For all experience tells us that public peace and love is better than abundance of corn and cattle. I have only one motion and petition which I earnestly pray the town to lay to heart, as ever they look for a blessing from God upon the town, on your families, your corn and cattle, and your children after you; it is this, that after you have got over the black brook of some soul bondage yourself, you tear not down the bridge after you, by leaving no small pittance for distressed souls that may come after you. V FROM SOUL-LIBERTY TO ABSOLUTE CIVIL LIBERTY RHODE ISLAND’S GIFT Last of the thirteen, smallest of them all, What canst thou bring to this world’s festival, Where all thy sisters come with pride and power, And bring each one a princess’ generous dower Of gold and gems, and fruits and precious woods, And joyous tribute of their costly goods? What can we bring? No outward show of gain, No pomp of state; we bring the sons of men! Bring gold, fair sisters, yellow gold, And gems, and all that’s fair and fine, And heap them all, the new, the old, Before our country’s stately shrine. Bring hardihood from north and east, Bring beauty from the south and west, Bring valor to adorn the feast, Bring all that has withstood time’s test. We grudge you not the riches rare, We grudge you not your acres broad, We bring you for our noble share THE LIBERTY TO WORSHIP GOD. --_Caroline Hazard, Poem read on “Rhode Island Day” at World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, October 5, 1893._ FROM SOUL-LIBERTY TO ABSOLUTE CIVIL LIBERTY The ideal of democracy grew in all the New England colonies and led eventually to the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States of America. Rhode Island, however, in the century prior to the Revolution, had never given up her advocacy of soul-liberty, and thus the Revolution was to her a greater struggle than to the other colonies. This distinct feature will be seen in a study of the real successors of Roger Williams, in the struggle for religious liberty. Therefore it is interesting to note some of the outstanding events in the history of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, previous to the Revolutionary War. In June, 1700, a lot was set aside for a training-ground, a burial-ground, and other public uses. Thus originated the North Burial Ground, the first public burial-ground in the colony. Before this each family had buried on its own land. Not until 1760, when Benefit Street was laid through the burial-grounds of many of the citizens, including the land where Roger Williams first settled, did they come to use in a general way this North Burial Ground. Then many bodies were removed to the new place for burial.