USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Proceedings of the 250th anniversary of Old Bridgewater, Mass. at West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, June 13, 1906 > Part 1
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250TH ANNIVERSARY BRIDGEWATER MASSACHUSETTS
June 3(0S)1656-June13(NS)1906.
Gc 974.402 B76w 1429541
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 7749
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
250TH ANNIVERSARY
OF OLD BRIDGEWATER
AT
WEST BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS
June 13, 1906
BRIDGEWATER, MASS. : ARTHUR H. WILLIS, PRINTER
1907
1429541
FIRST CHURCH, IN WEST BRIDGEWATER. Organized 1651.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/proceedingsof2501656oldb
INTRODUCTION.
The inception of the plan for celebrating the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Old Bridgewater was expressed in a resolution adopted by the Old Bridgewater Historical Society on the ninth of May, 1903.
In accordance with a request of the Trustees of this Society, at a meeting held at the Memorial Building, West Bridgewater, on the fourteenth of January, 1905, preliminary measures were taken for a suitable celebration of the anniversary by the appointment of a provisional Anniversary Committee consisting of the following members :- Hon. Benjamin W. Harris, chair- man, Joshua E. Crane, Rev. Howard C. Dunham, Samuel P Gates, George M. Hooper, Simeon C. Keith, Rev. E. B. Maglathlin, Hon. Isaac N. Nutter, and on the twenty-eighth of October, 1905, a committee of five gentlemen, namely :- Hon. James S. Allen, Joshua E. Crane, Henry Gurney, Fred A. Hunting and Rev. E. B. Maglathlin, was appointed by the Society to nominate an Executive Anniversary Committee and other committees and to report the same at a meeting of the Trustees of the Society.
At the annual meeting of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society held on the twelfth of January, 1906, the report of this committee was presented and adopted and the several commit- tees were empowered to enlarge their membership. To these committees were added the Co-operative Committees of the towns of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater which were chosen by the several towns at the request of the Society, and subsequently the members of all committees were included in the list of the general Executive Committee of the celebration.
6
250TH ANNIVERSARY
At the annual town meetings of Bridgewater, East Bridge- water and West Bridgewater, in response to a petition of mem- bers of the Society residing therein, the sum of one hundred dollars in each town was appropriated for the purposes of the anniversary to be expended by the Historical Society, and to this sum the city of Brockton was invited to contribute a co- operative appropriation to be expended in like manner.
In view of the desire for a general celebration in which all citizens should unite, with larger expenditure than had been primarily planned, the Old Bridgewater Historical Society at its regular meeting on the thirtieth of April, 1906, transferred its responsibilities to the General Executive Committee and efforts were accordingly made to obtain additional contributions to the treasury of the committee.
The town of West Bridgewater unanimously voted to appro- priate an additional sum of $300.00 towards defraying the ex- penses of the celebration, and to empower the Selectmen to draw orders on the town treasurer for such sums as the Execu- tive Committee should deem necessary, not to exceed the sum of $400.00, provided that the towns of Bridgewater and East Bridgewater and the City of Brockton each appropriate for that purpose a sum not less than $400.00.
And it was further provided that if either of the said towns of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and the City of Brockton appropriate for that purpose a sum less than $400.00 or fail to make for that purpose any appropriation, that the selectmen shall be authorized to draw on the town treasurer for that pur- pose sums of money not exceeding the average amounts appro- priated by the towns of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and the City of Brockton.
The City of Brockton failed officially to grant any appro- priation for the purposes of the celebration. The town of East Bridgewater at a special town meeting took unfavorable action in relation to an additional appropriation and the town of Bridgewater was accordingly not requested to take the matter into consideration.
Individual subscriptions were accepted to meet the require- ments of the General Executive Committee and all arrange-
7
OLD BRIDGEWATER
ments were made for the celebration of the Anniversary in accordance with the original purpose.
All citizens of the original territory of Old Bridgewater were invited to observe the day with patriotic display and decorations, the children of the public schools were invited to participate in the exercises and the co-operation of the com- mittees accomplished the tasks committed to their care with gratifying success.
On the ninth of June, 1906, the following resolution was adopted by the Executive Committee :-
That the chair appoint a committee of three to nominate a committee of five to be chosen and designated a Publication Committee :
That said Publication Committee be authorized to call upon the Secretary of the Executive Committee for any or all docu- ments belonging to said committee in his possession :
That said Publication Committee shall thereafter and as soon as possible prepare a record and historical sketch of the Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Old Bridgewater, print and publish an edition of the same :
That the said Publication Committee be authorized to draw upon the Treasurer of the Executive Committee for such sums of money as he may have at his disposal for that purpose, pro- vided that the books shall be the property of the Executive Committee to be circulated or distributed as the said Executive Committee by vote shall determine, with the amendment, that the surplus books together with the original papers and docu- ments be deposited with the Old Bridgewater Historical Society as custodian.
Among the invited guests from whom were received letters of regret in acknowledgement of their invitation to be present, were :- Hon. Winthrop Murray Crane, United States Senator from Massachusetts; Hon. William C. Lovering, member of Congress from Fourteenth District of Massachusetts ; Hon. William S. Greene, member of Congress from Thirteenth Dis- trict of Massachusetts ; His Excellency Hon. Curtis Guild, Governor of Massachusetts ; Hon. Eben L. Draper, Lieut .- Governor ; Hon. William M. Olin, Secretary of State; Hon.
8
250TH ANNIVERSARY
Arthur B. Chapin, Treasurer and Receiver General ; Hon. John N. Cole, Speaker of the House of Representatives ; Hon. George H. Garfield, Senator Second Plymouth District ; Hon. Albert Davis, Treasurer of Plymouth County ; Mr. C. B. Til- linghast, State Librarian ; Hon. George A. Hibbard, Postmas- ter of Boston ; Hon. Charles K. Darling, United States Mar- shal ; Hon. Fisher Ames, Boston ; Hon. Arthur Lord, President of the Pilgrim Society ; Hon. William W. Crapo, President Old Dartmouth Historical Society ; Capt. George A. Gordon, New England Historic Genealogical Society ; Mr. Frank A. Bates, Secretary Orcutt Family Association ; Hon. John D. Long, Hingham ; Hon. William L. Douglas, Brockton ; Mr. Frank Davis Millet, New York ; Dr. Myles Standish, Boston ; Rev. John P. Forbes, Brooklyn ; Mr. Judson K. Deeming, Dubuque, Iowa ; Dr. Edmund Cone Brush, of the Ohio National Guard, Zanesville, Ohio ; General Oliver O. Howard, by letter of H. S. Howard, private secretary, Burlington, Vt .; Rev. Thomas D. Howard, Springfield, Mass .; Rev. George A. Jackson, Librarian General Theological Library ; Mr. Charles A. Elms, Scituate; Mr. Edward H. Cutter, St. Paul, Minn .; Hon. Charles G. Nash, Chelesa ; Mr. Frederick T. Stuart, Newton ; Mr. George W. Stetson, Esq., Middleboro ; Mr. George H. Southard, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Letters were received also from Mr. Henry W. Robinson, of Auburndale and Mr. Ezra Kingman, of East Bridgewater, who were active in the celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary in 1856.
It was with deep regret that Hon. Benjamin W. Harris who acted as toast master in 1856 was prevented by the infirmi- ties of age from attending the exercises of the day.
An interesting feature of the occasion was the presence of Hon. James S. Allen, Mr. DeWitt C. Packard and Rev. James Reed all of whom participated in the exercises of 1856.
The following are the names of the several committees :-
9
OLD BRIDGEWATER
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Hon. James S. Allen, Chairman. Mr. Joshua E. Crane, Secretary. Mr. Ellis Brett, Treasurer.
Mr. George J. Alcott
Mr. Edward E. Keith
Mrs. Clara L. Atwood Mr William Bassett
Mr. Edward H. Keith
Mr. George E. Keith
Mrs. Helen G. Bonney
Mr. Preston B. Keith
Mrs. R. C. Boomer
Mr. Simeon C. Keith
Mr. A. C. Boyden
Mrs. Simeon C. Keith Mr. Orvis F. Kinney
Mr. F. Irving Cooper
Hon. Nathan W. Littlefield
Mr. Davis Copeland
Mr. George F. Logue
Mr. Thomas W. Crocker
Mr. E. H. Lothrop
Mrs. George R. Drake
Dr. C. E. Lovell
Mr. E. P. Dunbar Rev. H. C. Dunham
Rev. E. B. Maglathlin
Mrs. N. F. Dunphe
Hon. I. N. Nutter
Mr. W. H. Edgerly
Hon. W. H. Osborne Mr. H. D. Packard
Mr. F. V. Garey
Mr. S. P. Gates
Rev. Albert F. Pierce
Mr. Farnham Gillespie
Mrs. Henry T. Pratt
Dr. S. J. Gruver
Dr. L. W. Puffer
Mrs. Lysander F. Gurney
Mr. Walter Rapp
Mr. L. W. Richards
Mr. B. B. Russell
Mr. R. O. Harris Mrs. R. O. Harris Mr. J. B. Hebberd
Miss Mary H. Rust Mr. William A. Rust
Mrs. Angie W. Holmes
Mr. George M. Hooper
Mr. Clinton L. Howard Miss Edith F. Howard Mr. Frank L. Howard Mr. Fred A. Hunting Mrs. George O. Jenkins Mr. E. D. Josselyn Mr. Eldon B. Keith
Mrs. Saba K. Sprague Rev. Charles E. Stowe Mr. Frank E. Sweet Miss Sarah E. Wilbar
Mr. Howard B. Wilbur
Mr. Charles C. Thayer Mr. Arthur H. Willis
Mr. H. D. Forbes
Mr. F. E. Fuller
Mr. Moses A. Packard
Mrs. F. W. Parke
Mr. Charles F. Mann
Mr. Otis Cobb
IO
250TH ANNIVERSARY
TOWN COMMITTEES. (ex officio) appointed by the towns.
Bridgewater E. D. Josselyn H. D. Packard William Bassett
West Bridgewater O. F. Kinney E. H. Lothrop G. F. Logue
East Bridgewater
F. E. Fuller
L. W. Richards
W. H. Osborne R. O. Harris C. F. Mann
FINANCE COMMITTEE. Ellis Brett, Chairman.
F. I. Cooper
Davis Copeland
Hon. N. W. Littlefield
E. H. Lothrop
H. D. Forbes S. P. Gates
Hon. I. N. Nutter
Preston B. Keith
Moses A. Packard W. A. Rust
PROGRAMME COMMITTEE. Rev. E. B. Maglathlin, Chairman.
Mrs. Clara L. Atwood
Mrs. Angie W. Holmes Mrs. Simeon C. Keith
Prof. A. C. Boyden
Mrs. Helen G. Bonney
Dr. L. W. Puffer
J. E. Crane
Miss Mary H. Rust
Rev. H. C. Dunham
Rev. Charles E. Stowe
Miss Edith F. Howard
COMMITTEE ON PRINTING. Dr. L. W. Puffer, Chairman.
J. E. Crane F. E. Fuller
Rev. E. B. Maglathlin A. H. Willis
COMMITTEE ON INVITATIONS. Hon. B. W. Harris, Chairman.
Hon. J. Sidney Allen J. E. Crane Hon. R. O. Harris Fred A. Hunting
Edward E. Keith
Rev. E. B. Maglathlin Dr. L. W. Puffer
George E. Keith
Edward H. Keith
James Sidney Allen
James S Allen Jr.
Edward Alden
Joshua E Crane
1
1
II
OLD BRIDGEWATER
DINNER COMMITTEE. E. P. Dunbar, Chairman.
Geo. J. Alcott F. E. Fuller E. H. Lothrop F. E. Sweet
Mrs. Clara L. Atwood Dr. S. J. Grover Dr. C. E. Lovell
MUSIC COMMITTEE. L. W. Richards, Chairman. J. B. Hebberd
F. V. Garey Frank L. Howard
PROCESSION COMMITTEE. Dr. A. F. Pierce, Chairman.
S. P. Gates G. F. Logue
Eldon B. Keith Hon. W. H. Osborne
RECEPTION COMMITTEE. Hon. I. N. Nutter, East Bridgewater, Chairman.
Bridgewater
H. W. Bragdon
S. P. Gates
F. E. Fuller
Wales Hayward
Arthur Harris
Edward A. Hewett
Fred A. Hunting
E. D. Josselyn
A. H. Latham
R. M. Keith
Prescott H. Pratt
Charles R. Perkins
Dr. A. A. Shirley
Dr. Calvin Pratt
West Bridgewater
Brockton
George R. Drake
Ebenezer Alden
Curtis Eddy
Davis Copeland
Farnham Gillespie
Edward H. Keith
F. L. Howard
Eldon B. Keith
J. C. Howard
Frank E. Packard
O. F. Kinney
Charles Penny
G. F. Logue
I. N. Reynolds
Howard B. Wilbur
B. B. Russell
HISTORIC SPOTS.
F. I. Cooper, Chairman.
Rev. E. B. Maglathlin
J. E. Crane
East Bridgewater Royal T. Brett
I2
250TH ANNIVERSARY
REV. E. B. MAGLATHLIN, West Bridgewater, Chairman
J. S. ALLEN, JR., Brockton HON. ZIBA C. KEITH, Campello HON. W. H. OSBORNE, East Bridgewater
REV. C. E. STOWE, Bridgewater
Publication Committee
PITHE ROCK ON WHEN HEET SERMON WAS PREKONEO IN OLD BRIDGEWATER MASS, MORE JAMES KEITH ABER
PROGRAMME
OF THE
Two Hundred and Fiftieth
Anniversary
OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN
OF
OLD BRIDGEWATER, MASS.
:
SETTS
BRIDGE
MASSACHUSE
REP
.AINGOD
HLAORA
HELD AT WEST BRIDGEWATER, June 13, 1906.
Bridgewater incorporated
June 3, 1656.
O. S.
South Parish
66
June 1, 1716.
O. S.
East Parish
Dec. 14, 1723.
O. S.
North Parish
66
Jan. 3, 1738. O. S.
Titicut (including part of Middleboro) Feb. 4, 1743. O. S.
North Bridgewater incorporated June 15, 1821.
(Became Brockton Mar. 28, 1874.)
West Bridgewater incorporated Feb. 16, 1822
East Bridgewater
66
June 14, 1823.
City of Brockton
May 23, 1881.
The present town of Bridgewater was the old South Parish.
Memorial Building of the Old Bridgewater Histor- ical Society Dedicated in 1901.
PROGRAMME.
9 A. M. Meeting of Citizens at the Soldiers' Monument, West Bridgewater.
Site of the Second Meeting House of the Original Center.
Music.
The Martland Band of Brockton.
Singing by the pupils of the Grammar and High Schools of Brockton, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater.
Introduction of Speakers and Special Announcements by Rev. Edward B. Maglathlin, Chairman of Programme Committee.
Address of Welcome, Mr. DeWitt Clinton Packard, City Clerk of Brockton.
Original Hymn by Mrs. Helen G. Bonney of Whitman. Tune "Auld Lang Syne."
We call to mind each honored name
Two hundred fifty years ago Our fathers settled here ! That gave the town its worth !
Made Bridgewater a sacred name, Thank God that to such ancestors,
To her descendants dear. We owe our favored birth.
Back to the far ancestral days Their names are linked with noble deeds
Our mem'ry fondly turns; They sanctified the past ;
With love of kin, our ancient sires, A glorious heritage is ours Each heart with ardor burns. As long as time shall last.
From North and South, from East and West, We gather here today ;
With reverent and loyal hearts Our grateful tribute pay, The scattered children come to tread The fields their fathers trod, To view once more historic spots, To praise their father's God.
Song, "Now is the Month of Maying," Morley. Bridgewater High School, John B. Hebberd, Director.
18
250TH ANNIVERSARY
Song, "O, Who Will O'er the Down !" DePearsall. Glee Club of the Brockton High School.
AMERICA.
I
My Country, 'tis of thee,
2 My native country ! thee, Land of the noble free,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Thy name I love ;
Land where my fathers died ;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Land of the Pilgrim's pride
Thy woods and templed hills,
From ev'ry mountain side,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.
Let freedom ring. 3 4 Our fathers' God ! to thee, Author of liberty !
Let music swell the breeze
And ring among the trees
Sweet freedom's song ;
To thee we sing ; .
Let mortal tongues awake,
Long may our land be bright
Let all that breathe partake,
With freedom's holy light
Let rocks their silence break,
Protect us by thy might,
The sound prolong.
Great God, our King !
Forming of the procession under the direction of the Chief Marshal of the day, Ira L. Kingman, City Marshal of Brockton.
The line of march includes Central Square, River, Arch and Bryant Streets to the old home of William Cullen Bryant, to John Cary monument, thence through South and River Streets, to the house of the first minister, Rev. James Keith ; thence countermarching through River to Howard Street, to the site of the first meeting house and burying place, the Memorial Building of the Old Budgewater Historical Society, to Center and Main to the Pavilion on Drury field.
Address at the Cary Monument, erected in memory of John Cary, the first town officer of Old Bridgewater, by Rev. Seth C. Cary, Dorchester.
Address in memory of Minister Keith, by Rev. Sidney Keith Bond Perkins.
Address at the Memorial Building, by Joshua E. Crane, Bridgewater.
IO A. M. Music, Martland Band of Brockton. Call to order.
19
OLD BRIDGEWATER
Address, introducing Hon. Robert Orr Harris, President of the Day.
Hon. James Sidney Allen of Brockton, Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Devotional Service.
Invocation and the reading of the Scriptures, Rev. Edward B. Maglathlin, Minister of the first church of Old Bridge- water, (West Parish.)
Prayer, Rev. C. A. Henderson, Minister of the second church of Old Bridgewater (South Parish.)
President's address, Hon. Robert Orr Harris, of East Bridge- water.
Music by the Band.
Original Hymn, by Miss Mary Hall Leonard, formerly of Bridgewater.
Tune, Bridgewater.
From busy mart and scattered homes, Children of old New England sires
From fretting cares of strennous life To memory's scenes we turn our thought
We gather here with loyal hearts To build anew their altar fires.
And ponder what the generous Past Of gentle ministries hath wrought;
Upon this spot where first they dwelt, While mingling notes the breezes bring Our songs of gratitude to raise Of hope and warning, faith and cheer,
And let our reverent souls be filled And echoes manifold of those
With new resolve for future days Who lived and loved and labored here. These fleeting hours we dedicate To memories of an earlier age And may their influence stir our hearts To guard our sacred heritage, And tell the children what it means And bid them still with courage stand To face with wisdom problems new And safe preserve our native land.
Address, Hon. Nathan Whitman Littlefield, of Providence, R. I., formerly of East Bridgewater.
Music, song, "Yachting Glee," Culbertson. Glee Club of the Brockton High School, F. V. Garey, Director.
Music by the band.
Cary Monument. Erected in memory of John Cary, the first town offi- cer of Bridgewater.
2I
OLD BRIDGEWATER
Introduction of Hon. Benjamin W. Harris, President Emeri- tus of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society, the Toastmaster of the Celebration of 1856, and of Rev. James Reed, of Boston, the Poet of the Celebration of 1856.
Carol of the 15th Century, "Lo! How a Rose 'ere Blooming," Praetorius, by Bridgewater High School.
Address, Dr. Loring W. Puffer, of Brockton, President of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society.
Reading of announcements.
Original hymn, "The Pilgrim Spirit," written by Rev. Charles Edward Stowe, Minister of Central Square Congrega- tional Church, Bridgewater.
Tune, Duke Street.
1
6
One Life pervades all Nature's frame, In planets, men, and flowers the same. The minds that think, and stars that shine The virtues that to them belong Reveal an innate Power divine. 2
Though heedless men in slumber lie, Or hurl defiance 'gainst the sky, His throne is from eternity ; He ruleth by a firm decree.
3
Almighty God! from age to age Thy finger turns each opening page, Embraced in Thine eternal plan, We trace the slow advance of man. 4 Our Fathers saw Thy beck'ning hand, That bade them to this goodly land, Nor men, nor beasts, nor raging sea, Could daunt those hearts that trusted [Thee.
No lust for power, no greed for gold Could lure to shame those settlers old.
Rebuke each age of selfish wrong. 7 They built on Truth's foundation strong Where right is right, and wrong is [wrong.
So freedom, laws, and peace abound Wherever Pilgrim-seed is found.
8 And still from age to age endure The fruits of faith and love so pure. Like drops of iron in the blood, They onward flow a precious flood. 9 And everywhere New England's name Is fragrant with the Pilgrim's fame. A mighty power to guard and save Still issues from each honored grave.
5
They trusted Thee without a fear, Or creep of flesh at danger near, The iron of their rigid creeds They hammered out in noble deeds.
10 So hushed be all our boasting then, Till we can show more glorious men ; Among the sons of mortal man, Who nobler than the Puritan?
Benediction, Rev. Bertram D. Boivin, Minister of the third church of Old Bridgewater (East Parish.)
22
250TH ANNIVERSARY
I P. M. Invocation, Rev. Alan Hudson, Minister of the fourth church of Old Bridgewater, (North Parish, now Brockton.)
DINNER.
Offering of thanks, Rev. James J. Farrelly, Minister of the Church of St. Thomas Aquinas, Bridgewater.
Music.
Reading of letters of invited guests by the Secretary of the Executive Committee.
Remarks by the President of the Day, introducing the Toast- master of the Day Hon. William H. Osborne, East Bridgewater.
SENTIMENTS.
Our Country.
Our Commonwealth, His Excellency the Governor, Hon. Curtis Guild.
Music.
The two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorpora- tion of Old Bridgewater, Mr Joshua E. Crane, Bridge- water, Mrs. Lysander F. Gurney, Brockton.
Original hymn, "Old Bridgewater," written by the late Edward Alden-a beloved and revered organizer of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society and publisher of the latest edition of Mitchell's History of Bridgewater.
I
The Pilgrim band, who hither came In the years long, long ago,
Tune, Christmas. 2 Their purpose was to find a place (And may their tribe increase,) Where they and all their worthy race Might live and die in peace. 4
Came not for glory, nor for fame As all the world should know. If one will try to estimate 3 Methinks not all now living here, As yet quite understand The work that there was done
He surely will appreciate What here was then begun.
How hard the life, how very drear At first was this fair land. 5 "I'were well to set apart a day And gather 'round the spot ; And songs of praise and honor pay That here was cast their lot.
23
OLD BRIDGEWATER
The Clergy, Rev. Howard Cary Dunham, West Bridgewater; Rev. Julian S. Wadsworth, Brockton; Rev. George B. Titus, Brockton.
Education, Mr. Albert G. Boyden, Principal State Normal School, Bridgewater; Barrett B. Russell, Superintendent of the Schools of Brockton.
Music.
Medicine, Dr. Ebenezer Alden Dyer, Whitman.
The Law, Hon. Warren A. Reed, Brockton, James S. Allen Jr., Brockton.
Music.
Our Business Men, Hon. James J. Dowd, City Solicitor of Brockton.
Our Adopted Citizens and their children, Professor F. H. Kirmayer, Bridgewater ; Mr. John S. Kent, Brockton.
Duxbury, the Mother Town of Bridgewater, Laurence Brad- ford, Duxbury; Hon. Clarence A. Chandler, East Bridge- water, Representative of the 8th Plymouth District.
The Purchasers of Old Bridgewater, Rev. Melvin S. Nash, Hanover.
Massasoit and the Indians, Rev. Charles Edward Stowe, Bridgewater.
The County of Plymouth, Hon. Walter H. Faunce, Kingston. The County of Bristol, Hon. William E. Fuller, Taunton.
Our Only City, His Honor the Mayor, Frederick O. Bradford Brockton; Rev. Albert F. Pierce, Brockton.
Our Neighbors, Hon. Thomas Weston, of Newton, formerly of Middleboro ; Rev. Charles E. Beals, of Cambridge, formerly of Stoughton.
The Deborah Sampson Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. George O. Jenkins, Regent, Whitman.
Home of the Rev. James Keith, the first minister of Bridgewater, 1662-1719.
25
OLD BRIDGEWATER
The Ousamequin Club of Bridgewater, Mrs. George M. Web- ber President; East Bridgewater.
The Old Colony Chapter of the Sons of the American Revo- lution. Pres. Hon. Isaac N. Nutter, East Bridgewater; Past Pres. Rev. L. B. Hatch, Whitman.
Our brethren of Ancient Bridgewater, and of Somersetshire, England.
Music by the band.
Doxology.
Benediction, Rev. Francis B. White, Minister of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brockton.
"Let the work of our fathers stand."
Indge DANIEL HOWARD house " budt (7y7% one of Hon. William Bayles with whom William Cutten Bryant Studied Low on 1812-02
ADDRESSES.
Address of Welcome. Mr. DeWitt Clinton Packard, City Clerk of Brockton.
Fellow citizens, and sons and daughters of Old Bridgewater, and it matters not this morning whether you are her sons and daughters by birth or by adoption; she greets, she welcomes you all.
She opens to us today the precious pages of her history and points with just pride to the venerated names of her founders-brave, noble, self-sacrificing men and women, with the stern virtues of their time, who came to this spot 250 years ago, with strong, liberty-loving and God-fearing hearts, and planted the rose of civilization in the wilderness.
Their sublime faith, the unflinching devotion to duty, glorify their humble lives and make forever memorable and sacred to us the scene of their dangers, their struggles and their tri- umphs.
It is well for us that we have come today with reverent pilgrim feet, to tread a soil so consecrated, and with thankful hearts to realize our rich inheritance in their brave example, a heritage more precious than titles, or wealth, or worldly power; and may the observances of this day quicken in us our love of liberty, of truth and of civic virtue, and may the memories of this occasion long remain with our youth, whom we greet here this morning, to lead them and their posterity, when we shall have passed away, to come like us, to this cradle of the Bridge- waters and bring to this spot, with willing and pious hands, the tribute of their devotion to the memory of the old town.
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