USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > History of the town of Franklin, Mass., from its settlement to the completion of its first century > Part 19
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You have also referred to me in connection with the great rural and industrial interests of our land, the importance of which I fully realize.
When I consider the vast extent of our country - embracing almost every variety of soil and climate, capable of producing almost all the various fruits of the habitable globe, its rapidly-in- creasing population, destined, according to the best estimate, to reach more than a hundred millions of souls, before some who now hear me shall be carried to their graves, and that all of these are to be fed from our soil, I am conscious of the importance of the mission I have assumed. Mr. President, I am very fond of every- thing which pertains to rural life and rural improvement. I can- not remember the time when I did not love the cultivation of the soil. I am very fond of fruits and flowers - those overflowings of God's bounty to mankind, and I love to be remembered as one who in a long life of labor and of love has done something to im- prove and adorn mother earth, something which shall contribute to the comfort and happiness of those who are to follow us, some- thing that shall live when I have passed away, and pardon me for saying that I fondly cherish the hope that I may be remembered in many a beautiful tree, many a luscious fruit, many a lovely flower when I am sleeping in the dust. Mr. President, there is another allusion in your sentiment which touches me more ten- derly, and to which I am most happy to respond, and I plead guilty to the soft impeachment of having carried off some of the choicest treasures of Franklin, and I cannot refrain from thus publicly acknowledging the deep sense of gratitude I owe her for the two fair daughters - for to my eyes they seemed the fairest of the fair - wives who have been the solace and comfort of my life, and the pride, joy and blessing of my household. If a virtuous woman is far above the price of rubies- surely I have been doubly blest -rich indeed by the inheritance of their loves.
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for the kind manner in which you have received my remarks, and I give you as my sentiment on the occasion - the town of Franklin. May it prosper in the future as in the past - rising higher and higher in the scale of human attainments, and, like Franklin himself, be the almoner of countless blessings to the world.
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9. Dr. Emmons' Ministry.
The response from Rev. Jacob Ide, Jr., of Mansfield, and grandson of the venerable divine of Franklin, showed that the shrewdness and quick wit of the Emmons' stock has not deterio- rated at all in its second remove. Not even the calm and clear- eyed self-possession of the paternal character could (h) Ide its flashings, as the following report of his speech will show : -
The great difference between the past and the present is made strikingly apparent by one single fact. Formerly we were sup- posed to gain our ideas of things by examining complete speci- mens ; but now we are furnished with only a small sample. It is in accordance with this custom, I suppose, that I am placed on exhibition here as a relic of Dr. Emmons' ministry, and am ex- pected to represent it by contrast.
I had hoped that Edison would have perfected his phonograph so that it could have been placed upon Dr. Emmons' tombstone and he could have spoken for himself. I confess, sir, that I am proud of my grandfather ; but I am afraid, if he were here to-day, that he would not be willing to reciprocate the compliment. And vet it is a good thing to have a great man for your grandfather, for when you are overcome by a sense of your own littleness, you can comfort yourself with the hope of becoming great hereafter through the irresistible force of heredity. Dr. Emmons' ministry extended over more than half a century. Mine has not yet reached its first quarter. Who knows, sir, what I may be able to achieve if I am permitted to run the ministerial race as long as he did ? It is the home-stretch, sir, that tells the story.
Moreover, I am not a little comforted when I think how few there are who would feel like putting on the cocked hat, or ac- knowledge themselves big enough to fill out that well-remembered suit of small clothes. If we would reproduce Dr. Emmons we must find a head like his -a battery of thought sending out startling shocks for limp theologians : a heart like his-all aflame with loyalty to truth and right ; a body like his - in subjection to the higher impulses of his nature. as if it were indeed a temple of the Holy Ghost.
Dr. Emmons' ministry must certainly be regarded as a success- ful ministry, for he made his people do as he pleased. If that be not a successful ministry, I do not know what is. I know of a large number of ministers who would like to succeed in that same way, and if I thought that putting on a cocked hat and a suit of small clothes would make my people " wheel into line " as his did, I would don them at once. But I feel sad to think how much be- sides the externals would be lacking in my case.
Dr. Emmons' ministry was acknowledged to be an intellectual
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ministry. They who went up to that old church on the Sabbath found a minister in it who did his own thinking. And he did much to make his hearers close and independent thinkers. He made them think to some purpose - what they were, where they were. and where they were going. He subjected them to an immense pressure on the brain. From that high pulpit he fired the solid truth down through their heads into their hearts. He did not arrest attention by
"Words of learned length and thundering sound,"
but by pure thoughts in pure, simple Saxon terms. His Sabbath sermon was the sensation of the week. Men carried home from the sanctuary something that was not only worth remembering, but something that was not easy to forget. He was a penetrating preacher. He had sharp points to his arguments. He was an author that had authority. He addressed the understanding and confidently appealed to the reason of his hearers, and Franklin may well commemorate to-day the educational forces which Dr. Emmons originated and projected.
Dr. Emmons' ministry was also a discriminating ministry. He brought into sharp outline the difference between truth and error. He was never guilty of confounding the finite with the infinite, never caught in the absurd experiment of pushing the latter into the limits of the former. He was reverently conscious of the distance between the creature and the Creator, and never so far forgot himself as to think that he was the Creator and God the creature. His theology was a system, not a speculative jumble. His argu- ments were like express-trains going from premise to conclusion without stopping at any way-stations. No one who started with him on his trains of reasoning ever found himself furnished with a ticket for one place and left at another.
But Dr. Emmons' ministry was, best of all, fearless, conscien- tions and scriptural. He received the message which came from heaven as the best that could be obtained and the only one needed. He never thought it any part of his duty to apologize for the divine utterances. He never tried to revise the statutes of the Almighty. A " thus saith the Lord" was to him the end of all controversy. Whenever he thought it his duty to fire a hot shot into the camp of error, he sent it right along without stopping to cool it. He made no allowance for shrinkage in such terms as eternal and everlasting, but had perfect confidence that the divine measurements would hold out under all circumstances. He re- joiced in the fact that God rules the universe and considered it the noblest attitude of men to bow at once to the declared will of God. I am thoroughly convinced, sir, that the great secret of his power was his fidelity to the truth. He received it humbly and obedi-
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. ently, and labored with his might to induce others to receive it and obey it in the same spirit.
When I see the sliding theological scale of modern ministers - when I see them slipping from one position to another, uncertain where they are - now here, now there, oftenest nowhere - I am moved to wish them all gathered around the tombstone of Dr. Emmons, where, through perfected phonograph placed upon it, they could listen to the well-remembered tones of the old preacher as he should repeat those familiar words of a greater preacher - "Make full proof of thy ministry. Meditate upon these things. Give thyself wholly to them. Take heed to thyself and to thy doctrine - that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand !"
10. The Present Ministry of Franklin.
The lively reply of Rev. E. A. Rand, just sundering his connec- tion with the Congregational church as its acting pastor, has also to our regret passed into the great company of the unwritten.
11. Horace Mann : a native of Franklin and first Secretary of the Board of Education of Massachusetts.
Prof. B. Pickman Mann, of Cambridge, youngest son of Hon. Horace Mann, responded : -
MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : The honor in which the memory of my father is held cannot but be gratifying to me. If I seek to discover the cause of this honorable remembrance, I find it in the recognition of the work which my father did, and of the spirit which animated him in his work. That work had both a phy- sical and a spiritual side to it. The physical work need never to be done again, but the same spirit will ever find an opportunity for its exercise. I may be pardoned, then, if I endeavor to describe the spirit in which my father worked.
As a lawyer, he held to the principle that it is never right to defend the wrong. Dissenting vehemently from the opinion of Lord Brougham, that a lawyer must sacrifice himself, his country, nay even honor and justice itself, if need be, for the defense of his client, he held that an advocate loses his highest power when he loses the conscious conviction that he is contending for the truth.
As a public officer he showed a spirit which I cannot better de- scribe than by qnoting two passages from his private journal ; one written when appointed Secretary of the Board of Education (June 10th, 1837) : " I now stand in a new relation to the world. Hence- forth, as long as I hold this office, I devote myself to the supremest welfare of mankind upon earth." The other, written April 18th, 1838, " The Legislature have fixed my salary, as Secretary of
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the board, at $1,500 ; which will probably leave about $500 for my ordinary expenses and services, after defraying the extraordinary expenses. Well, one thing is certain, if I live and have my health, I will berevenged on them. I will do them more than $1,500 worth of good.
As a citizen he held that no form of government is so bad as a republic, if the members are not educated morally as well as intel- lectually. And as an educator he sought, more than has yet been recognized generally, to promote that moral education which is now so sadly behindhand in our community.
12. The Public Schools of Franklin.
Rev. S. W. Squires, of the School Committee, gave an enthusi- astic appeal for popular education, which we cannot produce.
13. Dr. Oliver Dean and Higher Education.
Rev. Dr. Chambre, pastor of Grace church, and President of the Trustees of the Dean Academy, was most appropriately called upon to respond. After a brief acknowledgment of his interest in the occasion, Dr. Chambre proceeded : -
Dr. Dean was born in Franklin in 1783. This was only five years after the incorporation of the town, whose completed hun- dred years of legal existence we celebrate to-day. His childhood, and youth, and early manhood, were thus spent amid the toils and roughness of a new country and sparse population. To this, in a large measure, we attribute the ruggedness of character for which he was so noticeable, his straightforward frankness and direct honesty of speech and purpose. Then, his early life was spent under the ministry of Dr. Emmons - that Nestor of the pulpit of New England in other days. Here again we detect causes which must have operated powerfully in developing the strength of will and noble integrity which always characterized Dr. Dean. Al- though never, at least from a very youthful period, fully sympa- thising with Dr. Emmons theologically, and at length asserting his doctrinal disagreement by word and action, Dr. Dean cherished the memory of Dr. Emmons, and spoke in the most affectionate and respectful terms of his life and labors to the last.
In the providence of God, Dr. Dean was able to practice his pro- fession only eight years. He was compelled to relinquish it then, owing to shattered health, so shattered that his friends despaired of his life. But he lived to the ripe old age of 88. He was not an idler. Appointed successively to the superintendency of the Medway cotton factory, and the Amoskeag Manufacturing Com- pany, he became at last extensively identified with manufacturing interests, and accumulated a large fortune. This he devoted in
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great part to the promotion of what was nearest to his heart, the religion of Jesus Christ and the education of youth. He was sub- stantially the founder and principal support of the Universalist parish of this town. His gifts to that parish reach nearly $60,000. To him the parish is almost wholly indebted for its present mag- nificent church. The noble and costly building which bears his honored name, " Dean Academy," is nearly altogether the outflow of his wise beneficence. To that institution, from first to last, he devoted between $200,000 and $300,000, that it might be well es- tablished, and be a perpetually increasing blessing to the youth of this country. He deeply felt that education must be as thorough and complete as possible, if the integrity and glory of a republic should be maintained. He recognized that institutions of a higher grade were indispensable to the highest interests and usefulness of our public school system. This, unquestionably, is true. The public schools of this town are stronger and better because Dean Academy is here ; just as, all over this broad land, the public schools; and all subordinate schools, are better and stronger be- cause of the influence exerted upon them by the colleges and uni- versities.
Dr. Dean did not, however, confine himself to the church here, or to Dean Academy. He gave about $100,000 to Tufts College. He gave generously to the public library of this town, and to that of Medway. He gave largely and wisely in various directions, and did not neglect the relatives who had claims on his heart and purse.
Not to delay, Mr. President, I think that, perhaps, sufficient has been said to rank Dr. Dean as a public benefactor, and to en- title his name to go down the history of Franklin side by side with the man you all delight to honor, who was also his friend and con- temporary. Dr. Dean's was a strong, noble, honest and withal a genial and loving character. Too near, it may be, to be fully appreciated now, I do not doubt that as the years pass he will be more and more recognized and revered as one of the sons of Franklin, of whom she will be forever proudest.
14. Franklin's Educated and Professional Men.
Rev. Albert M. Richardson, who had traveled from Lawrence, Kansas, on purpose to attend the centennial of his native town. most properly stood forth as the representative of this large class of our Alumni, and he did his part well. We are able to give his speech entire : -
MR. PRESIDENT : I can hardly understand why one of the least of all the honored class referred to in this sentiment should have been selected to respond, unless it is to be accounted for on the principle that " distance lends enchantment to the view." Having
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traveled over fifteen hundred miles, and traversed twelve States, that I might be present on this memorable occasion, I suppose the committee felt that they must take some notice of Western pluck and perseverance. At any rate I am here, and I am glad to be here. You have been pleased, sir, to refer to Kansas as "the garden of the West." Why, sir, it is entirely too large for gar- dening purposes. It would take in all New England, and leave a broad margin for raising garden sauce outside. As a specimen of Kansas gardening, I have seen a field of wheat containing 2,800 acres. I met a gentleman last week on the cars, from the Solo- mon Valley, who told me he had just visited a field there which contained 3,600 acres, all ready for the reapers. That field, at a low estimate, will yield 75,000 bushels. A nice garden that, sir ! I doubt whether Eden itself could boast of a bigger crop. Ac- cording to the report of the commissioner of agriculture, Kansas has this year 1,522,787 acres in wheat, which will yield in the neighborhood of thirty million bushels. Her fields of maize are counted by the square mile ; her fruit crop last year was valued at. nearly three million dollars.
So much for our garden. Allow me to add that 60,000 people have come into Kansas within the last four months, to help us cul- tivate it, and they have taken possession of over one million acres. of land. They came from the Eastern, Middle and Western States, and from over the sea. Kansas is no longer " bleeding, droughty, famine-smitten and locust-eaten." She is the Canaan of the West -the Land of Promise, whither the tribes go up to possess her. Kansas is planted with New England seed corn, and very prolific has it proved in that virgin soil. It has brought forth fruit an hundred fold.
The first settlers of that State were from old Massachusetts - God bless her ! The same principles that brought the Pilgrims to. Plymouth in the Mayflower, sent their descendants to Kansas in 1853 to establish civil and religious freedom.
The historic city of Lawrence - baptized in fire and blood - with its 10.000 inhabitants, its churches, schools and State Uni- versity - beautiful for situation - bears the honored name of Amos A. Lawrence, while its principal street is named Massachu- setts. Kansas, sir, is thoroughly impregnated with New England principles and ideas, and (I ought to add) she has some ideas of her own besides. She has had representatives from Franklin, like nearly every other place of importance, almost from the first. The Leonards were there at an early day. Also Dr. Amory Hunting, whose family still resides there. Luther Dean followed, and others whom I have not time to name. Indeed, sir. when I travel in the West, I meet the sons and daughters of Franklin pressing west- ward. in obedience to Horace Greeley's memorable injunction.
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And I have met so many abroad that I felt it my duty to come back, on this Centennial year, and see if there was anybody left. behind. And I assure you, sir, I am surprised to see what a crowd you can muster, still, of genuine natives ; you have verified the Scripture statement, "There is that scattereth, and yet in- creaseth." The more you send abroad, the faster you seem to multiply at home - proving that the remark, attributed to Daniel Webster, respecting New Hampshire is equally applicable to cen- tury old Franklin, viz. : It is a good place to raise men ! It is, perhaps, hardly in good taste for me to speak in this presence of the quality of this product of my native soil. I will say this much, however - I doubt whether any town of its size in this Common- wealth can show a better record of intelligent, educated and useful men (and women, too,) than Franklin. More than a score have entered the Christian ministry since my recollection, and are prov- ing themselves workmen that need not be ashamed of their work. Several have been missionaries in our own and in foreign lands. The medical and legal professions, too, have been largely and well represented by her sons. The intellectual pabulum dealt out in Franklin pulpit from the days of Dr. Emmons until now has been of the most solid and substantial character, and in those early times it was largely reinforced, stimulated and given a practical direction by the efficient training received at the old Academy, of which my honored friend and teacher - the orator of the day - Rev. Dr. Blake, was the first preceptor. A goodly company of young men owed their entrance upon. and success in a professional life, to instructions received within those hallowed walls from the lips of Dr. Blake and his successors.
Allow me, in closing these rambling remarks, to add that Dr. Franklin builded better than he knew, when, in reply to the sug- gestion of a friend, that a bell for the church might be an accept- able present, he replied that " If the good people of Franklin were the sort of folk he took them to be, they were more fond of sense than sound," and sent them book's instead of a bell. That library was kept, in my boyhood, in my father's house, and to its perusal I was indebted for a taste for reading and a thirst for knowledge. But, sir, while books are better than bells, they also make more noise in the world. Brains are sure to be heard from ; and Frank- lin has a son of whose authorship she may well be proud. but of whom it does not become me to speak in this presence. His books for the young are read on both sides of the sea. In short, sir, if the next century does as well as the past, Franklin will be " no mean city." Her educated and professional men and women will be among the brightest lights in the firmament of literature, and her second centennial will probably usher in the millennium. So mote it be.
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15. Our Next Centennial.
Rev. W. M. Thayer replied with the following original CENTENNIAL DREAM.
I dreamed - and yet not all a dream (For dreams are airy things, When Reason folds its restless powers, And Fancy spreads her wings,) That for a hundred years I slept, A nap of wondrous date, And woke amid the clang of bells In nineteen seventy-eight.
The same old sun in grandeur bore The flaming torch on high; The same fair earth from flowery shrine Bore incense to the sky. Sweet Venus with the pretty maids Was brilliant as of old;
The same still night upon her breast Wore studs of burnished gold.
All else how changed! Strange mystic sight That met my wandering view ! Was this illusion's fatal cheat ? All things so strangely new! Amazed I stood! spell-bound I looked And viewed the picture o'er! And looked again! Could this be true ? And wondered more and more.
Is this the town where I was born ? And now a city fair! Three miles in length, and fifty bells All ringing in the air. What Midas-touch hath wrought this change ? What means this fairy view ? Ye gods that love mysterious things, Come, tell me, is this true ?
Fleet coursers o'er the pavements flew ; The horse-cars came and went; A mighty crowd surged to and fro On joyons mission bent ; And flags with groups of sixty stars Waved from the spires that rose; And cannon pealed two hundred guns, From day-dawn to its close.
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The City Hall on yonder height Stood grandly in that hour; Five thousand souls could sit and list Beneath its lofty tower. I bent my steps to view it o'er With gems of art replete, And found myself bewildered quite And lost on Alpine street.
In time I reached the City Hall, Of structures seen the crown; I found my great-great-great-grandson Was mayor of the town; His aldermen around him stood Dressed in official rig; The mayor was a little man, The aldermen were big.
Within the spacious hall select, Arrayed by ladies fair, A museum of ancient things Drew crowds of people there. A mass of relics, rare and old, Around, above, below; They said that all of these were used A hundred years ago.
The first that caught my startled gaze, Most curious relic yet ! Just as it is for all the world, Our dear old town-house set; And men were making fun of things That women wore so queer. I saw the ladies laughing o'er The hat I use this year.
I could not tell the reason why They scanned it o'er and o'er, For queerest of all things to me, Were what the women wore. Such hats upon their dainty heads, Enough to fright a beau ! And yet they said "that hat was worn A hundred years ago!"
Just then the city bells rang out; Some fifty bells or more ; The band struck up Centennial march Amid the cannon's roar;
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The setting sun threw back his joy In every golden beam; The grandeur awed my soul; I woke And lo! it was a dream.
16. Franklin's earliest manufactures.
The response of Davis Thayer, one of the leading manufac- turers of the town, and representing the oldest straw house in the State, will be found substantially in the account of the industries. of the town already given.
17. The Press.
J. M. Stewart of the Franklin Register replied briefly, as the time was short : -
MR. PRESIDENT : You allow me eight minutes in which to tell what I know about the Press. Ample time, sir ; although I must resort to one of the methods of my trade and " boil down" my paragraphs.
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