Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-04-01 / 4. szám
10 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA will disappear. The good, which is in each of them will be fused and will become the common goal of mankind. *Know that you have the power to choose! Choose love, not hate; choose gentleness, not violence; choose holiness, not evil! *Dare to believe that the Reign of Love and Peace is coming soon! Ready yourself for it! Ready yourself for it with deeds of righteousness! Righteousness is the door-opener and beyond the door is Love. *May Power Divine enter every aspect of your life endowing it with the rewards of material accomplishments, the treasures of purposeful existence, and the eternal light of spiritual achievement. Found in Old St. Paul's Church, Baltimore: Dated 1692 and 1693 STEPHEN BUDAI PARMENIUS A HUNGARIAN MARTYR OF CANADIAN EXPLORATIONS Five ships were ready to set sail in Causet Bay near Plymouth, England in early June, 1583. Their destination was the New World. For, although “many voyages have been attempted, yet so far never any thoroughly accomplished by the English nation in those Northernly parts of America,” reads Captain Edward Hayes’ report “who alone continued unto the end, and by God’s special assistance returned home with his retinue safe and entire.” The five ships were the Delight, 120 tons, the Barke Raleigh, 200 tons, the Golden Hinde, 40 tons, the Swallow, 40 tons and the Squirill, 10 tons. Commissioned by Her Majesty, Elizabeth I, Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his five ships, about 260 men aboard, left Causet Bay on June 11th, 1583 “to erect an habitation and government in those Northernly countries of America.” Six years before his first attempt failed: he was driven back home “with the loss of a tall ship.” This, his second voyage was more successful. He accomplished his mission but with most of his men he perished at sea. Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous “globetrotter” of the 16th century set out on this expedition as captain of the second ship named after him. However, contagious sickness detained him and his ship from this disastrous voyage. The small fleet made remarkable progress, but in the heavy fog and rain they lost contact with each other. On the 19th day a long shoreline appeared on the horizon and Portugese and French fishing boats. The land in sight was the island of Newfoundland. How great was their delight when on July 30th the admiral ship, the Delight and the Golden Hinde sailed into the Bay of Conception and in the bay they met the Swallow again. A few days later, on August 3rd another joyful surprise awaited them: “At St. John’s, before the harbor we also found the Frigate or Squirill lying at anchor.” The English merchants already settled there met the newcomers with little confidence or friendship. It was quite understandable. The men on the Swallow had already robbed a newlander ship! However, when the General assured the merchants that they came with good intentions and with the commission of the Queen, the merchants gave them a friendly welcome, towed in the damaged ship and helped to repair it. Newfoundland appeared to be an abundant land to the new arrivals. On August 4th, Sunday, the General, i.e. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was brought on land by the English merchants and presented with roses and raspberries. The next day, August 5th an important event took place in the new colony town of St. John’s. A tent was erected for the General and the merchants; masters and strangers were summoned to be present at a ceremony of taking possession of “those countries on behalf of the Crown of England,” the first British possession on the American continent! Three laws were given to the new Crown Colony: 1. That religion in public exercise should be according to the Church of England. 2. That Her Majesty’s right and possessions should be maintained. 3. And that the honour of the Queen should be upheld. The multitude promised obedience to these laws and in turn they were granted rentals and privileges. For about two weeks the explorers searched the inland and the islands along the shores. They found good roads and harbors, the land full of “commodities” for arts and industry, the forests with abundance of fowl and the waters in fish. There was also plenty of trouble for the explorers. Honesty was not the prime virtue of some of these adventurers and stealing occurred frequently in the group. Some of them ran away to escape discipline. Sickness also broke out among them. Thus, the “Swallow” was ordered to return home with the sick on board. For the convenience of these off-shore discovery trips the General transferred to the smallest vessel, the Frigate “Squirill.” Then, on August 20th, 1583, the remaining three ships, the Delight, the Golden Hinde and the Squirill, with the remainder of the crew left St. Johns and headed South West toward the shores presently called Nova Scotia, starting out on a disastrous journey. Passing by Cape Race and the Island of Sablon, the Bays of Trepassa and the Bay of Placentia, they reached Cape Breton. “At last we fell into such flats and dangers that hardly any of us escaped” — reads Master Hayes’
