USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Celebration of the one hundred an fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of Abington, Massachusetts, June 10, 1862, including the oration, poem and other exercises > Part 5
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Our own Whittier has said that our noble Commonwealth
" Ne'er heeds the sceptic's puny hands While near her school the church-tower stands, Nor fears the bigot's blinded rule While near the church-tower stands the school."
We have the church-spire and we have the school, and are here on this One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the incorporation of this town to look forward to the Two Hun- dredth. As our Governor has just told us, " the Past we have not, the Present we cannot call ours, it is gone while we grasp it, the Future only is really ours."
It is so. And if the future is ours any where, and to be secured through any means, it is in and through the schools. There is our future. Our Governor has just been addressing .
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the men of 1862. I hope he will come here ere long and address the men of 1882, yea of 1912! Let him come here one of these days, and we will show him these "coming men," our children,-when they shall not be so thrust into the background, and their voice of welcome will be heard in its fulness.
In these schools is our hope or our fear. We know how it fared with our armies at Shiloh and at Fair Oaks. At first the enemy had it all their own way ; but by and by came up the reserve, and then the victory was ours. Our grand reserve or our ruin stands back of us one generation. If our children are true, that future is safely and fully ours.
" The child is father of the man." What sort of men will be fifty years hence on this spot, commemorating this day, depends, under God, upon what we are doing now for the children. May the principle in this sentiment actuate us everywhere and always, securing wise and generous pro- visions for our schools. In them may our children be grounded not merely in the sciences fitting them for the business of life, but in those principles on which our fathers built so firmly and so well that to-day we are met here to rejoice in the present results of them, and in the hope, the anticipation of their final triumph and full glory.
7. The Press .- Next to the Common School, the most effective agency in the Education of the People.
CHARLES F. DUNBAR, Esq., of the " Boston Daily Advertiser," a native of the town, being called upon, spoke as follows :-
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Mr. Chairman and Friends :-
The present is a time, as you know, when those of my pursuit are pretty fully occupied ; for the country is making history very fast now, and some of us delude ourselves by trying to write it. And so when an old friend invited me to be present to-day, I could only say to him as the man said to his minister, when urged to come to meeting, " I will either come-or send a hand."
But who could be absent from his native town, on a day like this, when the town puts on its holiday dress ; or who could refuse to revisit this beautiful spot, endeared by pleasant memories of the past, and now the scene of a commemora- tion, the associations of which carry us back for almost two centuries of honorable history ? I own that I am proud to be a native of Abington. The gentleman who has just spoken cast it in the teeth of us natives, that we had no choice in the matter! For my part I am glad that it was so, for had it been left to me at that early age, I might not have chosen so well.
It is a little embarrassing to be called upon to speak for the press of the country. The press is accustomed to address the publie in another manner. And besides, just at this moment, except the rebels, the worst-abused men in the country are the editors,-and while in the one case this is all deserved, in the other it is not. Perhaps I may say for the journalists of the United States, that we were all much relieved the other day, when that new and remarkable mem- ber of the profession, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, gave his assurance that the newspapers didn't lie any worse than any body else ! You will permit me to say here, that for the short-comings of the press the public is in a measure respon-
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sible. Such is the frailty of human nature, that where there is a demand, there will be a supply ; at this time of feverish excitement the people will have what they want, and there will be found men who will furnish it, at whatever expense of conscience. And there is another point in which the responsibility of the public is greater than it realizes, and in a more important matter,-I mean as regards the expression of opinion. Every man has his own opinion now, which is different from that of every other man, and which he expects to see reproduced in the public prints. The press is expected to form its views fairly, to express them openly, and to be just and complimentary at the same time ; and hi this way a tyranny is often exercised by public opinion, which is more threatening in the long run to the real liberty of the press, than any mere temporary suppression of news, as a military necessity, by the public authorities.
But this is all foreign to the purpose of the day. In carlier years,-not so very long ago,-1 gave some attention to the history of the town. I had a personal interest in it, for the earliest settler, ANDREW FORD, was my ancestor. I always noted it for a significant fact that the early inhabitants built their meeting-house before they got their Act of incor- poration. They went to work on the good old Puritan plan, the plan of the Old Colony, in which we stand, bringing the best of influences to bear in forming their history. They were austere in life, but they practiced the virtues of auster- ity. Their lives were quiet and retired, but laborious, thrifty and honorable. They labored slowly, silently and patiently, to lay deep the foundation of the New England character, which carried the country safely through one revolution, and the influence of which is now carrying us safely through another.
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In those old wars, Abington always bore its part well. I suppose there are few here of Abington blood, who cannot count some relation in the old French war or in the Revolu- tion ; many of these families mourned after the massacre a century ago at Fort William Henry. And in this war the town bears its part well too. It was my fortune, just a year ago, to enter the camp of a Union regiment at Newport News, on the James River, and there I was proud to recog- nize and enter the tents of an Abington company. They were there upon no holiday excursion, and were enduring privations such as we at home were far from realizing. But they bore every thing with little complaint,-recalling with pride the fact, that the Fourth Massachusetts was one of the two regiments from this State which saved Fortress Monroe,-the great strategie movement which made the capital secure, and was the turning point in saving our country. The war will end prosperously, and the work of these men may be forgotten amid more brilliant achieve- ments. In that they will be like their predecessors upon this soil. The generation of those men, too, has passed away, and their memory, their names even, are cherished but by few. But their work was of too solid character and too well done to pass away ; and the fruits of their labor we witness and enjoy to-day.
8. The Clergy .- To the Clergy of New England we owe a debt of grati- tude for their faithful adherence, in times of trial and despondency, to the great principles of " Freedom, Truth, and Right."
Rev. ISAAC C. WHITE, of Plymouth, spoke in response to this sentiment, as follows :-
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Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :-
I had intended if I spoke at all, to speak one word in behalf of the carly clergymen of this ancient town. The necessity for this has been superseded by the timely and eloquent remarks of the Pastor of the First Church.
That our country owes a debt of gratitude to the clergy of New England, for their faithful adherence to the great principles of Freedom, Truth, and Right, in times of trial and despondeney, will be questioned by no intelligent, think- ing mind.
The great object which the clergyman has in view, is to mould society into the form and features of moral excellence and beauty. As the sculptor chisels out of the rude block of marble the form and features of artistic beauty, so he, with the great principles of divine truth fashions society into the form and features of moral beauty, and in doing this he contributes largely to the highest well-being of the country.
In all times of national trial the clergymen of New Eng- land have been true to the principles of Freedom, Truth, and Right; and now that the clouds of civil war, black and portentous, hang over us, they will stand by the Govern- ment until rebellion is so thoroughly crushed that it will never again lift its satanic head or wag its forked tongue.
It affords me great pleasure to take part in these festive services, to unite with you in celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth birthday of this ancient town. I love my native town, her familiar rocks and hills, the graceful elms which grow out of her bosom and adorn and shade her streets and walks. I love this beautiful grove, her play-ground, the play-ground of her sister towns, and of yonder populous city. I love her resting-places of the dead, where sleeps the precious
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dust of the honored and endeared. I love her temperance organizations, promoting sobriety, and her military organiza- tions, through which she expresses her patriotism in times of trial. I love the old inconvenient town-house, the capitol of this little republic, the scene of many a sharp and well- contested debate. I love her schools, the nurseries of learn- ing so liberally and tenderly nourished, and her neat and commodious sanctuaries, the nurseries of piety. I love her large manufactories and little shops, her elegant and costly mansions, and her convenient cottages, the abodes of domestic happiness. I love my native town, the north, the south, the east, the west, and the centre.
I honor her for the noble stand which she has always taken in the cause of human freedom, and for the patriotism which has rallied so many of her sons to uphold and defend our Union-the best government on the face of the earth. Rebellion has laid its treacherous hand upon our manufacto- ries and stopped their profitable working, but when the last dying groan is wrung from that hideous monster to which slavery has given birth, these manufactories will again be worked to their utmost capacity, and wealth and prosperity will again flow into these dwellings. And when the stars and stripes shall float proudly, majestically, and undisturbed over every part of our territory, and the sun in all his course looks down upon not a single slave, Abington, keeping pace with the American Republic in prosperity, will march on triumphantly to that perfeet state of society towards which the clergymen of New England are leading the country.
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9. The Orator of the Day.
Rev. E. PORTER DYER being called upon by the President, said :-
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Mr. President :-
This call seems plainly to imply that my morning remarks were not entirely satisfactory-probably because I failed to notice more particularly the MOTHERS of Abington, to whom for the bravery of her sons and the prosperity of the town we owe so much. To one of them I acknowledge my indebt- edness for the blessing of kind, faithful parental instruction in my carly years. But why is no more credit given to the female part of the community ? It is true we find in your ancient records that a place was left for them in the north part of the meeting-house ; but why is no more said of them ? Because, before factories were set in motion, our mothers were inured to toil and shared in the burdens of labor. They were found with " the spinning-wheel, the distaff and the loom." They manufactured thread, they wove tow cloth, they made the garments worn then. And when my grandfathers, who lived in this town in those days, died, (and if you will pardon me, they both remained here just as long as they possibly could, each being the last man of his generation and the oldest male citizen in town at his death,) one of them left for each of his three daughters as an heir- loom an ancient, domestic loom, to be transmitted to their children, as a memorial of the past, to remind them, when they should sit down to the music of the piano or guitar, of the trials and hardships of the mothers who had gone before them.
When the mothers of those days returned from meeting on the Sabbath, they took home with them the salutary lessons of the sanctuary, and employed the remaining hours of holy time in impressing on the tender minds of their children that " fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom."
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Here is one secret of the influence of Father Niles-an influence which remains in this town to this day. The mothers taught by his ministry were faithful mothers in these matters, and hence, as they grew up, their daughters always seemed to me in my younger years very courteous, very lovely, and of modest and excellent deportment; and they will bear me witness that in the days when I lived here and attended the public school with them, our mothers always "knew when we were out." Let us leave our tribute of filial gratitude to-day in our testimony to the faithfulness of our mothers.
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Mr. President, I have been delighted with the exercises and associations of this day. I do not expect to meet you again on an occasion such as this. As I was leaving home this morning my son took occasion to suggest that if my discourse was not satisfactory to the President, I might say to him that when the next celebration of this kind occurs he may get somebody else.
But the hours of this day are passing, and soon all these scenes and services will be ended. The wheels of time roll on, and who shall stand in our places a hundred and fifty years hence to review the history of God's dealings with the inhabitants of this town during that lengthened period ? With what interest might we contemplate to-day, were time allowed us, the progress of the world and the wonderful improvements constantly taking place in every department of knowledge and art, but I forbear.
I have often heard my now departed grandfather say that one of the citizens of this town in carlier days-(and this circumstance may have contributed to give me a slight fond- ness for the muse)-was a good deal given to rhyming extemporaneously, and was always ready when any one
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would " treat him," to give a poetic effusion in return. I remember hearing him repeat, among other specimens, one which may serve to show by contrast how the poetic spirit of this town has progressed.
It may be premised, however, that it was formerly the custom of the people of this town to yoke their hogs and suffer them to run at large. At town meeting they chose certain officers called " hog-reeves," to look after the hogs. Men were fond of office then -- gone out of fashion, I suppose, now-and when the people wished to show their appreciation of a certain kind of talent in a man, they chose that man hog-reeve-especially was this distinction wont to be conferred on newly married men. On one occasion the election of a certain man to this office excited the poet's ire. He deemed the incumbent unworthy to be elected to such an elevated office by the suffrages of an intelligent people, and gave vent to his bitterness of spirit by the following poetic touch :-
" It does seem strange To my poor brains, That people are possess'd, For them to vote, To choose one shote, To govern all the rest."
This was expressive and off-hand. Other illustrations of the poet's ready rhyming wit might be given, but I will not now longer detain you. At the next celebration of this kind I will relate all I can remember -- if I am here. I hope the audience will pardon me for trespassing so long on their patience.
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10. Masonry .- Which Washington recommended to the American people, which Burns sung, and the wisest of all times have loved, "still rising by the plummet's law," will produce good square work.
WILLIAM D. COOLIDGE, Esq., of Newton, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, responded as follows :-
Mr. President : -
So many of my brethren being present, I came very near saying "Worshipful Master," but pardon me, Sir, let me amend that, and say, brethren and sisters,-for I believe you have been addressed by every other title but that to-day. We have come from far and near to mingle our warmest sympathies together, and to kindle anew the hearts of those who belong to this good old town, that the faces of early loved ones, the memories of the past, the kindly greetings, the joyful emotions of this day, may all be concentrated in this hour; and I feel that it is good to be here. In the sentiment you have just proposed, you have touched the key-note of every American heart, the name of Washington. We glory in him as our patron and our friend ; more than that-our brother. He who knew so well what was in men's hearts, and how deeply and how strongly they can be moved by persuasion, love and affection. You have spoken of that child of song, Robert Burns, another of our brothers who has touched our hearts so gently and so sweetly, and whose name we are always glad to mention. My heart has been so filled with the influenees of this occasion, by the words of eloquence and poetry, of music and song, that I am sure not much should be expected from me. Our honored Governor moved our hearts in that noble sentiment, " honor to the brave and honest heart ; " and I thought as I listened to the clarion notes of the Orator of the Day, as he portrayed
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the rising prosperity of the people of this town, the honest sturdy heart which is here so manifest, that if I were to say a word to my venerable friend here who is writing its history, if he is seeking for the reason of her great prosperity, let him seek it in that deep and abiding trust in God which animates your hearts, and has animated the hearts of those who have gone before you. In that indomitable energy, industry and perseverance, which united with the capital of yonder city has produced, and will again confirm and renew the prosperity you have formerly enjoyed. Trust in God, my friends, that as He is a God of truth, so He will surely vindicate himself, and bring about again the happy day when we may take by the hand all good American citizens, and prosperity and happiness again be your lot.
In these stirring times there are manly elements of char- acter which are to be developed, and I trust that no one will regret after these evil days are passed, the opportunity which we now have to develop the lofty virtues of self-sacrifice, valor, love of country, devotion to right, indomitable courage, and the love of all that is true, noble and manly.
Our eyes are now turned to the tottering capital of rebel- lion, and our prayers are united that this war may soon be ended. I believe it will be. I believe that returning prosperity will soon be with us. Continue to cultivate those glorious. elements of character which the Orator of the Day has illustrated. Be worthy of such sires.
Mr. President, let me close with words familiar to many of my brethren present-
The Good People of Abington .- May their Corn, and Wine, and Oil abound, and health, plenty and peace be the lot of every citizen of this ancient town.
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11. Our Temperance Organizations .- Institutions of practical benevo- lence and moral power, rescuing the fallen, and giving strength to the weak and tempted, their influence is felt in the homes of all our communi- ties; may they pursue their mission loyal to the glorious watchwords emblazoned on their banners, till the liquid poison from the Still and the Vat shall cease their destroying work, and total abstinence from that which intoxicates be the habit of all our people.
Responded to by Rev. JOSEPH CREHORE.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : -
It is a pleasure to speak to a sentiment in honor of organi- zations holding so important a position among the social and moral interests of the town, with so vital a bearing upon its welfare, and having in their membership so many of the people, both male and female, as those to which you have referred.
The Temperance enterprise is, I believe, a comparatively modern movement. It dates back for the beginning of its history only about fifty years. At a meeting of one of the ecclesiastical bodies of our State, known as the "General Association of Massachusetts," in the year 1811, the first public action with reference to it, of which we have account, was taken. A committee was appointed to prepare a consti- tution for a society, whose object should be, " To check the progress of intemperance," viewed by the association as a growing evil. That society came into existence and held its first meeting in the year 1813. At that time the annual consumption of spirits in this country was so great, that divided equally among all the families it would have averaged more than four and a half gallons to every man, woman and child. Put that by the side of the facts of to-day, and you will find a change has been wrought.
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The fathers and mothers, men of heroic courage and holy purpose, and women of unconquerable energy and patience, whom to-day we proudly and justly honor with our words of praise and memorial pageant, had few indeed of the noble institutions and moral enterprises which to-day exist, and send their happy ministries into and along all the pathway of our life. Their circumstances were not such as to demand or admit of these things. And yet we do well to remember that they had that out of which these all have come,-the Church and the Common School. These they honored and cherished, and through them sowed the seeds of great principles and holy truths, which finding root in the fresh soil of the new Continent, have grown and developed into all these shining blessings and guiding lights.
They were not temperance men, as we reckon temperance men now, for the evil of intemperance had not taken on the magnitude and wrought the mischief that it has since. But they were men loyal to virtue and to every righteous endeavor for human improvement. They believed in law and the right of legislation, most devoutly, and I have some- times thought that some of the regulations in relation to drinks which intoxicate, which we find in the history of some of the towns, of a century ago, might have been of good service at a more recent date, even since the light of the temperance movement has been spreading over the world.
Here for instance, is an item with which I recently met, which seemed to me not wholly inapropos to a subject just now claiming the attention of the people in our country- the National Tax. "It is voted that the price of W. I. toddy shall be 16 shillings a bowl, and New England Rum shall be 12 shillings a bowl." This was afterwards reconsidered, we are told, and " it was voted that toddy should be 18 shillings
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a bowl when made with loaf sugar, and 16 shillings a bowl when made with brown sugar." Not much drinking of it in these days, I think, if that was the price.
I alluded just now to the extent of the membership of the temperance organizations of the town. I believe the whole mumber belonging to the various societies, including that of the children, which certainly should not be overlooked, does not fall much, if any, under one thousand. Somewhat of an army that, and enlisted too, in one of the noblest causes that claims, or can claim the service of any people. And Sir, grand beyond conception is the work which has been and is still being wrought by these associations. All about us is the witness of their worth, in the orderly and pleasant homes which greet our eyes, in the character and habits of the citizens, and the general thrift and health of the community. Ah, who can measure the extent of our indebtedness here ! Who can calculate the good that has come, not only to our town, but to our Commonwealth, and our country, through temperance organizations! They have been a great moral power in our midst. And they are a power in the army of our country gathered from these homes all about us to fight anew the battles of liberty. The habits and health of that army, which put it in such noble contrast with all the other armies the world has known, are in no small measure the fruit of temperance principles here imbibed, strengthened and sustained amid the thousand temptations of the camp, by social ties and obligations here existing, and holding in unfaltering fidelity many an absent and dear brother.
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