USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > Historical sketch of Chester, on Delaware > Part 24
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His new code recognized liberty of conscience. All persons ac- knowledging the One Eternal God, living peaceably and justly were not to be molested or prejudiced in matters of faith and worship. He went further than this. He added that "nobody shall be com- pelled at any time to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever. Only murder and treason were to be punished with death." That, at least, was insisted on by Chief Justice North. But during the administration and life of Penn, no gallows was erected in his Province. He said that prisons should be schools of reformation and education, that litigation ought to give way to some regular appointed arbitration. That an oath was a su- perfluity. So also were cock-pits, bull bating, card playing, theatres and drunkenness. Lying was punishable as a crime. This was strik- ing at the root of the matter for all nations from the earliest time have acknowledged that "a lie is the parent of a horde of vices." Trial by jury was to be established and in all cases which involved an Indian, the jury must be composed of six whites and six In- dians, and no planter was to take the law in his own hands, though he felt aggrieved by an Indian, but apply to a magistrate and he was to confer with the Indian's chief. The person of the Indian was declared sacred.
Such was the man and such were the characters of the Founder of our State.
Permit me to close my remarks by quoting a portion of the elo- quent address delivered by the eminent Deponceau at the 140th anniversary of the landing of William Penn at Philadelphia, at a meeting called to organize a society to commemorate the landing
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of William Penn, held at the old house of Penn in "Letitia Court," as it was then called.
He said: "We feel his spirit in the atmosphere we breathe: we seek in every nook and corner of it for some trace of the illustrious man; we see, in imagination, the spot where he used to sit, while dict iting laws to a virtuous and happy people; we have a right to fancy we are sitting in the same place where he used to take his frugal repast. If the souls of the blest can look down from Heaven on the spots of this earth that were once dear to them, this meet- ing must be a pleasing spectacle to our sainted patriarch.
"A beneficent Providence permits, from time to time, the ap- pearance on earth of one of those privileged mortals whose mind's being infused with a more than ordinary portion of celestial fire, affords the strongest proof of the Divine origin of our species, and of the imperishable nature of the human soul. But men of this description are very rare, and whenever they appear they are either a scourge or a blessing to mankind For to them it is given, no doubt, for wise purposes to rule the destiny of nations by an irre- sistible ascendancy of a powerful mind. The fame of such a man is a crown of glory to the country to which he belongs; therefore, every nation strives to trace its origin to some great and distin- guished character.
"We are certain that we are acting in unison with the popular feeling of this enlightened State, when we meet together to give a public testimony of our respect for the memory of William Penn, and to commemorate his first landing on our shores with the worthy companions of his labors. By this we not only pay a just debt of gratitude, but we raise and exalt the character and dignity of our own State, which came into existence, rose and flourished under the auspices of that great man. If the citizens of Massachusetts have just cause to be proud of their Pilgrims, whose landing on their shores they annually celebrate with a solemnity worthy of the oc- casion, how much more have we not reason to pride ourselves on our own Pilgrims and their illustrious leader, whose fame is only bounded by the extremities of the earth, and what greater name can we select as a rallying point for Pennsylvanians than that of William Penn? It is only to be regretted that it has not been done sooner, but that may be accounted for from various motives. But while, as citizens of this empire, we pay a deserved tribute to the illustrious men whom our Union has produced, while every revoly- ing year sees us commemorate with festivity and song the day which gave birth to a Washington, and while the echo of the ac- clamations with which we have but a few days since greeted the great and good Lafayette has not yet ceased to reverberate, why should we be forgetful of that admirable man to whom, as a State, we are indebted for our political existence, of that sage, who, by the unanimous voice of mankind, has long since been ranked with
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Numa and Confucious, and with the greatest among the legislators of ancient or modern times?
"Surely it cannot be said that we do not duly appreciate his merits; that we do not venerate his memory; that we are not sensi- ble of the immense benefits that we have received at his hands, and of the honor that we derive from being entitled to call him peculiar- ly our own. Let us not doubt, therefore, that the example that we set will hereafter be regularly and extensively followed, and that this day will every year be set apart by every true Pennsylvanian for the commemoration of the first landing on our shores of William Penn and his virtuous followers."
The speaker continued his address, without notes, for some time, presenting to his hearers the importance of maintaining the same principles that were so successfully established by the great Founder, and to do this we must, like him, submit ourselves to be guided and directed by the same Almighty power, even "Christ Jesus, the True Light, that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world." "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
MARY P. FAWKES, of West Grove, Pa., read the following selections, compiled for the occasion :
Dear friends, we have met on this bright autumn day, A tribute of love to our hero to pay; And as we have gathered from far and from near, I trust each will feel 'tis good to be here.
Like pilgrims we come and gather around The home of our fathers, to us hallowed ground, For this place is our Mecca, this spot is the shrine, The altar on which to lay gitts, yours and mine.
Let our gifts be the symbols of honor to those Who first 'neath these shades sought peace and repose, Who suffered with bravery the truth to uphold: To whom freedom of conscience was better than gold
When the heart of George Fox was touched, as with fire, He hastened to Prelate and Priest to inquire The way of Salvation, but nought could he find That brought rest to his soul, or gave peace to his mind.
Then his spirit, enshrouded in shadows of night, Was quickly illumined by the true inward light, When he clearly discerned he must closely abide With the spirit of truth-hence his teacher and guide:
Then gathered about him such truth-seeking men As Ellwood and Pennington, Barclay and Penn; They founded a sect, and we freely must own We are reaping rich fruit from the seed they have sown.
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The hand of oppression soon on them was laid, But from duty none shrank, not one heart was afraid; They were true to their faith, with united accord, Their trust was reposed in the arm of the Lord.
'Twas trust ne'er betrayed, for His arm was their stay. His finger it was that oft pointed the way; His voice that gave comfort, they knew it was He, Whose voice stilled the waves of the wild Galilee.
His spirit moved all o'er the scene, where darkened waters flow, And on its face the power Divine was seen in light to glow; And then it spread o'er all the earth and tripped the billows crest. Upheaved the granite mountains and gave to life a zest.
The light that dawned on Fox's mind illumined all his way, And o'er his prison walls had shed his bright and peaceful ray: Clothed with this light Penn, too, had found no power could withstand The simple truths which he proclaimed throughout his native land.
And thousands left the outward church where priest by man ordained, Proclaimed a ritualistic creed that could not be sustained By those who, by the spirit led, believed that He alone, Who crowned all true assemblies, could make His presence known.
And in that light these champions moved! true soldiers of the cross, And gathered many to the truth, despite their worldly loss. Across the sea on Gernian shores the truth spread far and wide, As they pointed to the higher law-the spirit's surest guide.
Penn found the fields already white, the harvest nigh at hand, To scatter seeds of righteousness broadcast throughout the land; And many gathered at his call, of high and low degree, To listen to the truth first taught on the shores of Galilee.
Though worldly men had sought to crush beneath a lifeless form The truth proclaimed on Olivet by Him who ruled the storm, And, like the power that reigned o'er all when Rome possessed the land, They tried by prison walls to crush the little martyr band:
Although they could not raise the stake, nor fire the faggot pile, They sought to crush the light of truth from out Britannia's isle, The humble followers of Him who had no place to rest Left their humble homes behind them for the forest in the west,
Where they could build an altar that should forever be A shrine on which the human soul could have the conscience free. And no one in that forest land to priest-craft should atone, But might worship God in spirit and worship Him alone.
The Red men in their wilderness bade them welcome to their shore- Made a simple treaty without oath which bound them evermore; No force was used to bind them, but the word between them spoken Was the simple law of justice! a law that ne'er was broken.
In this land o'er the sea, Penn was founding a State, An asylum for all, both the poor and the great; Two centuries have seen its prosperity grow And millions to-day own the debt that they owe.
Let us ever step forward and mark on our shield The symbol of faith to the Christian revealed, In place of the sword, that its power may decrease, For our crest we'll have only the emblem of peace.
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Let us strive, as our fathers before us have striven, To win and to merit the favor of Heaven, To be true to our faith. May we never neglect To cherish the good and the evil reject.
Let us learn well the lessons their living has taught, Let us thank the dear Lord for the good they have wrought. Let us cherish the virtues their memory inspires, That the world may declare we are worthy our sires.
HENRY S. KENT, of Hockessin, Delaware, then read an origi- inal poem:
He came, he saw, he conquered with a sway Grander than Cæsar's on his grandest day: His loins were girded for a nobler fight Than ever graced the tilt of feudal knight. The trophies of his conquest richer far Than Alexander ever brought from war. He heard deep voices calling from on high And quickly answered, here, O Lord ! am I; I drop these carnal weapons from my side, For in Thy strength I safely shall abide, I bow no more before these man-made kings, Henceforth I put away all childish things.
He landed on this shore, and with him came Such blessings as immortalize his name. He spread amid the forest wild and chill The gospel of glad tidings and good will. Lo! how around his manly form they press, The untutored children of the wilderness; Drawn by some magic force or sweet command, Which all could feel but none could understand,. And opening wide the treasures of his heart Gave, and received from the Diviner part, Waved with love's wand the savage soul aside, And on the "angel heart" of man relied.
Unlocked the hidden keys, that only move To music, at the touch of faith and love; And 'neath the elm tree's friendly shadows, made A covenant that never was betrayed. And taught the lesson we so slowly learn, That like from like will evermore return: That he who sows the whirlwind, reaps the storm. Who scatters joy, shall gather sunshine warm. That even the rudest soul that God has made Is with his hoiy nature underlaid. In man, in brute, in plant, in earth and air God leaves himself for witness everywhere. He felt the wisdom of the Prophet's words, "The earth with all its fullness is the Lord's."
He came, he saw, he conquered. Where had stood The savage wigwam in the darksome wood A splendid city rose at his command. To-day a glory of this western land, With marts of trade, and parks and gardens fair, Blue bordered by the noble Delaware. Here on old Upland too, where now we stand, We see the impress of his shaping hand, And hear, even yet, the echo of his voice, Christening these early children of his choice.
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Two hundred years blot many a memory; Two hundred years are naught to such as he, His name is written on our fields and groves, Where still we dream his stately spirit moves, His thoughts still linger in our written laws, His words respoken. champion our cause. The simple faith and worship that he loved, . Is still within our heart of hearts approved, The path of duty he so bravely trod, Leading through crosses to the Crown of God, Laying the vanities of life aside, Taking the light within for guide, Shoals under foot, and thorns upon his head, Exiled from home, to loathsome dungeons led,
Is still a story that we love to tell, And children yet unborn shall learn it well.
He built and kept a state, upon a plan Till then unthought of and untried by man, The astonished nations turned their eyes and gazed, Some archly smiled and others stood amazed. A State it was whose corner stone was laid In justice and whose every stone was made Plumb to the line of truth, that could not move, Set in the cement of fraternal love And, grandly midst the warring nations, stood This peaceful state of Penn unstained by blood. One only state the whole wide world could count, That yet had tried the Gospel of the Mount. And did it fail? Nay never while his hand Was at the helm, his voice in the command.
Two generations came and passed away Before the advent of that evil day. Then in the place of that high ruler stood Men of the vengeful spirit, men of blood ; Unfitted for a place of trust so high, Let fall this star of promise from our sky ; Failure ! Nay, never till the soul of man Shall be remodeled on another plan. The law of love is not a miere device Framed in a senate, purchased for a price, Suited to human need a little while, Good for to-day, to-morrow out of style- But God's Eternal Power that cannot fail, That was, and is, and ever shall prevail.
Illustrious sage, thy spirit still is here, We feel thy presence in our atmosphere. For lo ! the Lord's true prophet never dies- From the deep earth immortal voices rise. The holy Christ is slain, and it may stay In a closed sepulchre perchance a day ; But soon the martyred truth shall rise again, And eat and drink an honored guest with men. Already 'midst the clang of strife we hear Deep undervoices sounding rich and clear, Bidding the listening nations pave the way For the incoming of a better day. When war no more shall raise his bloody hands, But white-winged peace shall hover o'er the lands ; When in the court of nations, states decide
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To arbitrate their claims, and so abide When justice, truth and love shall rule alone And God's great families shall be as one.
And it were shame on his memorial day A single warlike emblem to display. Let every martial sound and symbol cease, And let the pageant show the arts of peace; Each industry its finest triumph bring. Let spindles hum, and ceaseless hammers ring : Let each brave workman show his brawny hand. 'The bone and sinew of our growing land ; Light up the streets with bright electric fire. But let the flash of powder all retire ; If any ensign to the breeze we throw, Let it be spotless as the driven snow. Peace, Justice, Progress, are the words to say With emphasis on his memorial day.
And let us trust, the heavenly bread he cast Upon our waters may return at last. Bringing the nations nourishment and health. Replacing vice with virtue, waste with wealth. Strength'ning the bonds of human brotherhood, Closing forevermore the reign of blood. His purer. wiser statesmanship renewed, That simply sought for all the highest good, Our jurists tutored in a higher school, Our statutes fashioned by the Golden Rule, Works meet for Heaven upon the earth be done. The higher and the lower law made one. May his large sacrifice for human weal Inflame our spirits with a finer zeal To do our work while it is yet our day, And walk where Truth's stern finger points the way. Not stepping feebly in the tracks he trod, But walking firmly in our light from God, Copying no man as he did well express, Save in the matter of true faithfulness.
This caution from his sainted lips we hear : " Mind ye your light, for God to each is near. His revelation as directly given As in the very light and heat of Heaven, No man-made priest has ever reconciled The Heavenly Parent and the Earthly Child. Let modes of worship change, or pass away, They are not vital and they will not stay. But cherish ever with a jealous care The basal structure of our house of prayer, The faith in simple goodness, and the light Within the soul, to lead our steps aright. The largest liberty to seek, and find The mission of our hand, and heart, and mind,"
True to his light he won this honored place Among the benefactors of his race, Nor for the age in which he lived alone, But for all coming time his work was done. His name is written with the Angel's pen In living letters, in the hearts of men, And still while generations come and go,
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His name and fame perennial shall grow. Peace, Truth, Love, Justice, will be lovely when Our children's children meet'to honor Penn. These are enduring things and meant to stay, Which Bi-Centennials cannot wear away.
Brief and appropriate addresses were made by Dr. Elwood Har- vey and Allen Flitcraft, of Chester, Pa., Alfred H. Love, Presi- dent of the Universal Peace Union, Samuel S. Ash and T. Elwood Longshore, of Philadelphia.
After a short season of silence, with feelings of gratitude and thankfulness to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, the inte- resting and profitable occasion closed.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1882.
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THE MORNING.
T THE day fixed for the celebration of the Bi-Centenary of the Land- ing of William Penn in Chester, was ushered in soon after mid- night by the ringing of all the bells in the city, each bell giving two hundred strokes. The morning was eloudy and threatening but as the day advanced the weather changed for the better. The city put on its gala dress, at an carly hour the houses being handsomely dec- orated and flags flying from every available point. The Histori- cal Committee had designated all the important historical sites with banners, on which the name and date of construction were plainly marked, while at the Landing place a staff, eighty feet high, car- ried the American colors, and it was evident from the beginning that the citizens had given themselves up heartily to the enjoyment of the great anniversary. All the mills and industrial establishments in the city and many of those in the county were closed, and, as a con- sequence, people had little else to do than to participate in the ex- ercises of the day. Residents of the city and county, and hundreds of visitors, who had arrived on Saturday, to spend the Bi-Centen- nial season with friends, thronged the streets long before the hour for the celebration to begin, and each incoming train, from the north and south, brought thousands to the city.
As early as eight o'clock people began to assemble in the vicinity of Front and Penn streets, on the spot on which Penn actually land- ed, October 28th, 1682, and where a representation of that landing was to be given as nearly as it could be reproduced.
A half hour before the appointed time- 9.30 o'clock-for the ex-
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ercises to take place the vicinity was crowded. Thousands of peo- ple had gathered there, on the streets, on house tops, on porches, on fences, on freight cars, in Charles D. Pennell's lumber yard, on trees, and the wharves along the river. The river itself was gay with steamers, tugs, sail and small boats of every description, and the Revenue Cutter Hamilton, brought down from Philadelphia a large party of distinguished citizens of the State.
As the large, high sided, full bottomed yawl boat came up the river, rowed by six sturdy seamen, appropriately dressed, with the representatives of Penn and his friends standing in the stern, the excitement visibly increased, and as it headed for the landing place, amid the ringing of bells, the sounding of whistles and the music of bands, the people on shore cheered and crowded forward to witness the landing, which was successfully effected with no accident or delay to mar the picture. -
William Penn was represented by John J. Hare, of Chester, and the other characters were supported by members of the Chester Dramatic Association and the organizations of Red Men. The en- tire scene, which followed the landing, was very well acted and the participants in the mimic scene never once forgot the characters they had taken. All was quiet and dignified and this portion of the day's exercises, like all the rest, passed off admirably.
Penn with his companions, Richard Townsend, (R. P. Wilson;) Evan Oliver, (William Irving;) John Stackhouse, (John F. Wright;) William Bradford, (F. E. Reiley;) Nicholas Wahn, (J. H. Wilson;) and the Master of the "Welcome," Kobert Greenaway, (William P. Mason;) landed and were met by William Markham, (V. illiam P. Ladomus;) and the resident English Friends; Robert Wade, (Wm. H. Schureman;) John Sharpless, (Joseph Hinkson;) Robert Pear- son, (Joseph Martin;) and the Scotchman, James Sandelands, (Wm. Ewing.) A group in the rear was composed of Swedes and Dutch. Charles Jansen, (Moses Hewitt;) Neals Mattson, (George Compton;) Johan Stille, (William Hinkson;) Jurian Kyn, (Samuel Wheaton;) Neals Larson, (George Morris;) Hans Volsen, (Samuel Jones.)
As Penn landed Markham stepped forward and greeted him as follows :
"Friend William, I welcome thee to thy new possessions. It has pleased God, through his instrument, Charles, to give to thee and
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thy fellows a fair and rich land and to bring thee in safety to the end of thy perilous voyage and to the fruition of thy labors. Thou art surely welcome among us."
Penn replied: "I thank thee, friend William, for thy kindly greeting and welcome to this far land. Truly it hath pleased God to bring our ships safely to these pleasant shores. Sometimes we . thought we might scarcely reach them, for the hand of death hath been busy amongst us, and the pestilence hath taken home many of our number. Is it well with thee, friend William, and with those of our faith, who have crossed before us: I have heard, as thou knowest, somewhat from our friend George Fox of the country to which I am now come and of the bright future it holds out for those of our faith; and here, too, are sonie of thy old friends wait- ing to greet thee."
Markham turned and greeted the associates of Penn cordially and by name, but with grave courtesy. All the proceedings were marked by deliberation, a dignified demeanor and a subdued man- ner, while the warmth of the meeting of old friends was also borne in mind. Penn gazed around him until Markham returned to his side, when he said:
"And now, friend William, do thou make me known to these friends who have gathered to meet me."
Robert Wade and Pearson then pressed forward to meet Penn, whom they had known in England.
Then Markham introduced Sandelands, Jurian Kyn, Johan Stille, Neals Mattson, Neals Larson and Charles Jansen, &c., who ap- proached and met Penn with an appearance of warmth, but evi- dently with some uneasiness, till Penn spoke, and as he continued their demeanor changed to one of sincere welcome:
Penn: "These then are the men who first braved the dangers and toils of settlement in this far land. They are welcome to me and we may hope that they may prove our good allies and neighbors. As for our part sure it is that we shall not seek aught but amity and brotherly love. It is but right they should reap the harvest where they have sown with so much toil and pain, and their lands and houses shall be confirmed to them, and in no wise shall they be disturbed in their rights by us. Their possession shall be as- sured to them in full freedom as much as if they were of our own granting. We will ask for nothing but their love and brotherly help."
Then Markham, after a short pause, said: "But, friend William, here are others for thee to meet. That people who of right owned the fair hills and valleys of the great river. Yonder sits their wise and good chief, Tamanand. It seems but fitting that thou shouldst,
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