USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Norwich jubilee. A report of the celebration at Norwich, Connecticut, on the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town, September 7th and 8th, 1859. With an appendix, containing historical documents of local interest > Part 21
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This then, this loving humanity, a humanity vivified by Chris- tianity, was the magnet which all unconsciously to himself sur- rounded Mr. Otis with friends. This created an atmosphere of " exceeding peace" about him, and insured a welcome wherever he came.
" A thing of beauty is a joy for ever," says Keats. The poet speaks of what gratifies the senses and the imagination. But there is a purer joy springing from the contemplation of spiritual excellence. With deeper emphasis may I exclaim, a virtuous spirit is a joy for ever; a quickening, an expanding, an ennobling joy; a joy to itself; a joy to Heaven above and to the earth beneath; to be hailed with acclamation by men and angels. Whatever else may fade and perish, it lives and brightens in eternal beauty, for it is an image of the Divine. Thanks then, unutterable thanks to the Giver of every good gift, for good men. They are chosen witnesses to the Supreme Goodness. We honor as one of them, our venerable and venerated friend.
" This Centennial Day-The new Century Plant-Its seeds are the dead pioneers asleep in the cemetery; its stalk is the growing bulk of their thicken- ing generations ; its branches, the emigration which has put forth from hence, and overshadows distant regions ; its leaves and twigs are the children and chil- dren's children born abroad; but its flower is this memorial day-the long gathering riches of the past-its bursting and fragrant epoch-its beauty and completeness together. May it bloom every hundred years."
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Rev. John A. Paddock responded as follows :-
MR. PRESIDENT: It was remarked this morning by one of the orators, that the sowing of the seed was comparatively a trifling matter, but they were entitled to honor who gave the culture that resulted in golden fruitage.
But it is, sir, a matter of very great importance what seed is sown in any soil, whether wheat or tares, whether that which will pro- duce the beautiful and useful plant, or the noxious and offensive weed.
This sentiment refers to " the dead pioneers asleep in the ceme- tery," as the "seeds" of that manifest on " this centennial day." We have but to look at countries to the south of us, at Mexico and the states of South America, to see the evil results of bad seed in the beginning. There, on a fruitful soil, and in a genial clime, were sown seeds of ignorance, and superstition, and error, and im- morality, and harvests have been gathered there; and I know not that the evils thus began may ever be removed, until that now rooted shall be eradicated, and new and good seed be sown by the " sons of Norwich," or some other New England town.
How different were the seeds sown here by the Fitches, and the Masons, and the Huntingtons, and the Leffingwells, and others of " the dead pioneers asleep in the cemetery." Seed which not only had life in itself, but the element of industry, and integrity, and knowledge, and virtue, and piety, to which we are so much in- debted for the golden fruitage.
The sentiment also alludes to " the emigration which has put forth from hence, and overshadows distant regions." The century plant, sir, a native of American soil, but flourishing in many coun- tries, whither it has been transplanted, is not only regarded, when most cultivated, for its beauty, but for its utility. From the sap is formed that deemed a refreshing drink; the fibers furnish the ma- terial for a coarse thread; and, not to dwell on any other uses, we are told that the flower stem, split longitudinally, forms no bad substitute for a razor strop, while an extract of the leaves is manu- factured into a soap which may be used in shaving. These last uses may make it, in the eyes of some of our southern friends, who have purchased nutmegs produced on the banks of the Thames, a not unapt symbol of the Yankee emigrants. But in truth, sir,
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where have "the children and the children's children" who have gone forth from hence, not been found ?
Not only on the savannas of the south, but all over the prairies of the west, in the cities on our Atlantic coast, and in tropical climes, filling every trade and honoring every profession, in seats of learning and in the halls of congress, on the judicial bench and in the sacred pulpit. I recur with much pleasure to the fact that a goodly number of the emigrants from Norwich have gone forth, scattering the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations, and that their influence has been felt, not only in our own neigh- borhood, but among the aborigines of the north and the south, and in later years, on Afric's sands, in China and Siam. May we not then say of the plant, "She stretched out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar trees." 8
We, on this memorial day, are permitted to behold the flower of this goodly plant. In the past it has been long forming, and there has been naught to deface or mar it. The memory of the past ex- hales sweet fragrance now, and we see the open flower in the taste, the intelligence, the good order, the refinement, the virtue, and the piety, that are so conspicuous in our native town.
Sir, he would be unworthy of the mother that bore him, who would not join in the wish, yea, who would not turn it into a pray- er, that, with the blessing of Almighty God on the culture of her sons, the goodly plant may grow larger and stronger, and at the end of the next hundred years, and for many a century, bloom more beautiful than even on this memorial day.
William Cothren, the historian of Woodbury, was then called upon. He said :-
MR. PRESIDENT : I shall not weary you with a speech ; but any man who has had the privilege, for two days, of beholding your beautiful hills and mountain gorges, and of wandering in your shady groves and sweet valleys, and yet does not feel the fire of eloquence burning within him, does not possess the qualities which go to make up that gift, and he should hold his peace for .ever.
As I am not a native, but merely a descendant of your honored town, it might seem that silence would better become me than at-
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tempt to speak to the cherished sons and daughters of the old homestead. But, Mr. President, you have seen fit to allude to me in terms so kindly and flattering, and withal so greatly beyond any merit I can claim, that I should be wanting in gratitude if I neglect- ed to express my appreciation of the compliment, and my thanks for the honor conferred. While it is with becoming pride that the children of this fair heritage of hills, and vales, and waters, cele- brate the glories of their cherished mother, it is scarcely less a mat- ter of interest to us who have come from afar to join in worshiping at the hallowed altars of your ancient town. We have a common interest in the proud history, the good name, of every part of our common country, and especially of old Connecticut.
Though I was not born in these beautiful historic vales of old Nor- wich, yet they contain the sacred dust of some of my ancestors, who rest among these smiling hills till the resurrection morn, and I feel a lively interest in all that concerns the reputation of your honored town. Another noble New England state contains my birthplace, the hallowed associations of home, and all the endearing incidents and recollections of early life. And yet a love for my adopted state has taken possession of me, not surpassed by that of the native born. Often has my eye kindled, and my heart been warmed with emotion and admiration, as I have traced at the weary midnight hour, when the world around was locked in the embrace of sleep, the many interesting and romantic items in the history and char- acter of the Christian fathers in the early days of our beloved state. With them have I communed in the silent " night watches," when there was no human eye to see, no ear to hear, nor sound to interrupt the placid flow of tender and ennobling heart sympathies. It has nerved the wearied arm anew for the battle of life, and been a balm for many a desponding hour. The descendants of Norwich have a proud historical heritage. Well may they contemplate, with feelings of satisfaction, the wealth of the past.
But I am not wanting in ties to bind me to your beautiful syl- van city, so peacefully resting among your ancient hills, and so cosily nestling by the fertile banks of your ever lovely rivers. This is not the first time I have claimed your hospitalities. More than fifteen years ago, while a weary invalid in search of health, I passed some days within your borders, and those the first I ever
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passed in the state. May I not, then, claim the good town of Norwich as my foster-mother, and honor and revere her as such ?
There is another link in the chain of friendship that binds me to the people of these fair vales. Two hundred years ago the re- vered fathers of Connecticut were forming, at one and the same time, two colonies to be sent out into the wilderness, for the pur- pose of extending the church of God,-one from Stratford, and the other from Saybrook. They went forth bearing the ark of God into the interior forests. The one took possession of the beautiful hills and valleys of my adopted town, and the other cast its lot in this fair and blooming land. At that early date there was not a white settler north of these infant colonies all the way to Canada. And yet, through the smiles of Providence and the might of their own trusty people, they have become the gardens of the state. For many years I have delighted to study the history of the one, and now, by insensible degrees, I have come to love the other.
This is a proud day for you, Mr. President, and for all concerned in the celebration. No such occasion ever gladdened these pleas- ant dwelling places, nor will such a one ever return during the lifetime of any here present. It has done more for you, in every particular, than you now know. The preparations for this cele- bration have brought you nearer to each other. You are better acquainted with each other, and your admiration and respect have been greatly increased. And it would be strange, indeed, if the future fathers and mothers of Norwich should not, many of them, rejoice to remember this occasion as the initial point from which they date the gorgeous colors
" Of love's young dream."
The ladies will excuse me for divining and divulging what may possibly be passing in their thoughts or treasured in their hearts. But the time is too precious to be lost in rambling remarks. I close with the sentiment :-
" Norwich and Woodbury-Twin sisters of 1659. The morning and evening stars of Connecticut-beautiful in their infancy-brilliant in their maturity-a crown of glory will surely adorn their old age"
Rev. Wm. T. Bacon, of Woodbury, being now called by the president of the day, delivered the following :--
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MR. CHAIRMAN :
Your kind invitation to be here at this rally, Found me out far away in the Pomperaug valley ; If I go, said my fears, though perhaps, 't was my vanity, I shall surely fall under some chairman's keen eye, Where my sins-that's my verse-'mid some critical throng, Shall entail their own curse, that 's a call for a song.
My profession, sir, sometimes respond to a "call;" I wish, sir, they never did worse things-that's all ; But if I respond now as well as I'm able, The fault, sir, 's at your end, not mine, of the table.
But now that I'm up, with just nothing to say, The question is, how shall the Muse fill the lay ? Shall she seek to catch light from some bright eye that 's near, Or kindle her torch by some kindred torch here ? Shall she grovel, and descant on all these fat things, That reduce to one level "both commons and kings ?" Or go out from this scene, and reflect where we stand, And look round on all this magnificent land ; Take in all its beauties, so lavishly spread Over valley and hill top, and blue mountain head, Where these beautiful rivers come musical down, And unite like sweet sisters in front of your town, Then with hand joined in hand, and fleet footed and free, Go cool their white breasts in the foam of the sea! Or go back to the past, when the red man was here, With his foot on the soil, and his own, far and near, With his name on the streams, and his deeds on the rocks, With a might and a power that Time spares, while he mocks; When his will was his law, and his hand was his sword, And the bear and the wolf only, challenged him lord; With the rude virtues springing from such ancient things, That made him the topmost of Nature's old kings ! Or come down from such past, when such soft light was shed, From the thorns that once cinctured His meek, awful head, Lighting up hosts of hearts here in such perfect worth, To bleach their white bones on each shore of the earth!
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THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
The Winslows, and Lanmans, and Lathrops, and Smith, Bade adieu here, for this world, to kinsmen and kith, And with wills bowed to His, and with hearts beating high, Went forth from this scene, and they went forth to die ! When heroes are numbered on earth's records bright, When bright names are written in letters of light, Seek them-where? 'mid the battle's dread, sulphurous van ? Seek them here, where these died to save poor ruined man !
Stop, my Muse, this the place, not for tears, not for toil, We have met here to laugh, or, at least, met to smile ; From each bright, cheerful face, an electrical chain Should go round this circle, and then round again, Till each heart, by the magic of each master mind, Kindles up with the love, not for self, but for kind ; Then we go from this scene as a brotherly band, North and south, east and west, as we spread o'er the land, Bearing back to the circles from whence we have come, The love of this spot, as the love of old home; Then as these years give place to the years yet to be, And this scene awakens for you and for me, We 'll recall this bright hour, and its thoughts gushing free, While the beautiful Yantic rolls down to the sea.
It was moved, seconded, and carried unanimously, that the thanks of the assembled guests be given to general David Young, the marshal, and to his assistants, for the admirable manner in which the arrangements of this bi-centennial celebration had been carried out.
Charles W. Rockwell moved "That the thanks of the guests be tendered to the president for the able manner in which he fulfilled his arduous duties in presiding over the convention of yesterday, and the proceedings of to-day," which was carried by acclamation.
The whole assemblage then rose and sung the following song, composed for the occasion, by Miss Mary E. Avery :-
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SONG. SONG. -
Air-" AULD LANG SYNE."
We come, from northern, snow draped homes, From western forest shade, From mart, and mead, and seagirt shore, And sunny everglade. For auld lang syne, dear friends, For auld lang syne ; Up ! to the old ancestral hills, For auld lang syne.
Dear Norwich ! now to celebrate Thy birthday, we are come, Nor need we here to ask, " What cheer ?" The shout is, " Welcome home !" For auld lang syne, dear friends, For auld lang syne ; Glad greetings we exchange this day, For auld lang syne.
We've been where flows life's busy tide, With beauty, wit, and grace, Yet, e'er our throbbing hearts have yearned For thee, far dearer place. For auld lang syne, dear friends, For auld lang syne ; The very music of our lives, Is auld lang syne.
We thank Thee, Father, for the love And care which Thou hast given, For friends who meet us here at home, And those who wait in Heaven ! For auld lang syne, dear friends, For auld lang syne ; Our hearts with one affection beat For auld lang syne.
For all, accept our humble praise, Still bless us with Thy love, That we may all united be, Within Thy Home above. For auld lang syne, dear friends, For auld lang syne; We'll keep this union in our hearts, For auld lang syne !
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It was then moved and seconded, "That this meeting do now adjourn to the eighth day of September, A. D. 1959," which was carried amidst loud laughter.
Adjourned.
[Note by the Reporter .- The distance of many of the speakers from the reporter's seat, rendered it impossible for him to take notes of their speeches. In such cases, where the speeches have not been subsequently furnished, they are omitted.]
THE BALL.
On Thursday, after the conclusion of the exercises at the large tent, and the assembly had adjourned to the dinner tent, the most active preparations were commenced for the ball. (See page 32.) The immense floor, (80 by 200 feet,) was cleared of benches, a profusion of the richest flags which had been used for decorating the city, were brought in and tastily arranged around the tent and music stand, or thickly festooned overhead, and long lines of gas jets were so extended through the decorations as to display them to the best advantage. When the vast assemblage had gathered in the evening, and the illumination was perfected, the spectacle presented was truly magnificent. Such a collection of the beauty and manliness of old Norwich was never seen before, and it can not be expected will ever be again before the next centenary festival. The night was spent in dancing, by those who preferred that amusement, or those who did not, found ample enjoyment in the social good cheer which prevailed, and the animating influences of the occasion.
This over, and the bi-centennial celebration of the settlement of the town of Norwich was closed.
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CLOSING PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEES.
The committee of arrangements held several informal meetings after the celebration, to hear reports of the various sub-committees in regard to expenses, &c. The last of these meetings was hold- en at the Wauregan house, on Saturday, the 5th of November, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
The committee appointed to audit all accounts presented against the general committee, reported through their chairman, Amos W. Prentice, that the indebtedness of every nature, incurred for the celebration, had been paid, and that the sum of $164 34 was re- maining in the hands of the treasurer.
On motion of William A. Buckingham, it was
Voted, That the balance remaining in the hands of the treasurer be placed on deposit in the Norwich Savings Society, to the credit of a committee appointed to erect a monument to John Mason, and that the same be appropriated toward the erection of a monument in the Gager burying ground, to the memory of the thirty-five first settlers of this town; such monument to be erected either in connection with one to major Mason, or separate from that.
On motion of John Breed,
Voted, That the committee adjourn without day, subject to be convened at any time on call of the chairman.
Adjourned.
The committee on the bi-centennial ball also held a meeting at the Wauregan house, on Wednesday evening, November 9th, for the purpose of settling up their affairs. After paying all expenses, $214 remained in the hands of the treasurer, which was disposed of by the following vote, and Messrs. James H. Hyde, Charles A.
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Converse, John L. Devotion, and the treasurer, James M. Meech, appointed as the committee upon the matter :-
Voted, That the remaining funds be devoted toward paying the expense of erecting a monument to the memory of captain John Mason and other of the early settlers of the town; and that a committee of three be appointed to act with the treasurer of the general committee, in connection with the Mason monument com- mittee, in appropriating the money for that purpose.
By a vote at a former meeting, $50 had been appropriated for the purchase of a testimonial to Mr. Meech for his efficient efforts in connection with the ball; and the presentation was made on Wednesday evening, the gift consisting of an elegant silver tankard, and inscribed
BI-CENTENNIAL BALL, NORWICH, CONN. .
Sept. 8, 1859. PRESENTED TO JAMES M. MEECH, BY THE MANAGERS.
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SERMONS.
On the Sabbath preceding the celebration, several clergymen of the town, by request of the committee of arrangements, preached to their people on the history of their respective parishes.
A brief abstract of these discourses may properly be inserted here.
REV. HIRAM P. ARMS, pastor of the first congregational church, embodied in his discourse a biographical sketch of his pre- decessors, from the reverend James Fitch onward.
At the time of planting this church, forty years had elapsed since the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth. Settlements had been made on the eastern coast of Massachusetts. The southern portion of our own state was beginning to be inhabited by a race of hardy pioneers, God fearing men, who were willing to sacrifice all the advantages of civilized life in the land of their nativity, for the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty on the inhospitable shores of a foreign land.
A little colony, a church, with its pastor at its head, had, by long and tedious marches, threading its way through the forests, from the Massachusetts bay to the Connecticut river, and planted itself at Hartford. The leader of this colony was the reverend Thomas Hooker, alike distinguished both in England and in this country, for his talents, his learning, and his piety. He had been silenced by archbishop Laud, for nonconformity to the rites of the established church, after which he taught a grammar school at Chelmsford, and came to this country in 1633. In 1636, he re- moved, with his church, to Hartford. Two years later, a company of 14 young men, already in a course of preparation for the gospel
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ministry, left their homes in England to try their fortunes in this new world, and assist the pioneers in laying the foundation of a new, a Christian empire. Among that chosen band of youths was James Fitch, a lad 16 years of age, a native of Bocking, in Es- sex county. Bocking is not far from Chelmsford, where Mr. Hooker taught a grammar school, and it is not improbable that young Fitch had been a member of that school. The reverend John Elliott, the distinguished missionary to the Indians, was usher in the same school, and may have had a hand in developing the missionary zeal which gave to the first pastor of this church so deep an interest in the welfare of the Mohegans. In his native land, and already in his boyhood, he had acquired a correct knowledge of the learned languages, and yet, on his arrival in this - country, he put himself under the instruction of Mr. Hooker and his colleague, Mr. Stone, where he pursued his studies for seven years longer. The men of that day did not rush into the sacred office half educated, with minds unfurnished and undisciplined ; but they aspired to be master builders-workmen that need not be ashamed.
In 1646, Mr. Fitch, then 23 years of age, was ordained to the Christian ministry, and installed as pastor of the church in Say- brook.
The distinguished ministers who had educated him were present at the ordination, counseling and assisting; but so jealous was the church of its own inherent power, subject only to Christ, the su- preme head, that the imposition of hands was by a presbytery, chosen from the church itself for that purpose. Preliminary, also, to his ordination, the pastor elect was received as a member of the church. For it was a cardinal principle with the churches of that day that the officers, pastors as well as deacons, should be elected from their own number, not brought in from without.
This was in accordance with the teachings of Mr. Hooker, who had himself in like manner been ordained at Cambridge by the imposition of the hands of his brethren. We retain the same principles, and hold that all ecclesiastical authority is vested in the individual churches, and that while, as a matter of Christian courtesy, we ask the aid of a council in ordaining or deposing ministers, we accede to that council no authority beyond what the church delegates to it for the occasion.
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SERMONS.
As early as 1653 or 1654, a company seems to have been formed at Saybrook for the settlement of the plantation now called Nor- wich. Captain John Mason was the prominent man in this col- ony, for a long time the tried friend and counselor of Uncas, fa- miliar with the adjacent region, and able to appreciate the advan- tages which the head of the Thames offers for agricultural, com- mercial and manufacturing purposes.
It was not, however, till June, 1659, two hundred years ago, that a deed of conveyance was given by Uncas and his two sons of the nine miles square, constituting the ancient town of Nor- wich.
The purchasers at once began to survey and apportion the land to the different proprietors. Roads were constructed, and some rude buildings, with a house of worship, were erected, preparatory to the removal of the colony in the spring of 1660, when Mr. Fitch, with a large portion of his church, joined by some from other settlements, established himself in this place, and here un- furled the banner of the cross.
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