USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Centennial celebration at Braintree, Mass., July 4, 1876 > Part 5
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That the freedom of mankind, the progress of this nation, the whole vast, complicated question of universal suffrage. rests on the Puritan idea, is a fact apparent to most reflecting minds. Education, in the threefold relation to God, to the community, and to ourselves, is the sole condition of Ameri- can perpetuity and advancement.
Studying the climate, the capacity, and the configuration of this continent, if it only achieves the proportional population of Europe, in the year 1976, it will number more than 1,000,- 000,000 of people.3 With the correctness of such tables and possibilities, we have little to do on this occasion : but it is our privilege to know that between the foundation of the first Puritan town, based on religious needs and personal edu- cation, and the order of society, to that culminating point that shall see the fullest energies and capabilities of the con-
1 Paquet . History of American Revolution, p. 21, note.
TO We have fifteen millions square miles, and Europe three. Look forward Blog tta population In America, equal to that of the average of that of Europe? But I, twelve huisdied millions." -fer. Jos. Ook.
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tinent realized, the church, the school, and the town-hall will still be the centre of civilization and the secret of success ; for the sanctuary, science, and statesmanship have at last but one meaning, teaching us the highest in ourselves by the knowledge of our duties and responsibilities towards our fel- lows, and towards the great Lawgiver.
At the suggestion of a descendant of Braintree, and by direction of the selectmen, two young royal oaks 1 have been planted on the town grounds in front of this house. We can infer from the lessons of analogy, that, in after years, these centennial oaks will become sturdy and umbrageous giants, their beauty giving delight to the observer, and their rich and
clustering foliage yielding refreshing shade to the wayfarer.
By an instinct born of the ennobling faith that has been the melody of psalm, and the message of prophecy for thirty centuries, we know that the Braintree of posterity will differ as much from the town of to-day, as this differs from the rude hamlet of 1629, as much as the massive, monster oak of a hundred years differs from the slender shoot now taking root in our soil.
The problem of the universe is the culture, the condition, the character of human beings, and the towns of America are the arena on which the mighty solution is to be worked out for human interests. It is not the American city, with its millionnaires at one end of the social enigma, and degraded masses at the other, not the crowded centres of population, with many devoted exclusively to traffic, and many abandoned wholly to temptation, that the nation is to rely for its moral strength, or humanity look for its ripened harvests, but to these congregations of neighborhoods, where neither passions nor ambitions are too intense, but where the standard of excellence and possession is within the common reach, and where the law of distribution and ratio of development flourish together.
1 Dr. David Thayer, of Boston, presented to me, from his farm in Braintree, two young oaks, which have this day been planted on the Common, near the Town House.
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It mere mechanical obedience to the commands once placed on "the tables of stone" is all of human life, then Judia was the culminating point of human history, and the Hebrew is the model for general imitation. If the percep- tion of grace, of classic refinement, and such nice understand- ing of proportion in everything, that the chief error was thought to be vulgarity and want of harmony, if that worship and study of the beautiful was the chief object of creation, then the hour of Pericles was the hour of triumph, and Greece ended the dream of the world. If the manifestation of force was the reason of the world's existence, then Rome has fulfilled the purpose of its Maker ; and if religious devo- tion, enthusiasm, and sentiment is the desire of the Lord of Hosts, then the revival of the crusades should be both the delight and the duty of the true believer: but if to lessen want, misery, and wretchedness, so that peace and content- ment can be the unquestioned and universal lot of man, be the design of the good Author of life, then civilization with the stamp of Deity upon it has not yet altogether appeared.
The republic of Plato was an attempt to found institu- tions after methods existing in the eternal thought. There is in the Divine mind the pattern and ideal of that town formation which shall absolutely realize that "pursuit of happiness " for which this historic day and this people are the memorial and pledge of fruition. The orator who one hundred years hence shall take this place, communing with other generations, sweeping backward to this point, to note a progress of which we have neither conception nor comprehen- sion, may not tell of valor at arms for territorial conquest, or territorial preservation, or of any warlike prowess, unless that awful war of faiths, contending with all the terror of religion- energy, and the present science of destruction, which now threatens the peace of Europe, shall also desolate this land ; but that orator will tell of such conquests over selfish- ness as shall prove vital conquests over sin, and shall one day make citizenship synonymous with brotherhood, causing the town to become everywhere a greater and happier family ;
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and could we, on this centennial Fourth, with finer sensations than we possess, turning our ears to the skies, catch the strains of that immortal choral now ringing through the arches of heaven, we should hearken to the glad tidings chanted nineteen hundred years ago around the manger at Bethlehem, then heralding the promise of the world's com- plete redemption, and this day telling us, -
" Lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, When with ever-circling years Comes round the Age of Gold, When Peace shall over all the earth Her final splendors fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing."1
1 See Appendix A, note 1.
POEM.
BY ASA T. PRATT, EsQ.
As guiding Pharos glads the wave-tossed mariner's sight, As night's lone traveller welcomes the cheering light, Thus from the soul in blissful rapture springs The grateful tribute, for the joys remembrance brings Of days of sapient worth; whose dawn with clouds o'erspread,- The gloom dispelled, - as lustrous rays beneficently shed The genial warmth that falls from liberty's flame; Circling with hallowed ties, it guides to future fame; Twining round hearts dismayed hope's lovely, cheering bands, Till dawning day of gloom in radiance bright expands.
Thus dawns this honored day. A century since has flown, When flag of liberty unfurled, first to the breeze was thrown; · As trusty watch-tower stands, to mark where dangers lay, As guardian of liberty, we hail this honored day. Let gratitude and love just homage pay to worth, To memories of sacrifice that gave our country birth.
Serenely fair, the blissful rays of peace illume our way, While cheering hope bids faltering fear resign its sway, To spread the gloom of sad desponding care, To dim the lustre of our land, now shining fair By valor's deeds; in virtue's worth enkindled bright, Gave to the world the guiding rays of freedom's light; Luring from distant lands, to sever home's fond ties, And gather with admiring hearts where flag of freedom flies.
Though passing clouds appear, and dimly glimmering low, The halo light of country's fame may flickering glow, While the dread demon Discord, wielding vandal hand, To wrest the well-earned laurel from our land, To vilely tarnish deeds of noblest sheen, And from the chaos made to foully glean
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The sad'ning harvest of a country torn and riven: Yet never, while 't is to memory fondly given To light devotion's altar with admiring glow, For patriot noble deeds, one hundred years ago, - Never shall mad contention, led by foulest strife, Destroy the sacred gift, our country's precious life.
The glorious boon, inspired by heaven-born thought. In trust bestowed, to succor when with danger fraught, And o'er its virtues constant ward to holdl; That coming time and future age its glorious worth unfold; Cheered be our hopes, confiding trust abound, To guard the sacred legacy, when dangers dire surround; Devotion's spirit nurtured, a century's vigil keeps, Still lives in hearts devoted. - thus yonder statue speaks; The notes of glowing eloquence, inspiring, oft has flown, Can ne'er so firmly bind our faith as the memorial stone.
A century has flown since first convened that band, Who scorned to wear oppression's chain or bend at base command; The clouds of ill impending, to darken freedom's rays, Are scattered by the oriflamb heroie acts upraise. Up roused the clans, as fiery cross sped fast o'er Scotia's hills; Thus freedom's hallowed light appeared, and heart of patriot thrills From these our hills, the toesin sound of freedom sprung, Till o'er the land, in startling tones, returning echoes rung; When ADAMS' firm, cestatie words, approaching ills defy, - " Sink or swim, survive or perish, live or die." 'Tis thus for country loved we freely tender all, And by the hazard stand, to rise or honored fall.
The plains of Concord and of Lexington for vengeance cried, - The Gods of Bunker's Hill with patriot blood were dyed, - The lurid light of Charlestown's wasting fires Kindled devotion's flame in heart of patriot sires, Where long the slumbering embers, dormant lain, Were roused to life as clanked oppression's chain. Over all the land a sombrous pall there hung. " To arms ! to arms ! " in startling tones then rung The voice of freedom's earnest wakened braves, To live for liberty or sleep in honored graves.
Too long had meck submission held its reign, And peaceful hopes too long allured in vain,
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Till social ties wrought foully fettering bonds, And manhood wanes, as drooping virtue sad desponds. The fell, destroying power of stern despotic sway, Its glaring evils marked each footstep of its way, Pointing the derisive finger of malignant scorn At purest innocence that virtue's ways adorn, Invading peaceful households' blest domain, And gathering there pollution's vilest stain, Till sorrow bowed the loving parent's head For some loved one by base surroundings led, - Some mother's heart in bitter anguish pained, As hideous vice o'er nobler virtue reigned. In peril stood that faith that heaven adores, By Pilgrims brought to these then dreary shores. Religion's seeds they planted midst their cares, And ever strove protect from all destroying tares ; With hopes and purposes high, guided by sacred aid, With faith in God, their future welfare laid. Crushed were these hopes, and souls with sadness fill, When baneful, hireling minions of tyrannic will, With braggart power, the nation's morals foully stained, Despite all virtue's laws by God himself ordained ; Marked their career with blasphemies and oaths, And every viler art that virtuous manhood loathes ; Turned from their holy use the temples reared for praise, And hushed devotion's voice in bacchanalian lays.
Sad were the scenes, one hundred years ago, That smote the heart's full font and bade its waters flow. The statesman's cares, the patriot's love, the Christian's zeal, With parents' fondest hopes and country's common weal, In sorrow all beheld, ingulfed in artful snares, The direful chaos threat'ning all the varied cares Of social life, of country's love, of reverence divine, Fading midst sorrowing scenes that base malign The intents of Christian life or worth of civil state, Transforming scenes of loveliness to baneful views of hate. Thus, round their daily life pollution's seeds were sown, The withering blight fast gathering till hope was nearly flown ; But hope enkindled new, while faith resumes her sway, Inspiring hearts to strive the tide of ill to stay.
No longer basely bend the humble, servile knee, But cast the shackles off, determined to be free, --
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Free from the viperous coils that firmly round The writhing form of Liberty, snared and bound By fetters of a despot's will. They dared be free, And rise from venal vassalage to sacred liberty ; No glittering bribes allured, no vengeful threats dismayed, Of prison wall or gibbet doom in terror's terms arrayed. They heeded not the power that cast the withering blight ; Their strength was by integrity, and justice was their right.
Long-suffering ills endured, combined with hope deferred, Had roused to strife, the patriot's soul had stirred To light the fires anew at freedom's hallowed fane, That fading hopes inspired might rise and live again ; And thus, one hundred years ago, with purpose just, The noble patriot band discharged their sacred trust, Kindled the beacon-light that lends its cheering rays To lift desponding hearts till pæans rise in praise. Auspicious day, laden with many a sad'ning care, While clouds of ill a threat'ning aspect wear, The lustre of thy dawning no terrors can destroy, The shadow cast in passing but brightens thoughts of joy; Nor gloomy words of oracles can steadfast hearts alarm, The glowing love of liberty gives strength to patriot arm. Firm to their trust, no trembling hand the standard rears, No doubtful, faltering hearts succumb to craven fears; U'nawed by threat'ning woes, they firmly dare to brave The ills of warring strife, to sacred honor save. Thus stood the noble band in freedom's bright array, United heart and hand, as HANCOCK led the way. Unflinchingly their sigil then they trace on honored scroll, And bid the waves of tyranny restrain their onward roll.
The beaming eye of hallowed faith seans midst the struggling throes
That day of joy, by heaven's aid, that conquers freedom's foes. Nerved for the strife, while justice points the way, Refulgent shines the beacon that summons to the fray: O'er hill, through dale, in war's array they come, While loud is heard the cannon peal and roll of stirring drum. In quick response the sons of toil forsake their daily cares, While ermined judge lays by his robe, and freely danger shares. Not Mammon's power in marts of trade can patriot ensnare, While from the sacred desk ascends the hero's heartfelt prayer. Let memory for deeds of worth with admiration glow, And love for those heroic acts, one hundred years ago;
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Let memories past revive, go search historic page, And from the inspiration drawn our highest thoughts engage; Amid a century's changing scenes let fancy freely roam, While on the tablet of the heart engrave the sacred tome, The deeds of valor and of worth recorded time reveals, The wail of anguish that ascends from bloody battle-fields, The matron's heart that suffering bleeds amid her daily cares, The aching breast, the sorrowing look, the anxious maiden wears; While all of lovely innocence, that childhood's days surround, Is clouded by the wail of woe that o'er the land resounds. Return to scenes of sorrowing, where mercy drops a tear, Where famine, want, and suffering in dread array appear, When gloom and dark despondency is gathering thick around, When winter's sufferings bloody trace leave on the frozen ground, When carnage red on battle-fields the demon war has made, And many a loved and manly form in death is lowly laid; Amid the dark sepulchral gloom a halo light we see, Benignant falls its genial rays, -the star of liberty; It guided at the council board; it led the war host well; Its radiance cheered the drooping soul when shading sorrow fell; It nerved the warrior for the strife with talismanic sway, And gilds the victor's laurelled brow with bright, triumphant ray, In holy faith our fathers sought for guidance by its rays, Till freedom raised its oriflamb midst notes of lofty praise. Then garnered be the glorious thoughts that cluster round this day ; While heavenward tend our highest thoughts to reverent homage pay, And whilst the tide of time rolls on in steady flow, Enhancing joys of liberty, expand to stainless glow, And round our country's welfare bind the cordon of our love, To wipe the spots from golden sky by faith in heaven above.
On rapid wings of time one hundred years have flown, While blessings scattered in their path to full fruition grown, Guiding the beaming eye of faith to future glory see, Circling its hallowed light around our land of liberty, Lighting the blissful form of peace with rays of diamond glare, Bright glancing from the coronals that truth and justice wear, While lovelier virtue stands enshrined in rays of azure light, Reflecting in the trusting heart in beams divinely bright, While souls with adoration filled, will carol notes of praise, And love will rise resplendent for worth of other days; And while the altar fires of love will ever brightly glow, The victor's garland wreath for deeds one hundred years ago,
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The laurel bright will never fade that virtue's brow surrounds, Vor notes of adoration cease, while gratitude abounds.
Then garnered be the glorious thoughts that cluster round this day, While heavenward tend our highest thoughts to reverent homage pay.
While memory shall linger by till sun of life has set, To reverence pay for joys we reap, we never can forget; While ever welling from the soul let purest incense flow, In tribute to the patriot worth one hundred years ago. And while with emulation just the joy in hearts expands, For summit height of glory, where country proudly stands, Let not the heart diverted be from following the rays Of that bright star that guided the worthy patriot's ways; And for that noble hero, the van who bravely led, Our hearts will never cease the warmest love to shed, For blessings that surround us to cheer life's journey on. The homage of our hearts we pay to fame of Washington.
For Braintree's honored sage, whose days were nobly spent, And to his life of virtue a brilliant lustre lent, For steadfast patriot worth, unsullied by a stain, A nation's gratitude bestowed will ever bright remain; While ever an admiring world will honored tribute pay, For justice and integrity that ever marked his way; Virtues together blending to grave on shaft of fame, In furrowed lines that ne'er will fade the patriot Adams' nam . Amid this day's rejoicings, just fifty years ago, While happy hearts, exuberant, with gratitude o'erflow, Then comes the silent messenger, the ties of life to sever, As was his last, be ever ours, the cry, "Independence forever!"
COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS.
ELIAS HAYWARD. SAMUEL A. BATES. JOSEPHUS SHAW.
ELISHA THAYER.
ASA T. PRATT.
JAMES T. STEVENS.
N. EUGENE HOLLIS.
MORNING.
THE formal exercises connected with the centennial celebration at Braintree were preceded by the carly ringing of bells and tiring of guns, large and small, and by a very entertaining procession of " Antiques and Horribles."
At half past ten o'clock a procession was formed near the First Congregational Church, under the chief-marshalship of CRANMORE N. WALLACE, Esq., with the following aids : -
JOSEPH H. MELLUS, E. WATSON ARNOLD, AMASA S. THAYER,
GEORGE D. WILLIS,
ALBERT E. AVERY, ALBERT HOBART,
WILLIAM A. Ross, ALBION C. DRINKWATER,
N. R. PROCTER.
The formation of the procession was as follows : -
PLATOON OF POLICE, Horace Faxon, Chief.
BRAINTREE BRASS BAND, Alonzo Bond, Leader. Post ST. " GEN. SYLVANUS THAYER," Grand Army of the Republic, EDWARD L. CURTIS, Commander ; HENRY A. MONK, Adjutant. President of the day, Orator, and Poet. Invited Guests and Committee of Arrangements in carriages. BRAINTREE FIRE DEPARTMENT, JJohn Cavanagh, Chief Engineer. BUTCHER BOY ENGINE, No. 2, Geo. Sumner, Foreman. WEYMOUTH DRUM CORPS, Albert Whitmarsh, Leader. UNION ENGINE, No. 1, Thomas O. Sullivan, Foreman. WAMPATUCK HOOK AND LADDER, Augustus F. Hannaford, Foreman. BRAINTREE DRUM CORPS.
Public Schools in carriages. Citizens in carriages and on foot. Cavalcade.
The procession moved promptly at eleven A. M. through the following streets: Washington, School, Railroad, Ehn, and Washington Streets to the South Village ; thence through Taylor, Tremont, and Washington Streets to the Town Com- mon, where at quarter past twelve p. M. the parade was
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dismissed, and a bountiful collation partaken of in a mam- moth tent on the Common.
On its march through Washington Street, nearly opposite the entrance to School, it passed the residence of the venerable Mrs. Mary White, who had completed her one hundredth year in the month of February before, and was then in the enjoyment of excellent health, and with hardly any percepti- ble impairment of her mental faculties.
AFTERNOON.
At half past one P. M. the officers of the day and invited guests entered the Town Hall, escorted by the chief marshal and aids, and took seats on the platform.
The exercises were then introduced by Elias Hayward, Esq., chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, as follows : -
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF BRAINTREE: -
We are assembled this day to celebrate the one hundredth anniver- sary of our national independence. It is a good day, a glorious day for our Republic, a glad day for old Braintree; and as we engage in its fes- tivities, in the song, the roar of cannon and the sound of trumpet, we will remember Him, the author of our signal prosperity as a nation and town during the past hundred years. But without further remarks I will introduce to you the president of the day, Asa French, Esq.
Mr. French spoke as follows : -
On the 10th of September, 1707, almost sixty-nine years before the Declaration, was established the First Church in what was then known as the "' Middle Precinct," which comprised the present town of Brain- tree. The years which have elapsed since then have witnessed four different meeting-houses on the same spot. In the original building were held the town-meetings of the town during that most interesting period immediately preceding and covering the Revolution. Within its sacred walls were adopted resolutions which, in fervor of patriotism and boldness of expression, were unsurpassed anywhere, and its echoes rang to words of eloquence, such as the men of those days knew how to utter. A line of illustrious and godly ministers occupied the pulpit
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of that church, whose precepts and example exerted a powerful influ- ence for good, which was felt not only in their own day, but will re- main so long as time endures.
In this connection I need only suggest the names of Weld and Niles and Storrs, whose joint pastorates extended over a period of more than one hundred and sixty years. There was a special fitness in selecting the successor of those noble men to participate in these exercises. The Rev. Thomas A. Emerson, minister of the First Parish in Brain- tree, will now conduct the devotional exercises of this occasion.
Rev. Mr. Emerson read appropriate selections from the Scriptures, and offered prayer.
The choir, under the direction of Mr. Marcus A. Perkins, then sang
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" To thee, O country !"
After which the president spoke as follows : -
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE OLD TOWN OF BRAINTREE : -
The nation celebrates to-day the hundredth anniversary of its birth. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, from its northern borders to the Gulf, in every city and town and hamlet all over this broad land, go up the voices of thanksgiving and rejoicing as the country enters upon the second century of its existence. On this auspicious day, let u- hope, sectional animosity, if there be any still lingering, and party strife will be laid aside, and while together we meditate upon the events of the past hundred years, we can all unite in the feeling of satisfaction and pride which such a contemplation produces.
We, fellow-citizens, are assembled to participate in the general rejoicing ; and it was eminently fit and proper that, first of all, we should render thanks to Him who, through all the vicissitudes of our national life, has guarded and sustained us to the present hour. To Him be all the praise!
In the events which ushered in the Revolution, Massachusetts bore a conspicuous part. It was her statesmen who were the earliest to fore- see what must be the result of the arbitrary and tyrannous acts of the mother-country ; and after all peaceable means of redress had been exhausted, and their respectful petitions had been spurned with con- tempo, it was here that the first overt act of resistance was committed. She it was that furnished the leading spirits in the Congress that de- clared the independence of the colonies.
The voices of her oraters were the most eloquent and potent in pronalng the people to assert their rights, and in inspiring them with the courage and fortitude to defend them. On her soil was shed the
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