Note D — HISTORY OF THE PILGRIM SOCIETY,

Mr. William Brewster was born in England, 1560, was educated at the University of Cambridge, and became a zealous Puritan. He resided in the north of England, and when the church was formed over which the Rev. Messrs. Richard Cilfton and John Robinson were ordained as pastors, the members met at his house on Lord's day for worship, so long as they were permitted by the civil authorities. When the church, with their pastors, on account of persecution, had removed to Holland, Mr. Brewster was elected Ruling Elder. After the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, he usually preached to them twice every Sabbath for nine years, as they had no regular minister till Mr. Ralph Smith was ordained their pastor, in 1629; but he never administered the sacraments. He was a man in whom the church reposed the most unlimited confidence in respect to all their spiritual affairs. For piety he was eminent. For human as well as sacred literature, he had a great taste; and at his death, which occurred April 16, 1644, being 83 years old, he left a handsome library valued in that day at forty-three pounds, a catalogue of which is to be found in the colony records.—Allen's Biog. Dict.