MAYFLOWER TERCENTENARY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 185, 1 May 1919, Page 5

MAYFLOWER TERCENTENARY

BRITISH AND AMERICAN C'ELEBRA- . TIONS. .•. ' In September, 1620, tho. Mayflower, a little craft of 160 tons burden, sailed from Plymouth Sound with one hundred souls on board, bound for the inhospitable shores of the Now World. After incredible .hardships, tliii little band iaid the foundations of the State of New England, destined to become- , the keystone of the mighty structure of the United States, The 300 th anniversary of that oventis likely (says the London "Times") to raise to a high pitch the enthusiasm 'if the two great ,bran:hes of the AngloSaxon race—now bound in inseparable brotherhood for the uplifting of the human race. . , , •■ . .

Already'a strong-committee has been formed under, the presidency of the Duke -01,-Connaught, with-.Lord Weardule as chairman-,"to secure an-.-international celebration of th« event.-. 'There will be t isils and return visits between prominent American nnd British politicians, statesmen, clergymen, and all classes. Another • committee, acting in concert with the above, has- been formed, representative of the English free Churches, to which the' Pilgrim Fathers belonged, "he Rev. l< , . B Meyer, D.D., is the hon. secretary, and among tho members are Mrs. Lloyd George, the I'ov. E. Charles r-rown, the -Rev. Dr. Clifford, the Rev. Dr. Jowett, the Rev Dr. Selbie, Principal Forsyth, -the Rev. J. H. Shakespeare, Sir .1. Compton RickcLt, MP.,Miss Maud hoyden,' Sir Albert Spicer. M.P., Principal Garvie, the Rev. R. C. Gillie, Sir Bcddoe Rees, Sir Murray Hyslop, Dr. .jlorton, Dr. ,[. D. Jones, and" Dr. Scott lidgett. This committee is engaged in producing pamphlets intended to reach all classes. At Leydon, in Holland, preparations are also ni'not to celebrate the temporary residence there of the/Pilgrims r-nd their families.

It is proposed to hold a. series of. pub,lic meetings in the biggest halls throughcut this.and other countries to follow the track of the Pilgrims from place to place associated' with their heroic sufferings, mid ta visit the United States for a similar purpose. A special feature of the celebrations will be 'the official Mayflower kinenifttograph film, which "is being produced. by Mr Harry Maze Jenks, 6* the Clarendon Film Company ("Harma Photo-Plays";, who has bceii entrnsted with this historic film, which i 3 being edited and directed for the committee and the ClarenJun Film Company by the -Rev. James Marchanty F.R.S. Ed. (secretary of.the Kinema Commission and of the Kinema Educational Expert Committee). ■ •' • , ■

Writing to Mr. : Merchant Mr. Lloyd George saj'S:— ■ "I am glad to hear that the Free Churches are preparhi:; to celebrate the SCOth anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from our shores, Three hundred years ago this little group of pioneers braved a new world and carried with them to New Plymouth' the AngloSaxon ideals of justice and liberty. We recall the Pilgrim Fathers with reverence for what they were, and with gratitude for what has come buck to us from the America of to-day. At this momentous time, when America is indissolubly linked with us in extending liberty over the world, the official kinematograph of the Mayflower story will do much to show the people, both of America and of this country, what we together owe to our forefathers, to quicken their love of liberty, and to establish that peace for which th(! descendants of the men of the Mayflower have fought and died side bv Hde with our British nous." '

President Wilson writes-.— "Paris, February 7. "My Dear Mr Marchant,—The plans of Hie Mayflower celebration film ■> interest liie very much indeed, and I hope sincerely, '.hat these pUiis will meet with the most gratifying tuccess. The ■ trip «f the Mayflower, as we now look back to it, has a new and fresh significance. It was the first''movement of the shuttle which has woven so close a fabric of intimacy between the two sides 1 of the water. "Cordially and sincerely yours, "Woodiow Wilson."