USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 72
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This truth is obvious to every one who has been a student of the history and growth of our civilized community. And for myself I can truly say, that though from early youth to the present time my life has been one of constant, daily activity in business pursuits, yet have I never lost sight of the fact that all the blessings of social life are given us on one condition, that of intelligence, viz. education - intellectual, moral, and religious. This truth, indelibly stamped upon my mind in early life, has been more and more deeply engraven there by'the obser- vation and reflection of maturer years. And to-day, more than ever before, do I love and respect that time-honored institution estab- lished by our fathers almost at the moment they set foot upon this, our New England soil. I mean the common school. We are all proud of our free public schools, - and justly so ; for they make education co-extensive with the community. They place the children of the rich and the poor on a level, as regards the advantages of intellectual culture. It is education, and it ends in general intelligence, which makes labor reputable and the laborer respected ; a result, which in this country gives the workingmen a place in society, not merely as laborers, -furnishing for others the comforts and luxuries of life, - but as MEN, claiming an equal share in all the domestic, civil, and religious privileges of freemen.
Out of universal education come talent, skill, and enterprise. All the improvements in mechanical and useful arts, whether in greater or smaller operations, come as directly from intelligence as the light from the sun. The pursuits and attainments which constitute, adorn, and elevate civilized life, wherever a sound education is given, grow up as naturally as an oak grows out of an acorn.
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The various and almost infinite improvements in machinery, in implements of husbandry, and all those ingenious inventions which have enriched this part of the country, and helped to build up the pros- perity of other communities, as well as our own, have come from minds which have had an early awakening by being put on scientific trains of thought in the common school.
The late Hon. Edward Everett, when Governor of this State, in a public address on education, exhorted the fathers and mothers of Mas- sachusetts in these words : " Save," said he, " save, spare, scrape, stint, starve, do anything but steal, to educate your children." And I doubt not that every father and mother in this audience heartily responds to this sentiment of Massachusetts' great scholar and statesman. Yes,
" 'T is education forms the common mind."
Domestic training and the public schools are the means of moulding the mind. They give the first impulse and direction to the thoughts and cast to the feelings of the young. They are the springs or fountain- heads of education. From them commences the flow of that stream of virtue and intelligence in youth, which, as we grow to maturity, widens and deeps by the influx of its many tributaries, until it becomes the majestic river, in its onward course to swell the great sea of univer- sal knowledge.
When we leave the public school our education is, as it were, just begun. We have but come into possession of that rudimentary knowl- edge which awakens the mind to a desire for higher attainments, and gives it the power of progress. On leaving the school we enter upon the various occupations of life, its duties and responsibilities. But the mind hungers and thirsts for knowledge, and needs its natural aliment for daily sustenance and growth, as much as the body. The advantages of higher institutions of learning, of colleges and universities, are available to but few. To meet, therefore, this need and demand of the great body of the people, it is necessary that such means and institutions for mental advancement should be established in every community as will not interfere with the daily vocations of life, and such as can be made available at a small cost. Hence have arisen the evening school, the Sunday school, and the town library, accessible to all. We have also the cheap weekly and monthly periodicals, and that great educator, the daily newspaper, all of which are placed within the reach of every class of the commu- nity, and, thanks to our public schools, can be understood and appre-
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ciated by all, - the mechanic, the farmer, and the day-laborer, as well as the professional scholar. We have, also, for the advancement of education, discourses delivered, sermons preached, conventions held, and associations formed. And one of the most popular and important means for the promotion of general intelligence, for preserving from neglect or perversion the knowledge acquired in the public school, for enlarging its boundaries and strengthening its foundations, is the lyceum. Through its lectures, disquisitions, and discussions, the lyceum becomes a powerful educational force. Here, in a few hours and for a small price, we are presented with the results of years of hard study and research, as conducted by the ablest thinkers, investi- gators, and explorers in the vast realms of science, history, and philos- ophy ; and not less so with the practical fruits of personal application and inventive industry which are gleaned by the diligent hand of the artisan.
It is here we are instructed in many of the most important points, in all departments of useful and entertaining knowledge, whether within the range of science, strictly so called, or miscellaneous and useful in- formation. The great leading truths of abstract science are here brought down to their direct and useful applications, in all the varied forms which the actual business of life or the interesting associations of thought prescribe for our guidance.
Discussion and investigation of such themes, it is needless to say, serve equally the purpose of advancing, in degree, the field of human knowledge, and of enlarging" and enriching our sources of true and noble enjoyment.
To the observer of human progress throughout New England, the fact is familiar that the foundation of a village library is often found to be the first of a long succession of onward steps in the general diffu- sion of knowledge, whether popular or scientific. But for the full ac- complishment of the purposes of the benevolent founders of such in- stitutions, the addition to the village library of a permanent course of instructive lectures has always been found indispensable. And wher- ever, in the local history of our communities, the order just referred to has been inverted, and a course of popular lectures on the applications of science has taken the lead, the establishment of a library has always been sure to follow as a result. A judicious course of lectures natur- ally leads the general mind to an earnest desire for opportunities for acquiring more thorough and extensive knowledge on the subjects whose elements have been successfully presented.
In many of our New England villages, accordingly, the village
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library and the lyceum course of lectures have gone on, hand in hand, mutually strengthening and enlarging each other. Hence the New England village of to-day so often proves itself the worthy successor of that whose foundations were laid amid the uncertainties and deficien- cies of earlier times. Nor can we advert to such facts without indul- ging in a glance at what the larger future so surely offers to those who shall succeed us in the cultivation and improvement of all social oppor- tunities of general advancement in enlarging knowledge and its conse- quent advantages.
In these institutions, then, - the library and the lyceum, -which throw open their doors of invitation to the whole community, we have secured to us the definite and practical means of a wide and ample diffusion of knowledge and of intellectual enjoyment.
To secure and make permanent such results, therefore, every town or village needs a building of ample and inviting accommodations, for a library and lyceum hall ; and, my friends, it has been with special reference to this need that the building in which we are now assembled has been erected. And with the confident assurance of your efficient co-operation in advancing the common well-being, it is now thrown open to you, fellow-citizens, for the purposes already mentioned, and placed at your disposal, in whatever form you shall deem most appro- priate for the accomplishment of the purposes to which it is devoted.
As a body of freemen, it is your social home for the enjoyment of every noble privilege which a gracious Providence has made the pecu- liar blessing of our common New England life, as members of the great national community on the grand footing of equal rights and privileges, the most exalted in their character and the most enduring in their stability with which humanity has yet been favored.
In compliance with the arrangements assigned for the occasion, I have little further part to perform than to propose your acceptance of this edifice, as proffered for the purposes already mentioned. May it long continue to benefit you and yours in all the relations of life, - civil, social, and individual ! To all your families may it ever prove, on a larger scale, an efficient means to the wider diffusion of social and intellectual enjoyment, when the coming years of our great national future shall have rendered their accumulated additions to the general well-being of humanity !
My only remaining duty, in further compliance with the arrange- ments of the day, is to surrender to your trust and keeping, Mr. Chair- man, as a representative of your fellow-citizens, in this transaction, the KEYS of this edifice, and, virtually, the control of its future arrange- ments.
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I hereby, accordingly, give and make over to you, sir, personally, these keys, and with them the sole charge and disposal of these halls, in connection with the purposes for which they were erected.
Mr. Wakefield closed by formally presenting the title-deed and keys of the building to the Chairman of the Selectmen, Richard Britton, Esq., who replied as follows : -
SIR : It falls to my lot, in behalf of the Board of Selectmen, to ac- cept, in the name of the town, your munificent gift. The offer made by you to the people of Wakefield, some months since, has received a fulfilment which has far exceeded their expectations. You now place at their disposal a public edifice, unsurpassed for the beauty of its architectural designs, the thoroughness of its workmanship, the conven- ience of its numerous apartments, and the elegance of this spacious and magnificent hall. The citizens of Wakefield appreciate the liber- ality which has so far exceeded your first generous proposals, and they honor the public spirit which has provided for the wants of the future in meeting those of the present. They reciprocate your well-known sentiments upon popular education, and the best means of perpetuating its advantages, after the school-room shall have been exchanged for the scenes of active life. The library, the lyceum, and the scientific lec- ture are but the common school carried into maturer years ; and it is a matter of common congratulation that we now have a building so well adjusted to these and other uses. They think with you, also, that the affairs of municipal bodies can be conducted with economy and efficiency only when suitable and safe offices for public business are established under one roof, and within reach of various public records ; and upon the attainment of these objects, so long deferred and so long needed, they congratulate each other. Recent events, too, have taught us all that the world has not yet passed beyond the need of military organizations, and that it is the part of true wisdom to keep in training a small force of drilled soldiers, competent to meet the nation's emer- gencies when they shall arise ; and those same events have laid upon those who survived the terrific shock of war the most solemn obliga- tions to keep fresh and green the memory of those who fell. These objects, too, which commend themselves equally to our patriotism and our grateful memories, have received abundant and faithful care within these walls. And believe me, sir, all classes of our people are deeply thankful to you for a gift so costly and noble in itself, and so well adapted to these already pressing and growing needs. Look into the
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faces of your neighbors and friends before you : do you not see their gratitude? Look at the faces of these children in the galleries, who for a generation to come will reap the fruits of your beneficence : do you not read their joy and their thanks ?
Sir, we accept this noble structure as a sacred trust. May it long stand a monument of your forethought and generosity ! For yourself, sir, may your prosperity continue ; may your widening plans be ful- filled ; may your life be spared till old age shall come, and then may you be gathered in peace and hope to that better land !
The following dedicatory hymn, by Hon. P. H. Sweetser, was then sung to the tune of America, by the choir and children of the public schools, under the direction of Solon Walton, Esq., the audience rising and joining in the same : -
Thanks to our God belong ! Praise Him with joyful song, Extol his name ! Within this temple's walls, Through its resounding halls, Where'er His mercy falls, His love proclaim !
May this be Learning's home, Where youth and age shall come For precious lore ; For light to shine abroad Along life's darksome road, Brighter than gift bestowed Of shining ore.
May those who congregate For counsel and debate, Within these walls, Exclude all party hate: Loyal to home and state, To truth be consecrate, As duty calls.
A nobler gift we own Than other climes have known, At princes' cost ! God of our fathers' land, Long may this building stand, In purpose wise and grand, Our pride and boast !
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Speed on the happy day When all shall choose the way The wise have trod ; And may this temple be, This offering rich and free, Honored and blest of Thee, The mighty God !
Hon. Lilley Eaton then delivered the following address :-
MR. PRESIDENT, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
Rising to speak, for the first time, from this high position, - as I look around upon this multitude of earnest eyes and expectant coun- tenances, this throng of the youth and beauty, the fashion and chivalry, the rank and file of our village and its environs, and find myself stand- ing within these spacious and elaborately finished walls, beneath this lofty ceiling, which is bright and radiant with iridescent and artistic taste and lustre, and realize that I am in the presence of the learned, the honorable, the reverend, the venerable, - among statesmen, philos- ophers, and poets ; and when I call to mind the interesting and elo- quent speeches, and animating music, to which we have just been listening, and have respect, in anticipation, to the flowing verse and other exercises that are still to come, with hallowed memories of the sainted and majestic character of him whose honored birthday this is, mingling with other stirring suggestions, - although my breast swells with the excitement and inspiration of the occasion, and emotions too big for my utterance seem welling up within me ; yet, in view of all the attendant circumstances, I find myself totally unable to command lan- guage with which to express my emotions, or suited to meet the just expectations of this audience. For here let me say, that I occupy this position, not from any supposed peculiar ability to discharge its duty, but by the favor of the Committee of Arrangements, who in this case, having more regard to age than to talent, have thought that, because I have been somewhat closely identified with the history and progress of the town for the last half-century, it was therefore proper that I should have a place in the programme of exercises on this interesting and crowning occasion ; and in an unguarded moment I assented to the arrangement. I am consoled, however, with the reflection, that what- ever I may lack has already been abundantly supplied by those who have preceded me, and will be more than made up by those who are to follow.
Mr. President, we have heard, in the report of the Building Commit-
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tee, as read by their Secretary, a brief history of the enterprise which culminates in this day's celebration. From that report we learn that our illustrious fellow-citizen, who, some three years ago, proposed to erect, at his own expense, a building suitable for municipal, scientific, and other purposes, and would present the same, with a lot of land, to the town of Wakefield, has most honorably and overflowingly redeemed his promise, and more than met the most sanguine expectations of all.
We have now witnessed, with pleasing and graceful ceremonies, the conveyance of this splendid property to the town of Wakefield. This beautiful civic temple, with its eligible site and all its numerous, ample, and elegant conveniences, is now all our own. The cost and intrinsic value of the property considerably exceed what the whole real and personal estate of all the inhabitants of the town was appraised at by the town assessors within my own recollection; and it comes to the town the free gift of the munificent donor.
We have listened, with much interest and delight, to the eloquent words, the kindly wishes, and the valuable suggestions with which the donor has accompanied the delivery of the title-deed and keys of the premises to the possession and custody of the town authorities ; we have highly enjoyed the pleasant and successful manner in which the ceremony of the reception thereof has been performed by the chairman of the Board of Selectmen. And we, the people, are now here to ratify the official acceptance, and to signify for ourselves our warmest grati- tude for this rich and noble present ; we are here to consecrate this building, with its appurtenances, to the important objects of its erec- tion ; and with invocations and petitions, with music and poetry, with sentiment and song, to express our joyful congratulations and thanks- giving, and to render to Heaven the tribute of our sincere and devout acknowledgments for the bestowal of that influence that induced our friend to make this princely donation.
We accept, with modest diffidence and pleasure, the very compli- mentary allusions of the donor to the character and enterprise of his adopted fellow-citizens ; we concur most sincerely with him in his high appreciation of the value and importance, to the rising generation, of education, and an early training in the practical principles of science and art, and the higher principles of morality and virtue, in order to secure an intelligent, moral, skilful, successful, and happy community ; and we fully agree with him in his opinion of the adaptedness of com- mon schools, free libraries, and public, scientific, and moral lectures, to the promotion of such education and training. We rejoice, there - fore, that our friend, who has heretofore contributed to the encour-
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agement of our schools, has now given this further and signal proof of the sincerity of his convictions, by furnishing such ample arrangements for the public library, public lectures, and other muni- cipal and social purposes, as that now we have accommodation for an indefinite increase of books, maps, pictures, and works of art, and lec- ture room sufficient for the tallest orators.
Mr. President, I shall not attempt to give a particular, technical description of this fine building and all its numerous accommodations ; it is not necessary to do so ; for you have seen it and it speaks for it- self. But I will refer briefly to some of its more important subdivisions and conveniences, and the purposes to which we would consecrate them.
Behold this beautiful and capacious municipal, civic Hall, with its wide area, its extensive galleries, its comfortable and substantial set- tees, its broad and commanding forum, its adjacent corridors and ante- rooms, its lofty canopy, its elaborate and æsthetic finish, and its capa- city for holding its thousands !
The purposes to which we trust this fine room will ever be devoted are municipal, scientific, patriotic, industrial, charitable, social, and moral. Here let the citizens assemble, exercise the right of franchise, transact their municipal business, discuss important local and public questions, and proclaim the principles of American liberty, indepen- dence, and union. Here let the people come to listen to the eloquent and gifted, who shall here pour forth, from time to time, the treasures of knowledge, of science, and of wisdom. Here may the muses delight to resort, and chant the melodious strains of music and poetry. Here may the true spirit of patriotism, of equity, and of philanthropy ever reign and excite. Here upon this stage may our rising youth, catching the inspiration of the place, be trained in those practices of public speaking and debate that shall enable them, in subsequent life, at home or elsewhere, to defend the right with eloquent ability, in what- ever exigency may arise. And may this costly and excellent Hall, now clean and nice, never be desecrated by any low, rude, or immoral occu- pation, but be carefully preserved in its present purity and elegance.
Below and under this main hall, on either side of the Ionic Hall, with its capital-crowned pillars and tessellated pavement, are other rooms, designed for various important public and useful purposes. On the one side, in front, are rooms for town officers, large, light, and con- venient, with fire-proof safety vaults to protect the municipal records and treasures. On the same side, in the rear, is a large room, con- venient for many civic purposes, sometimes called the court-room,
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where, we trust, whenever it shall be used as such, the scales of justice in the hands of those whose sacred ermine shall be unsullied, will ever give that "just weight which is the delight of the Lord." On the other side of the Ionic Hall, in front, is the Library Room, of ample size, fitted up with much cost, convenience, and elegance, and with especial reference to providing for a large increase of books, the funds for which are already secured ; where the "Beebe Town Library," so named from a munificent patron, is to be installed, and where the foun- tains of knowledge, bursting forth from ten thousand springs, shall ever flow with refreshing and reviving influences. On the same side, in the rear, is the Soldiers' Memorial Hall, to be decorated and made interesting with tablets of marble, inscriptions, busts, medallions, por- traits, trophies, and other mementoes of the heroes, dead and living, who were connected with the Union army in the late War of the Rebel- lion. These decorations, as yet incomplete, are being furnished from the voluntary contributions of the loyal citizens, and are especially designed to render this hall a place where the names and the memory and the laurels of those young warriors of our town who died for their country and for freedom, shall be kept forever fresh and green ; and where our children and children's children and their successors shall early learn to love patriotism and valor, and to hate cowardice and treason. Above this main hall are rooms for our military bul- wark, where our guardsmen shall deposit their arms, and equipments and where our young men shall meet to stir up one another's brave minds in love of country and of liberty, learn the science of war, and be trained in those exercises that shall qualify and enable them to do in the future as they have repeatedly done in the past, viz. rally at a moment's notice, don their armor, and march to the defence of their country. These military rooms are to be fitted up and furnished in tasty and convenient style from funds generously given by the foster- father of the Richardson Light Guard, the "beloved physician " who has long been a sincere friend and liberal patron of that excellent and popular corps.
Above also, and adjoining the military rooms, is the social Banquet Hall, roomy and commodious, which we hope will ever be open to all the gatherings of friendship and philanthropy, to all innocent festive occasions, and all useful meetings for which it is adapted.
And so (without further detail) this whole edifice, with all its many suitable and beautiful appurtenances and belongings, including the latest and most approved modes of heating and warming, is now
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donated, conveyed, and consecrated to be from henceforth for the free use of the inhabitants of Wakefield for all useful purposes. May we who are the fortunate recipients of this rich gift, and our successors, ever show our gratitude .therefor, and our appreciation of its value, by a wise improvement of its facilities.
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