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 With an appendix, containing historical documents of local interest 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 9
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16384
Johnna: Brenoffer: Rest Roys
Simon Huntington 1679
yours to serve to my proce power James fitch
william backing Junio 1659.
william backus 1696.
1696
1679
Christophia Stuntington Roman heffing will Thomas bingham Ins. Birchans
To face page 102.
103
NOTES TO HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
Allyn, Robert
Huntington, Simon
Backus, Stephen
Leffingwell, Thos.
Backus, lieutenant Wm.
Mason, major John
Baldwin, John
Pease, John
Bingham, Thos.
Post, John
Bliss, Thos.
Post, Thomas
Bowers, Morgan
Renalls, John
Bradford, John
Read, Josiah
Calkins, Hugh
Royce, Jonathan
Calkins, John
Smith, Nehemiah
Edgarton, Richard
Tracy, John
Fitch, Rev. James
Tracy, Thomas
Gager, John
Wade, Robert
Griswold, Francis
Waterman, Thos.
Hide, Samuel
Wallis, Richard
NOTE I. MR. FITCH'S PRINTED SERMONS.
A copy of Mr. Fitch's sermon on the death of Ann, wife of major Mason, is preserved in the pastor's library of the first church in Norwich.
A copy of an election sermon by Mr. Fitch, preached in 1674, is in the college library at New Haven.
MR. FITCH'S EPITAPH.
The grave of Rev. James Fitch, in the old burying ground at Lebanon, near the family tomb of the Trumbulls, is marked by an upright slab which bears the following inscription :-
REMEMBER ETERNITY.
In hoc sepulchro deposita sunt Reliquia viri vere Reverendi D. JACOBI FITCH. Natus fuit apud Boking, in comitatu Essexice, in Anglia, Anno Domini 1622, Decem. 24. Qui, postquam Linguis literatis optime instructus fuisset, in Nov-Angliam venit, Atate 16 ; et deinde Vitam degit, Hartfordic, per Septennium, sub Instructione Virorum celeberrimorum D. Hooker & D. Stone. Postea Munere pastorali functus est apud Say- Brook per annos 14. Illinc cum Ecclesia majori Parte Norvicum migravit ; et ibi coteros Vitc Annos transegit in Opere Evangelico. In Senectute, vero, præ Corporis infirmitate necessarie cessabit ab Opere publico ; tandemque recessit Liberis, apud Lebanon; ubi Semianno fere exacto obdormivit in Jesu, Anno 1702, Novembris 18, Ætat. 80. Vir Ingenii Acumine, Pondere Judicii, Prudentia, Charitate, sanctis Laboribus, et omni moda Vita sanctitate, Peritia quoque et Vi concionandi nulli secundus.
104
THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
NOTE K.
The original burying ground in Norwich was unquestionably on the banks of the Yantic, half way between the up town green and Bean Hill. It is a site which all will agree ought to be sacredly guarded as the resting place of most of the founders of the town. It would be a beautiful position for any monument. But if it is considered remote from the present center of activity, may not some simple block of granite be placed in this first burying ground, and a costlier artistic monument be placed in some other part of the town ?
NOTE L.
THE SEPARATES.
Those who are interested in the separate movement of eastern Connecticut, are referred to an admirable article in regard to it, by Rev. R. C. Learned, of Berlin, in the New Englander, vol. xi, p. 195, 1853,-and to Rev. F. Denison's Notes on the Baptists in Norwich, Conn., Dr. Trumbull's Hist. (vol. ii, p. 168 et seq.,) Bacon's Hist. Discourses at New Haven, Hovey's Life of Isaac Backus, and Tracy's Great Awakening.
NOTE M.
THIRTY YEARS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
Omitted.
NOTE N. NATHANIEL NILES.
A sketch of Mr. N. Niles will be found in Dr. Sprague's Annals, vol. i, p. 716, and another, less extended, in Duyckinck's Cyclopedia of American Literature, vol. i, p. 440.
NOTE O. CAPT. ROBERT NILES.
In 1856, through the instrumentality of Hon. L. F. S. Foster, U. S. Senator, a recognition of the services of captain Robert Niles was made by congress in a liberal appropriation to his surviving daughter. The petition on which this appropriation was made, and the remarks of Mr. Foster in advocating the claim, (Dec. 24, 1855, April 25, 1856,) will be found in the Congressional Globe, first session 34th congress. They present so complete a survey of the patriotic services of captain Niles, that want of space alone prevents me from reprinting them entire.
NOTE P. THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN NORWICH AND BOSTON.
Omitted for want of room.
NOTE Q. LIST OF COLLEGE GRADUATES.
The following list is intended to include the names of those graduates in the various colleges of the country whose birthplace or whose home at the time of their college course, was within the bounds of old Norwich.
Special acknowledgment is due to chancellor Walworth, Dr. A. Woodward, reverend E. B. Huntington and C. J. Hoadley, esq., for aid in preparing the list.
NOTES TO HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
HARVARD. 105
Year of grad. Year of death.
1694 Reverend Jabez Fitch, tutor and fellow Harvard college. 1746
1763 Honorable Jedediah Huntington, brigadier general in the army of the revolution. 1818
1827 Right Rev. Alfred Lee, D. D., bishop of Delaware.
1843 Elisha Winslow Tracy
Reverend Eliphalet Birchard
1854
1850 William Bond, LL. B
Total-6.
YALE.
1718 Joseph Backus.
1721 William Hyde 1738
Reverend William Gager 1739
1724 Reverend Simon Backus. 1746
1725 James Calking. 1756
1727 Dr. Joseph Perkins. 1794
1733 Dr. Daniel Lathrop. 1782
Daniel Huntington. 1753
1735 Benajah Bushnell
1738 Dr. Elisha Tracy.
1741 Honorable Jabez Huntington, major general in the army of the rev- olution.
1786
Simon Huntington 1801
1743 Dr. Joshua Lathrop
1807 Samuel Tracy
1802
1749 Reverend Elijah Lathrop
1797
1753 Joseph Lord
1762
1754 Reverend Joseph Lathrop, D. D. Elected professor of divinity, Yale college .. 1820
1757 Gurdon Huntington.
1759 Reverend Simon Backus. 1767
1760 Elijah Abel 1823
1809
1761 Honorable Benjamin Huntington, LL. D., mayor of Norwich, M. C., judge of superior court of Connecticut, fellow Yale college. 1800
1763 Reverend Ebenezer Baldwin, tutor Yale college. 1776
Sanford Kingsbury. 1833
1765 Reverend Aaron Kinne. 1824
1767 Jonathan Kingsbury. 1833
1768 John M'Clarren Breed, mayor of Norwich. 1798
Dr. Thomas Huntington. 1835
1769 Reverend Charles Backus, D. D. Elected professor of divinity,
Yale college. 1803
1771 Abiel Cheny 1771
John Hart 1828
14
1783
1744 Hezekiah Huntington 1747
106
THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
Year of grad. Year of death.
1774 Peabody Clement. 1820
1775 Honorable Ebenezer Huntington, M. C., colonel in the army of the revolution, afterward brigadier general. 1834
1776 Dr. Eliphaz Perkins. 1828
Reverend Simeon Hyde. 1783
1777 Elijah Backus.
1811
John Barker, M. D.
1813
Reverend Ebenezer Fitch, D. D., tutor Yale college, first president of Williams college.
1833
Daniel Tracy 1782
1778 Shubael Breed. 1840
Honorable Uriah Tracy, M. C., United States senator. 1807
1.781 Simeon Breed. 1822
Honorable Simeon Baldwin, tutor Yale college, M. C., judge of supe- rior court of Connecticut. 1851
1782 Honorable John Lovett, M. C. 1818
1784 Jabez Huntington. 1848
1785 William Hubbard. 1789
Honorable Samuel Huntington, chief justice and governor of Ohio. 1817
Benjamin Perkins. 1841 1786 Reverend Jonathan Ellis
Honorable John Kingsbury, judge of the county court, Connecticut. 1844
William Leffingwell. 1834
Honorable Elias Perkins, M. C., fellow Yale college. 1845
1787 Reverend Azel Backus, D. D., first president of Hamilton college. 1816
Matthew Backus. 1807
Gurdon Lathrop 1828
Daniel Lathrop 1825
Elijah Perkins, M. D. 1806
1788 Honorable James Lanman, mayor of Norwich, United States senator, judge of superior court, Connecticut.
1841
Charles Lathrop .. 1831
Reverend Lynde Huntington 1804
1789 Honorable Uri Tracy, M. C. 1838
1844
1791 Erastus Huntington.
Reverend Elijah Waterman
1810
1795 Thomas Tracy.
1798 Joseph Williams
1800 Joseph Howland
1827
1801 John W. Perit .. 1845
1802 Pelatiah Perit, president of the chamber of commerce, New York. Reverend Daniel Haskell, president of the university of Vermont ... 1848
1803 Reverend Eli Hyde. 1856
Reverend John Hyde. 1848
1790 Honorable Joseph Kirkland, M. C. 1825 1846
1794 Benjamin D. Perkins 1806
NOTES TO HISTORICAL DISCOURSE. 107
Year of grad. Year of death.
1804 Reverend Joshua Huntington.
1805 Walter King 1819
1806 Dr. John Hazen 1843
Henry Strong, LL. D. tutor Yale college. 1852
Honorable Jabez W. Huntington, M. C., judge of superior court, Connecticut, United States senator 1847
Honorable Phineas L. Tracy, M. C.
1807 Reverend Daniel Huntington. 1858
1808 Charles Griswold, judge of probate court.
1839
Henry W. Rogers. 1819
1813 Charles Perkins. 1856
1814 Charles B. Goddard.
Jedediah Huntington
Charles J. Lanman, mayor of Norwich.
1815 Reverend Elijah Hartshorn.
1840
1816 Reverend William Nevins, D. D. 1835
1817 Honorable Rufus P. Spalding, judge of superior court, Ohio.
1818 Reverend Thomas L. Shipman George Spalding. 1858
1819 Joshua Coit.
1820 George C. Goddard.
1821 William Lester.
1822 William Lathrop.
1825
George B. Ripley, judge of probate court.
Benjamin B. Coit, M. D. 1858
Andrew M. Fanning. 1829
Honorable John A. Rockwell, judge of the county court, M. C., fellow of Yale college.
1823 Joseph Ripley .
1824 John T. Adams, judge of probate court.
Reverend Richard F. Cleveland. 1853
1825 Daniel T. Coit, M. D.
Oliver E. Huntington.
1828 Levi H. Goddard.
Peter L. Huntington. 1832
Francis Porter. 1829
1830 Alfred E. Perkins, M. D. 1834
1833 Joshua Smith.
1834 Billings P. Learned.
1835 Charles A. Gager, tutor Yale college 1841
1836 George M. Brown.
1839 Charles H. Porter. 1841
1840 John Breed Dwight, tutor Yale college. 1843
1841 Donald G. Mitchell, United States consul, Venice Reverend John C. Downer.
1843 Reverend John Avery
4
108
THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
Year of grad. Year of death.
1843 Reverend Edward W. Gilman, tutor Yale college Gardiner Greene, LL. B.
Reverend Daniel W. Havens John M. Huntington
Frederick M. Lathrop. George A. Meech.
Reverend Robert P. Stanton.
1845 George C. Hill.
1846 Reverend Joseph W. Backus, tutor Yale college. Reverend Henry Case.
James M. B. Dwight, tutor Yale college Archibald Kennedy
1847 Reverend James T. Hyde, tutor Yale college
1848 Reverend William Aitchison, tutor Yale college, missionary in China. Reverend Elias B. Hillard
David S. Mowry. 1848
Nathaniel Shipman. Edwin Tyler.
Reverend G. Buckingham Wilcox.
1849 Reverend Timothy Dwight, tutor and professor of sacred literature, Yale college.
John Rockwell, assistant United States coast survey.
1852 Daniel C. Gilman, librarian Yale college
1853 Reverend William Frederick Arms Henry R. Bond.
Edward Harland. Samuel A. L. L. Post.
1854 John W. Hooker, M. D
1855 Calvin G. Child. John H. Piatt Giles Potter
Alfred P. Rockwell, Phil. B Patrick H. Woodward.
1856 George P. Barker.
1857 Henry S. Huntington. Bela P. Learned.
1859 Edward S. Hinckley. Asher H. Wilcox.
Total-154.
UNDERGRADUATES NOW IN COLLEGE.
1862 Charles Woolsey Coit. George Coit Ripley.
1863 Charles J. Arms. Henry E. Cooley John H. Peck.
Edmund A. Ware.
111
109
NOTES TO HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
Year of grad.
PRINCETON. Year of death.
1759 Reverend John Huntington. . 1766
1763 Reverend John Lathrop, D. D. (Edinb.) fellow Harvard college. 1816
1765 Reverend Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneidas. 1808
1770 Stephen Tracy. 1822
Reverend Nathan Perkins, D. D ..
Total-5.
DARTMOUTH.
1779 Ashur Hatch. 1826
1783 Henry Huntington. 1846
1786 Reverend Asahel Huntington. 1813
1785 Reverend Alvan Hyde, D. D., vice president of Williams college. 1833
1788 Reverend Oliver Ayers
1832
1854 Hiram B. Crosby
William C. Robinson
1855 J. Adams Robinson, B. Sci.
Total-8.
MIDDLEBURY.
1809 Bela Edgerton.
1819 Reverend Beriah Green, professor of sacred literature, Western Re- serve college.
Total-2.
WILLIAMS.
1813 Reverend Lavius Hyde Total-1.
BROWN.
1823 George D. Prentice.
1828 Honorable La Fayette S. Foster, LL. D., mayor of Norwich, speak- er of the house of representatives, Connecticut, U. S. senator ... Total-2.
WESLEYAN.
1834 Reverend Erastus Wentworth, D. D., president of Mckendree col- lege and professor in Dickinson college, now missionary in China. Total-1.
TRINITY.
1830 Reverend James A. Bolles, D. D.
1831 Reverend Thomas H. Vail, D. D.
1836 Reverend Zebadiah H. Mansfield.
1858
1841 Honorable Thomas L. Harris, M. C. 1858
1845 Reverend John A. Paddock.
1848 Reverend Benjamin H. Paddock, elected professor in Trinity college.
1850 Reverend Francis H. Bushnell Lewis S. Paddock, M. D
1851 George D. Sargeant.
1853 E. Winslow Williams. Reverend Alfred L. Brewer.
Total-11.
848
ath.
110
THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
Year of grad.
Year of death.
UNDERGRADUATES NOW IN COLLEGE.
C. H. W. Stocking.
Newton Perkins
AMHERST.
1824 Reverend Beaufort Ladd.
1828 Reverend Thomas Burnham. 1845
1829 Reverend William A. Hyde ..
1832 Honorable Nathan Belcher, M. C.
1849 Reverend William R. Palmer
1857 Reverend John E. Elliott. Total-6.
UNION.
1808 Reverend Samuel Nott.
1810 John McCurdy.
1822 Reverend Stephen T. Nott.
1834 Reverend Albert T. Chester, D. D.
1838 Samuel H. Austin.
1843 Anson G. Chester
Total-6.
HONORARY GRADUATES NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS LIST.
Reverend Isaac Backus, A. M., (Brown, 1797,). 1806 Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D., (Union, 1804,) fellow Brown university .. 1825 Thomas Sterry Hunt, A. M., (Harvard, 1854,) doctor of science, (Que- bec, 1858,) fellow of the royal society, London ; professor of chemis- try, Laval Univ., Quebec; mineralogist and chemist to the geological survey of Canada.
Reverend Elijah B. Huntington, A. M., (Yale, 1851.).
Reverend Eliphalet Nott, A. M., (Brown, 1795,) D. D. (New Jersey, 1805,) LL. D. (Brown, 1828,) president of Union college.
Benjamin Rogers, M. D., (Yale, 1845.).
Philemon Tracy, M. D., (Yale, 1817.).
Honorable John T. Wait, A. M., (Trinity, 1851.) ..
Honorable Reuben Hyde Walworth, LL. D., (Princeton, 1835; Yale, 1839; Harvard 1848.) M. C., chancellor of the state of New York. Ashbel Woodward, M. D., (Yale, 1855.).
Total-10.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, NATIVES OF OLD NORWICH.
When in
From what state.
congress.
1776-84 Connecticut. Samuel Huntington.
1780-84
1787-88
Benjamin Huntington.
1789-91
1793-96
Uriah Tracy.
1801-03
"
Elias Perkins.
1803-05.
Simeon Baldwin.
1803-07 New Hampshire. David Hough.
111
NOTES TO HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
When in
From what state.
congress.
1805-07
New York.
Uri Tracy.
1810-11
Connecticut
Ebenezer Huntington.
1813-14 )
1815-17
New York.
John Lovett.
1819.
Michigan
William Woodbridge.
1819-25
New York Albert H. Tracy.
1821-23.
66
Joseph Kirkland.
1821-23
Reuben H. Walworth.
1825-29
Pennsylvania.
Charles Miner.
1827-33
New York.
Phineas L. Tracy.
1829-34.
Connecticut.
Jabez W. Huntington.
1833-37
Pennsylvania. Andrew Beaumont.
1833-37
New York
Abel Huntington.
1847-49.
. Connecticut. John A. Rockwell.
1849-58
Illinois. Thomas L. Harris.
1853-55
Connecticut
Nathan Belcher.
1857-59
New York.
Erastus Corning.
Total-22.
UNITED STATES SENATORS, NATIVES OF OLD NORWICH.
When senator.
From what state.
1796-97
Connecticut.
Uriah Tracy.
1819-25.
66
James Lanman.
1840-47
66
Jabez W. Huntington.
1841-47 . Michigan
William Woodbridge.
(M. C., chief justice of Michigan, governor of Michigan.)
1855.
Connecticut La Fayette S. Foster.
Total-5.
NOTE R.
NORWICH GENEALOGIES.
Chancellor Walworth has for some three or four years been engaged in pre -- paring a very extended genealogical history of the descendants, in the female as well as in the male lines, of the first William Hyde of Norwich; embracing very extensive branches of the Post, Abell, Hough, Rudd, Low, Griswold, Hunting- ton, Lee, Sill, Sewitt, Hubbard, Ely, Elliott, Denison, Rogers, Hillhouse, Tracy, Manwaring, Edgerton, Raymond, Collins, Richards, Wait, Metcalf, Selden, Waterman, Marvin, Mather, Sterling, Baldwin, Gifford, Woodbridge, Parsons, Wadhams, Backus, Griffin, Pierpont, Dorr, and other families of Connecticut, whose descendants are now scattered and intermingled with other families throughout the United States.
Mr. F. P. Tracy, now of San Francisco, has in preparation a genealogy of the descendants of lieutenant Thomas Tracy. Before the plan for the recent celebration was announced, he had proposed that a meeting of the Tracy family should be held in Norwich at some time during the present year. Rev. E. B. Huntington, of Stamford, Conn., is compiling a genealogy of the Huntingtons,
50
5
1817-19
5
112
THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
to which will be added a report of the late meeting of that family, in Norwich. Rev. A. Steele, of Washington, has published a life of elder Brewster, the ancestor of the Norwich family, which was called forth by a meeting of the Brewster family in Norwich, and was published under the patronage of James Brewster, Esq., of New Haven. Other Norwich genealogies are in progress, of which I am not authorized to speak.
Dr. Ashbel Woodward, of Franklin, president of the Connecticut medical society, has been investigating the history of the medical profession in New London county. The early publication of his researches is greatly to be desired.
NOTE S.
THE FREE ACADEMY.
The Norwich free academy was incorporated in May, 1854, having been en- dowed to the amount of about $100,000, by the gifts of a few generous citizens of Norwich, three of whose subscriptions were for $12,500 each. Of the whole amount raised, $50,000 was reserved as a fund for the maintenance of the school, and with the remainder a lot was secured, and a noble school edifice erected. The academy offers free instruction in the higher branches of study, to all the youth of Norwich, who are disposed to avail themselves of its advantages. The original donors and incorporators of the institution were the following :- R. Hubbard, W. P. Greene, W. A. Buckingham, W. Williams, H. B. Norton, J. Breed, C. B. Rogers, W. W. Coit, J. L. Greene, D. Tyler, S. C. Morgan, I. M. Buckingham, L. F. S. Foster, D. Smith, J. F. Slater, C. Osgood, E. Williams, L. Blackstone, J. A. Rockwell, L. Ballou, C. J. Stedman, J. P. Gulliver, C. N. Farnam, E. O. Abbott, C. Tracy, A. H. Almy, L. W. Carroll, J. Spalding, S. W. Meech, J. S. Webb, H. Thomas, C. C. Brand, C. Johnson, E. Learned, E. Ed- wards, A. J. Currier. Joseph Otis, the founder of "the Otis library," was an original donor to the academy, but died before the incorporation. The donors since the incorporation are as follows :- C. A. Converse, A. W. Prentice, T. P. Norton, W. M. Converse, H. Bill, G. Perkins, J. M. Huntington, J. H. Adams, J. N. Perkins.
A fund of $5,000, beside other gifts to the amount of $2,000, has been set apart by Mrs. Harriet Peck Williams, for the establishment of the Peck library.
On the day of the bi-centennial celebration, Mrs. W. P. Greene presented to the academy a lot of land and a house (valued at $8,000) for the residence of the principal of the institution.
The foundation of the academy is due to the suggestion, as well as to the persevering efforts of Rev. John P. Gulliver, whose privilege it was to inaugu- rate the institution, (Oct. 21, 1856,) by an address, in which, accordingto a vote of the trustees, a history was given of schools and education in Norwich, and the designs of the founders of the academy were set forth for the information of the public, and the guidance of those who shall be entrusted with its future management. This address, and other papers pertaining to the free academy, may be found in Barnard's Journal of Education, vol. 2, p. 665, 1856, and vol. 3, p. 191, 1857. The whole number of pupils, 1856-9 has been 153, 68 boys and 85 girls. Mr. Elbridge Smith has been principal since the opening.
113
EVENING SESSION.
On the conclusion of the address,
Wm. P. Eaton, addressing the audience, said :- As an humble citizen of the town of Norwich, I can not refrain from moving that the thanks of this numerous and highly respectable assemblage be tendered to the orator of the day, (Mr. Gilman,) for the researches that he has made into the history of this town, and for his able, eloquent, and highly interesting address.
The President put the motion, which was carried unanimously.
Mr. Breed .- I move that three cheers be given for old Norwich.
A Gentleman .- And I move that Mr. Breed's white hat be waved while the cheers are given.
Laughter and applause, which lasted several minutes.
The President .-- The Rev. Dr. Chester will now pronounce the benediction.
Dr. Chester .- May the blessing of Jehovah our God, and our fathers' God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, bless us now, and our children evermore. Amen.
The meeting then dispersed.
EVENING SESSION.
Pursuant to adjournment, the convention re-assembled at half past 7 o'clock P. M., Wm. Williams presiding.
The President .- The meeting will be convened by the Rev. Dr. Bolles, of Cleveland, Ohio, reading a portion of the Scriptures.
The Rev. Dr. Bolles came forward and said :- Mr. President, with your permission, I will explain as briefly as possible, the reason why I have selected those portions of Holy Scripture which I pro- pose to read. I shall read from the 68th and 107th of the Psalms of David. I read from the 68th Psalm, because it is the portion of Scripture appointed in the English calendar for the 13th day of the month, the very day on which the English colonists arrived at Jamestown, and the very words in which they must have lifted up their hearts and voices to God in thanksgiving and praise. And it will be seen, sir, that this Psalm is remarkably prophetic, both of their history and their destiny. I shall then read from the 107th of the Psalms of David, because that Psalm also is the one
15
114
THE NORWICH JUBILEE.
which is appointed in the English calendar for the 22d day of the month, the very day on which our pilgrim fathers landed upon the rock of Plymouth,-the 22d December, 1620; and, therefore, it must have been the very language in which they themselves,-many of them at least,-expressed their feelings of praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God.
The 68th Psalm was then read.
He then read the 107th Psalm.
The President .- Prayer will now be offered by the Rev. Mr. Bromley.
The Rev. Mr. Bromley offered up the following :--
Let us pray. Almighty God, our Eternal Father, Thou hast been our refuge in all generations of the world. We praise Thee to-night as Thy people. We worship Thee as the God of our fathers, and as our God. We call upon all within us to unite in blessing and praising Thy holy name. We rear our altar of grate- ful hearts, and say, " the Lord has helped us." We have met as brothers and as sisters. The sons and daughters of the people here, Thou hast brought from afar, and from the ends of the earth. We thank Thee for the favorable auspices under which we are met to-day. The Lord our God bless us. The Lord who has opened to us the doors of usefulness, and spheres of usefulness, continue His mercy upon us for our Saviour's sake. Cause in this land in which we dwell, where our fathers have lived, and loved, and toiled, and from which so many have been invited away to their better rest, that Thy presence abide. We pray Thee that Thy watchful and never slumbering eye may keep guard over us, when separated by circumstances in Thy providence from each other, and receiving us at last into Thy glory.
Lord, smile upon the gathering this evening. Awaken in every bosom emotions of gratitude and love. Shower down, we pray Thee, Thy blessings upon our state and its officers,-upon our nation and its rulers. Grant that "Thy way may be known on earth, and Thy saving health among all nations." Guide us with divine counsels during the trials and cares of earth, and at last receive us into the glories of Thy kingdom. Unto God the Father, the Son, and Spirit, be everlasting praise. Amen.
The President .- The choir will now sing a hymn composed by the Rev. Dr. Chester.
115
HYMN.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
MUSIC COMPOSED BY H. W. AMADEUS BEALE, OF NORWICH.
Andante quasi Allegretto.
Soprano.
Our Father's God, in all the days Long buried with the past, Thy love and
Alto.
pp
Tenor.
Bass.
Our Father's God, in all the days Long buried with the past, Thy love and
goodness o'er each scene A ho-ly light have cast.
Now meet the children as they
goodness o'er each scene A holy light have cast. Now meet the children as they come, as they
come, Like ocean's ceaseless flow, To speak of what their fathers did, Two hundred years ago.
p
come, Like ocean's ceaseless flow, To speak of what their fathers did, Two hundred years ago.
We come to view these ancient graves, To open them for gold ; To rifle blessed memories Of those who died of old ; To take from thence not moldy bones A martyr's form to show, But relics of the faith that burned Two hundred years ago.
We come to breathe our native air, To tread our native sod, To see each brother's friendly face, And now to worship God. God of our fathers ! be our God As through the world we go; Give us the heart those heroes had Two hundred years ago.
t
y Y r
n h st le
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1
1
1
1
THE DISCOURSE
DELIVERED AT THE BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, NORWICH,
ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPT. 7TH, 1859,
BY THE RT. REV. ALFRED LEE.
The President .- I am happy to introduce to this audience the Right Rev. Alfred Lee, of Delaware, who will next address you.
ADDRESS.
The past grows more interesting as it recedes. As the gathering shadows of time settle upon the distant prospect, our eyes are fastened the more intently upon such features as are still to be discerned. The dawn of our own conscious existence in this mysterious world is clothed with bright magical tints, and a fresh morning lustre seems to gild and glorify the scenes of our child- hood. The veriest trifles of our early years recur with vividness in after life, and memory clings to them with a fond tenacity that is denied to recent events of vastly greater consequence.
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