St Clair High School - Clairian Yearbook (St Clair, PA)

Page 17 text:

Mwwagh gym? I gfwmgyaphz ?1fMv? 4. f as W, fa., 5 4 z Z Z 2, 3 2 2 1 wb 5 1 5 5 Z 5 , 0 f,, f ' f .3 W' Mfg, M . ra 4 ai! jiwfh fm-In Wm The Life of William Penn HE theme of this annual is William Penn. Recently, not only the people of . Pennsylvania but also the people of the entire country commemorated the 250th anniversary of the landing of William Penn in America, Therefore, it is only proper and fitting that we learn a little of the life of Penn and his work while in America and England. William, the son of Admiral Sir William Penn, one of Oliver Cromwell's naval commanders, was born October 14, 1644, in London. His education was chiefly at Christ Church College, Oxford. While at Oxford, Penn fell in with the Quakers. It was here, he obtained his ideas of religion. For an offense committed by the Quakers he was expelled from Oxford. His father, an- noyed at this, sent William off to France. After returning to England he studied law. He spent his time in writing and preaching the doctrines of the Quakers for which, at times, he was imprisoned. He was considered the outstanding Quaker in England. In September, 1670, Admiral Penn died, leaving his son a large estate in- cluding claims upon the crown for over .:E16,000, which had been loaned to the King. For years he tried to relieve the Quakers of the trials and persecutions which fol- lowed them. It was this fact which was one of Penn's chief reasons for his founding Pennsylvania. Also he saw in America the opportunity to put into practice the theor- ies of government which he had long held and defended and which were far more advanced than those of most of his contemporaries. He now petitioned King Charles II for a grant of land in America for the debt that was owed him, He received the charter for grant with very lenient provisions. William Penn then immediately began his work in creating Pennsylvania. The grant itself was as large as England. Penn thought of naming his province New Wales but that was objected to. He then suggested Sylvania which means wood , To this Penn was added by the King and the name became Pennsylvania. In August, 1682, Penn, with a moral courage grander than that of the soldier, sailed from Deal on the ship Welcome to the land of his care. About a hundred pass- engers, mostly friends from Sussex were aboard. Penn had left his family in England as a voyage was a great risk at that time. At thirty-eight, in the prime of his noble manhood, he landed in Pennsylvania. lmmediately, he laid out plans for a city between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and called it Philadelphia, meaning brotherly love . This city was originally planned to consist of ten thousand acres of land but actually was only twelve hundred and eighty acres. Penn went about doing everything in a systematic and thoughtful manner. He showed his remarkaible ability as a governor in the Constitution he drew up. lt was to be a government of the people but under the watchful eye of the Governor. His plan of government provided for a council of seventy-two persons in which the pro- prietory had three votes. ln this council all bills were to originate. An assembly of two hundred members was to consider the bills. These were elected annually. Qualifi- cations for citizenship were lenient and conveniently fulfilled. All trade was to be carried on openly. Various other provisions showed Penn's ability in government. His dealings with the Indians shows us some of his outstanding characteristics. They were treated as equals and were paid for everything Penn wanted from them. A treaty, signed in what is now Kensington states, We will be brethren my people and your people as the children of one Father. All the paths shall be open to the Q -P-, ! '. 2. ffrtggwif' .,,, , .,. 51:1 li ,M ....... ... 21515 v far m,,,..,,g,,,3z:,,:..,.fwfr mfr., ,fmm f--f- We-f4w.,....Q,M,,ffff---aiZ?,?i,'L.3:j.Z'-afff Tx .,.....a1.4a..1.1.1:....e..............e1-121111:.5a.a....A.........fi......:e::!:f4..........a.....ie1...11.e1.1..1:-1111:5:.1:1eQ:1:::..:..t.a.1ff12:12.11.1.1:..E:..:2..a:e:1f.:..:a:2:5f?::115.' 7f' 6 U11

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Do You Know That William Penn Said: We can never be the better for our religion if our neighbor is the Worse for it. I I scorn that religion which is not Worth suller- ing for. Eat' to live, and do not live to eat. If thou rise with an appetite thou art sure never to sit down without one. The very trimming of the vain World, would clothe all the naked ones. P Never marry but for love: but see that thou lov'st what is lovely. Do good with what thou host, of it will do thee no good. If thou thinkest twice before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak twice the better for it. Seek not to be rich, but happy.

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fm R ,,,,,,,,Z ZW,,..?,,,,,,,,1, WW? A gs fl: 6 a, 4 4 , 4 9 45 1 , If 4 f g , 1 f f z f 4 1 1 2 4 Z ffl ' 3.4.2 40,2 aug! w,W,,! 11:15,-A-me , a,,ma am! :ma fa 411.114 f emi., xx.. , , gary Christian and the Indian. The doors of the Christians shall be open to the Indian and the wigwarr, Among English Qua In 1684 of the Indian shall be opened to the Christian. the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, now, were Welsh, Irish, Germans and kers. Prosperity flourished throughout the province. Penn returned to England in order to settle the boundary question existing between Maryland and Pennsylvania, As a friend of James II, the Quaker movement of William ga of Orange, Penn was under suspicion constantly for certain offenses and was often sent to jail. In 1699 ined great headway, but with the dethroning of James II and ascending Penn returned to Pennsylvania, bringing his family with him. He en gaged actively concerning the welfare of the colony and was ably assisted by his sec retary, Jame But Pen s Logan. n was not allowed happiness. Enemies, both in America and in England, 7 his destruction. In 1701 he sailed to England. Here he stayed until his death in 1718, which was caused by the misfortunes which overcame him. were seeking William Penn was interested in freedom of the slaves, his treatment of the Indians prov ed his wisdom in its success. He advocated, placing the power of the government with the people at a time when he could have held that power entirely in his own hands, and this when a monarchy seemed to wise men to be the only Way to govern. And in name. He W his great home, Pennsylvania, His door was free to men of every elcomed all the seeking souls who came, and no man's faith he made a cause of blame. -A. V . K .lfxttu i f 0 51 ? ai , sg Q s , .... Y..--I 0 3. H--.,f Ma, YW S ... ,... . ..... , ..., .,.. , ..,...,,, It 1 e--- ' 1 I x, 4, S ,,uD3Wi5'i 'I72' 'f f'-4 2' 2 ff ' ' ' ' f ' ' ' .fir lr 1121