were added to the church; during Dr. Kendall's, 180. It is said there are now in Plymouth ten Christian churches, one half of which are Congregational.

During this time the church had colonized, and churches were gathered in many neighboring towns. There is a case on the records similar to many others found in the Old Colony. Rev. Mr. Little was dismissed on the same day of the ordination of his successor (Mr. Robbins), and instead of the Council's giving him his dismission or recommendation, they advise the church thereto, and the church gave him a letter which is on the records, in extenso, concluding, "we do freely and heartily recommend him to the work of the ministry, if God should restore his health."p. 133.

The History next proceeds to give an account of the religious principles and doctrines of the church, and they are the same as those before extracted from Mr. Prince. As to government and discipline, "they disclaim the name of Brownists which was thrown on them by the adversary; were first called Independents, afterwards Congregationalists, holding the equality of pastors and churches, and the distinct right each church has of ordering its own affairs, without control from any superior authority, yet ready to hold communion with all churches professing the true faith and worship of Christ, and to afford as well as receive assistance by council and advice, as there is occasion."

In regard to the ministry, "they held the necessity of gifts and study, and the great advantage and usefulness of human learning to qualify for the office, and improved men of academic education; but their pastor being kept back by the plots of evil men, the ruling elder used to call some of the leading brethren to pray and give a word of exhortation, the chief of whom were Gov. Winslow, Gov. Bradford, Mr. Thomas Southworth, and Nathaniel Morton, men of superior knowledge and parts."

They saw cause to alter their practice in respect to the admission of members, in 1705, and voted that "a relation, given in, in writing, publicly read, and standing forth publicly to own it, should in future be as satisfactory to the church as if delivered viva voce." "As to

taking the sense of the church,—the elders sometimes called for the votes by lifting up the hands; sometimes by silence; sometimes calling on every brother one after another, to speak his mind; sometimes when divers had particularly spoken, asking if the rest were so minded, they in a more general way, assenting. Any of these ways were attended as the elders thought most expedient. The elders never called for a negative or contrary vote. Care was taken, before any vote was called for, to gain the assent of every brother; and this was a great preservative of the peace of the church."

The history closes by an account of their religious practice and deportment. "They were held in renown, far and near, for strict piety towards God, strong and lively faith, fervent love, zeal for the divine honor, their watchfulness and prayerfulness, conscientious regard for his Sabbaths and institutions, delight in his word and ways, days of humiliation, and readiness to attend meetings."

"They were eminent for sobriety, temperance, and chastity, and self-denial, diligent and faithful in the discharge of relative duties, and training their families in the ways of the Lord. Their strict justice endeared them to the natives, without fraud in dealing with them."

"Their love and charity towards their fellow Christians shone forth with peculiar lustre. In Holland they lived together in love and peace, as attested by the magistrates. In the first twelve years of their settlement in Plymouth, numerous objects of charity presented themselves which they were ready to relieve even beyond their power. Some shipwrecked, some destitute of provisions, some sick, and others landing to ship for other colonies-all met with kind entertainment, mostly free of cost, and sometimes for months together. And their expending some hundreds to procure passage and provisions for their poor brethren in Holland and supplying them with provisions above thirteen months, till they could have a harvest of their own." Mr. Cotton says, "upon any motion for a contribution (for people in distress) there was a great readiness in the people to hearken thereto, and give freely and abundantly; the Lord reward it."

It is known that the termination of the pilgrimage of this church has been annually, and especially centennially, celebrated at "the Rock," for a long time, and the occasion has called forth the talents of our best statesmen and divines. Perhaps none of them have taken a more interesting view of the subject than Mr. Webster; and this account will close with a short extract from his address:

"We feel that we are on the spot where the scene of our history was laid; where the hearts and altars of New England were first

placed: where Christianity, civilization, and letters made their first lodgement, in a vast extent of country, covered with a wilderness and peopled by savages. We see the mild dignity of Carver and BRADFORD; the soldierlike air and manner of STANDISHI, the devout Brewster, and the enterprising Allerton; their trust in Heaven; their high religious faith, full of confidence and anticipation — and childhood too, houseless but for a mother's arms.

"There is a spirit of daring in religious reformers, not to be measured by the general rules which control men's purposes and actions. The learned, accomplished, unassuming, inoffensive Robinson, not tolerated in his own country, nor suffered quietly to depart, himself and Brewster flying with their little band, not the flight of guilt, but of virtue, surmounting all difficulties and braving a thousand dangers, to find here a place, of refuge and of rest. The first morning beamed on the first night of their repose and saw the Pilgrims established in their country: — here was civil liberty and religious worship. Poetry has fancied nothing in the wanderings of heroes so distinct and characteristic. Our fathers came here to enjoy religion, free and unmolested; and at the end of two centuries, there is nothing of which we can express more deep and earnest conviction, than the inestimable importance of that religion to man. Thanks be to God, that this spot was honored as the asylum of religious liberty! May its standard, reared here, remain forever! May it rise up as high as heaven, till its banner shall fan the air of both continents, and wave as a glorious ensign of peace and security to the nations."

"Let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought here for their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed in its light and labored in its hope. Let us cherish these sentiments and extend their influence still more widely; in the full conviction that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceable spirit of Christianity."

At a late meeting of the numerous descendants of Elder Brewster, it was declared, that "he was the ruling spirit of the colony, and that, under God, we are more indebted to him than to any other man for the grand results of that emigration." But was not Gov. Bradford rather the heart and conservative sustainer of this colony? The Memorial would seem to indicate this. He was, at the time of his arrival, thirty-two years of age only, and on the death of Gov. Carver, was immediately chosen governor; and he served in that office thirty years, with the exception of two years, when he prevailed upon

Bis

Grave,

the colonists to choose Mr. Winslow, and one year, Mr. Prince. "good report" is in all our churches, and all our histories. temperate, learned, (he knew all the modern languages, the Greek, and more especially the Hebrew; "he said he would see with his own eyes the native beauty of the oracles of God,") discreet," a strict disciplinarian, though far from an intolerant spirit;" just and generous to the Indians, and hospitable to them as well as the English. He is

a most reliable historian, and the labors and trials of the pilgrims, and their heroic character, would scarcely have been known, but for his history. His skill and success in securing the friendship of the natives, in the punishment and prevention of crimes, in promoting the harmony and industry of the people, and sharing in all their toils and privations, are set down in the Memorial, and need not be repeated. Add to these, that he was eminent in the church, and took the lead, under the Elder, in speaking to their edification.

"It is worthy of admiration and gratitude that this colony and that of Massachusetts should have been blest with two such governors as Bradford and Winthrop, men not easy to be paralleled." Hubbard says, "Mr. Bradford and Mr. Brewster were the two main props and pillars of the colony."- Hub. Hist. N. E. 664.

But the success of this colony is not to be attributed to the labors and ability of one man. It would seem that the plantation must have failed but for the special abilities, virtues, and efforts of many, each in his department. How could their difficulties with the merchant adventurers have been adjusted without the diplomacy, skill, tact, and talent of Gov. Winslow? He was a splendid, well-bred gentleman, personally made a journey forty miles to help and nurse the sick Massasoit, and his journals and writings show him to have been an accomplished author. And how could the pilgrims have secured the means of subsistence and paid the heavy debt to the merchants, who advanced the means for the emigration, but for the enterprise and activity of Allerton, in concert with Gov. Bradford, in setting up trading posts in Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut, "to obtain beaver," for these purposes, of the natives? Both he and Winslow had to make frequent voyages to England to discharge the heavy indebtedness. And what would, at last, have become of the colony, but for the military skill, hardihood, firm and sound mind of Miles Standish? Indeed, almost every man among them must have been a hero of inflexible virtue, patient labor, as well as high enterprise, or the plantation must have perished.

CONGREGATIONALISM IN MASSACHUSETTS.

What our ecclesiastical polity would have been, but for the high reputation of Robinson, and the persevering piety and order of the Leyden-Plymouth church, is very problematical. But it is certain that the immigrants arrived before they had fixed on any polity whatever, distinct from that of the Church of England.

The distinguished editor of the Chronicles of the Pilgrims, and the Chronicles of Massachusetts, says, "It is somewhat remarkable that they both adopted the same form of church polity." Why remarkable? The Pilgrims had now stood upon the Congregational Platform thirty years, and certainly knew what it was, having tried all parts of it, and that successfully. The Puritans had objected almost as strenuously as the Pilgrims against the corruptions and practices of the Church of England. But they wished and hoped to reform and improve it, and therefore continued in its communion, in the pale of that church. But after a long time attempting to do so, and yet conscientiously refusing to conform in many things, and being put in great straits and difficulties, they resolved to emigrate to New England. But it does not appear that they contemplated a separation from the established church. Indeed, the contrary of that is manifest. After their embarkation, they addressed a letter "to their brethren in and of the Church of England," in which they say, 66 we desire you would take notice of the principals and body of our company, who esteem it our honor to call the Church of England, from whence we arise, our mother, ever acknowledging such hope and part as we have obtained in the common salvation, we have received in her bosom, and sincerely desire and endeavor the continuance of her welfare," etc. Hutch, i. 331.

They knew that the polity of the Leyden-Plymouth church had been examined and embraced under the auspices of Mr. Robinson, and that he had vindicated, cleared, and defended it, on scriptural grounds, and by victorious argument, and that it had been successfully tried a whole generation; and the argument and the example commended the polity to them with such weight and force that they found no better model for order and worship, and they therefore adopted it. Hubbard, who could not forget the idea of "Separatists," which had attached to the Plymouth church, yet says, "an elder in Boston had a conference with the chief of the Plymouth church, to