THE BOY OF GREAT TOWER HILL
In a house on Great Tower Hill near London Wall, was born William Penn, who was to become the Founder of Pennsylvania.
He was christened William after his ancestor, Penn of Penn’s Lodge. He was a charming baby, with round face, soft blue eyes, and curling hair. His father, Captain Penn, who had been called home to see the new baby on that first birthday of little William Penn, went back to his ship rejoicing that he had such a handsome son and heir.
When William Penn was ten years old, a strange thing befell him. He was not like other boys. He was quiet and serious. At that time he was a schoolboy in an English village.
One day, he was alone in his room. Suddenly he felt a wonderful peace and an “inner comfort,” while a glory filled the room. He felt that he was drawn near to God, so that his soul might speak with him. A strange experience for a boy to have. But it was an experience which helped to shape William Penn’s life. From that time on, he believed that he had been called to live a holy life.
When he grew older, his family tried to make him forget this religious experience, but he never forgot. In time he became a Friend—or Quaker. In those days, Friends were bitterly persecuted in England. William Penn suffered imprisonments and persecutions, but always with patient sweetness and endurance.
At last, the persecutions of the Friends made William Penn turn his thoughts toward the New World of America.
HE WORE IT AS LONG AS HE COULD
When William Penn became a Friend, he did not immediately leave off his gay apparel, as other Friends did. He even wore a sword, as was customary among men of rank and fashion.
One day, being with George Fox the great leader of the Friends, he asked his advice about wearing the sword, saying that it had once been the means of saving his life without injuring his antagonist, and that moreover Christ has said, “He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”