USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Falmouth > The celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts, June 15, 1886 > Part 7
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and it appeared, according to the evidence, that Brother Rowley was so far guilty as to have given offense, and accordingly was suspended from the communion in special ordinances until satisfaction shall be given." To show that the church at that time was not altogether lacking in charity, it may be mentioned that a few weeks later, different repre- sentations being made in the defence, this vote of suspension was rescinded, and Brother Rowley was restored to good standing. Henry Lincoln was ordained in January, 1790, and continued in office until 1823. Mr. Lincoln was a man of cultivated intellect and refined character and manners. The whole town was his parish. He was gifted in speech, and words flowed smoothly from his tongue. He exercised a large influence, not only among his own people, but in all the surrounding neighborhood. He was a well-read theologian. In the year 1816 the church adopted a confession of faith, consisting of twenty-four articles, composed of the strongest kind of theological meat. The last three years of Mr. Lincoln's ministry were unhappily clouded with dissension resulting from difficulties within the church ; but the council which dismissed him, in 1823, bore strong testimony to his piety and fidelity, and it cannot be doubted that his was, on the whole, a useful and honorable ministry. He was followed by Benjamin Woodbury, who was ordained in June, 1824. Mr. Wood- bury's pastorate covered nine years. There are elderly persons who remember the man distinctly and have, doubtless, a more definite idea of him than I have. I shall say, judging simply from the record, that he was an industrious and orderly man, given to organization, and very good for executive work. Only a month after his settle- ment, there was a committee chosen to examine the church records
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and report thereon, and also to inquire into the expediency of alter- ing the articles of faith. A meeting was called about the same time to establish a Sunday-school, and an elaborate organization, called the Sabbath-school Union of Falmouth, was formed. In 1830 a tem- perance committee was appointed, and strong temperance resolutions were passed, making the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage a disqualification for church membership. Mr. Woodbury was suc- ceeded by Josiah Bent, whose ministry of three years was in all re- spects harmonious and fruitful. Henry B. Hooker was settled in November, 1837. For all the old residents here there is no need that I should sketch Dr. Hooker's ministry, the memory of the man is still so fresh among us. It seems only the other day that he was here, and we can still in fancy see his genial and pleasant face, and hear the hearty ring of his voice. His ministry of twenty years was a remarkably happy and effective one. He was a thoroughly wide- awake man, warmly sympathetic in his feelings, ready in speech, apt in personal address, and earnestly devoted to the work of building up the kingdom of his Divine Master. William Bates, who followed him, was a good man and true, a Christian gentleman and scholar. He died in the harness, after a service of less than two years, over- come by a mysterious, wasting and agonizing disease. James P. Kimball, whose pastorate was the last finished one, was installed in June, 1860, and was dismissed to take charge of other work in 1870. His ministry was thoroughly a success, and resulted in a large accession to the church. Mr. Kimball was a genial man, full of sociability, broad and catholic in his sympathies, and a respectable preacher. Many remember the pleasure we had in his latest visits, continuing
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even after he was disabled by sore illness, and the tender sorrow with which we received the tidings of his sudden passing away. Many other names might be added to these that have been men- tioned. Other churches, besides the old original one, can show an honorable roll. I do not claim that ministers are any better than other men, or deserve any exceptional or pre-eminent credit for their work ; but I do say that, in the history of Falmouth, they have done their full share in the development of the town, and that their influ- ence has been one of the prominent agencies in shaping its education, in establishing its good morals, in promoting its orderliness and thrift, and in securing for it, what we trust it will never cease to possess, a sound intellectual and religious character.
The common schools, the priceless gift of the fathers, and the object of their fostering care-May they more and more fully become the chief glory and support of our free institutions.
Response was to have been given by Charles L. Hunt, Superin- tendent of Schools.
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THE BI-CENTENNIAL MUSEUM.
In preparing for our Bi-centennial Celebration, it was thought appropriate to supplement the other exercises of the occasion with an exhibition of articles of historic interest and relics of by-gone days. Accordingly, a committee was chosen to have the matter in charge, and the vestry of the First Congregational church, the original church of the town, was secured as an appropriate place of exhibition. The museum was open from the morning of the 15th to the evening of the 16th, and was visited by hundreds of interested spectators. To the articles of historic interest were added many curiosities, which had been collected by inhabitants of the town in this and foreign coun- tries. A partial list of articles is given, as follows :-
DR. C. N. THAYER
Exhibited a primer that was used in the town schools over two hundred years ago ;
A steel looking-glass, used by the early settlers in this country ;
A powder-horn, carried in the Revolutionary war, the old mark on the end, 1776;
Old Continental paper money ;
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Newspaper, dated 1794; George Washington's name signed to an Act passed by Congress, changing the flag of the United States ; A cannon ball fired from the Nimrod upon the town in 1812 ;
Indian bow and arrows, hatchet, chisel, pestle, mortar, ladle, and pieces of Mayflower.
MRS. R. P. GIFFORD
Collected clock, wooden gallon measure, silk dress, vandyke, bed-spread, pin-balls, needle-book, pocket-book, samplers, glass dishes, China cups and saucers, Britannia tea-pot, doll, newspapers, school books, etc., etc.
CAPT. CALEB O. HAMBLIN
Collected one cast-iron mould for running pewter spoons, owned by Mr. T. B. Landers ;
Two paintings, owned by R. T. Hill,-one a portrait of Mr. David Gifford ; the other a flower piece.
He also exhibited one porcupine fish, a case of shells, a cork cane with silver head, bearing the date of 1816, and several small articles belonging to himself.
MRS. HELEN A. NYE
of North Falmouth, loaned the following :-
A very ancient lantern, of more than 100 years, burning a tallow candle of olden style ;
Several articles of China and glass ware-a finger-bowl, several very small silver teaspoons ; a large silver spoon, presented to her father (who, if living, would be 105 years of age), from his grand- father, Daniel Butler of Falmouth, for whom he was named ;
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A bed-quilt, made by her mother at the age of 12 years (if living now, would be 96) ; ear-rings, very large ; bridal slippers, worn almost 100 years ago ; shoe buckles ;
A very curious earthern platter ;
Ancient coffee-urn, and milk pitcher ;
Punch-bowl, brought over by the first settlers ;
A very, very ancient silver watch, and coin ;
A spoon mould ;
A book published in 1774, and other articles.
From F. A. NYE :-
Pair saddle-bags, 150 years old ;
A piece of the frigate Constitution ; Part of an Indian Bible ;
An assagai, or spear used by the Kaffirs of South Africa ;
Specimen of shark's teeth, from Chisholm's Island, South Car- olina.
From CAPT. HIRAM NYE :-
A large seal skin ; a pair of walrus tusks ;
A large white polar bear skin ; a baby white polar bear skin ; Esquimaux seal skin pants ;
Three pairs of Esquimaux seal skin mittens ;
Esquimaux fur overshirt and hood ; A pair of ladies' fur dancing-shoes ; A pair of men's Esquimaux fur boots. From MRS. E. W. NYE :-
David Nye's flint-lock gun, with bayonet, complete, used in the war of 1812;
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200TH ANNIVERSARY.
Colonel David Nye's sword ;
The Nye coat-of-arms.
From MRS. F. D. HANDY :- Colonel William Swift's commission and epaulets.
From CAPT. SAMUEL ELDRED :- 3 pieces of Continental money, 1775 ; II deeds, dated from 1730 to 1790 ; Samuel Eldred's sword.
From F. W. ADAMS :- A flax hetchell ; a worsted comb ; A unicorn's horn ; an ancient watch ; A currency bill of 1730.
From MRS. ALBERT TOBEY :-
An ancient doll and shoe.
From JOSEPH WING :-
The gun with which Enoch Stove shot the last wolf in Falmouth woods.
From J. D. WINSLOW :- A homespun linen tablecloth, over 150 years old ; A plate, 125 years old ; a Chinese god ; Sugar-bowl, cream-pitcher and water-pot, 100 years old. MISS LYDIA G. ROBINSON
Collected an hour-glass, 150 years old ; A string of gold beads, worn 100 years ago ; One piece of worsted work, bought by John Robinson in 1689 ; One pair of velvet knee-breeches, worn 150 years ago ;
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One earthen strainer, once owned by "Aunt" Jennie Butler, 150 years old ;
China dishes, from 50 to 100 years old ;
Fine needle-work, wrought 75 years ago ;
Bedquilts, made from 75 to 100 years ago ;
Quadrant, taken by Captain Dimmick from the British frigate Retaliaton in Tarpaulin Cove, captured in 1814.
I13 COPY OF THE ORIGINAL BILL OF THE BELL ON FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
200TH ANNIVERSARY.
V. g. F. Lincoln Boston Nove, 80, 1796,
Ba't of Paul Revere
One Church Bell cents Weight 807 lles, a 42, 888.94,
Received pay by a Note Paul Revere,
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A certificate of membership in the Society of Cincinnati written on parchment, and bearing the autographs of Geo. Washington, Pres., and Henry Knox, Sec. The following is a copy :-
Be it known that Lieutenant Colonel BARACHIA BASSETT is a member of the Society of the CINCINNATI; instituted by the Officers of the American Army at the Period of its Dissolution, as well to Commemorate the great Event which gave Independence to North America, as for the laudable Purpose of inculcating the Duty of laying down in Peace, Arms assumed for public Defence, and of uniting in Acts of brotherly Affection and Bonds of perpetual Friend- ship the Members constituting the same.
IN TESTIMONY whereof I the President of the said Society have hereunto set my Hand at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsyl- vania, this FIFTH Day of MAY in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Four and in the EIGHTH Year of the Independence of the United States.
By order
H. Knox Secretary.
G. Washington President.
MRS. LYDIA P. HINCKLEY
of East Falmouth, secured the following for exhibition. The figures indicate the age of the article :-
Picture of Lorenzo Dow, 80 ;
Picture of Peggy Dow, his wife, 80 ;
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Profile of Edward Fish, 100 ; Profile of Hannah Fish, 100 ; Profile of Daniel Hall, 80 ; Profile of Mercy Hall, 80 ; Earthen platter, 50 ;
Pewter platter, 125 ;
Pair tongs, 75 ;
Candlesticks, 75 ;
Snuffers and tray, 60 ;
Glass decanter, 100;
Indian drinking-cup, 100 ;
Indian paddle, 95 ;
Silver spoon, 100 ;
Indian fan, 75 ;
Britannia tea-pot, 100 ;
China plates ; Glass plates, 100 ;
Child's hat, 50 ; China bottle, 90 ; Flax hetchell ; Arm-chair, 150; Handkerchief woven by hand-loom, 100; History of America's early days, 100 ; Thread spun on hand-wheel, 50 ; Wooden pails, 50 ; Jug, 25 ; Bonnets, 25 ;
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Wooden ladle, 50 ;
Wineglasses, 50 ;
Silver tablespoons, 100 ;
Wooden plate, 75 ;
Sword, owned by Dea. Thos. Lewis ;
Cap, used on training days ;
China cup, said to belong to the first set of China brought to Falmouth ;
Silver teaspoon, 90 ;
Salt dish, 50 ;
Sampler, 88 ;
Shawl, 80 ;
Work-bag, 75 ;
Linen thread, 50 ;
Wooden ladle, 95 ;
China mug, 100;
Wool cards, 75.
REV. B. R. GIFFORD,
Chairman of Museum Committee, collected the following :- Loaned by MRS. JABEZ DAYIS :-
A plate and cup and saucer, 150. Loaned by LORENZO ELDRED :-
A pair of slippers, 108 ; A writing-book, 200 ; A pair of corsets, 100 ; A pewter porringer, 112 ; A family Bible, printed in 1791.
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Loaned by W. N. DAVIS :- Knife, made from a Revolutionary sword ; Ledger kept by Hugh G. Donaldson, M. D .; Almanacs,-1813, 1816, 1818, 1824, 1825 ; Chair, supposed to be about 200 years old. Loaned by SAMUEL P. DAVIS :-
Arm-chair, which belonged to Gen. Braddock Dimmick.
The articles specified below, belong to the REV. B. R. GIFFORD and MRS. GIFFORD, and were mainly collected by them in their travels :-
Case of beetles and butterflies, from Rio Janeiro ;
Bottle of water, from the river Jordan ;
Pieces of pottery, from the quarry under Jerusalem ;
Pieces of stone, from the substructure of Solomon's temple, under the mosque of Omar ;
Piece of stone within the mosque of Omar, Jerusalem, on which, tradition says, Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac ;
Jewish ink-horn, from Constantinople ;
Piece of stone, from the tomb of the kings, near Jerusalem ; Fragment of mosaic, from the Mount of Olives ;
Marble, from near the tomb of Mary Magdalene, Ephesus ; Relic, from the tomb of Alexander the Rich, Ephesus ; Marble, from about the tomb of St. Luke, Ephesus ;
Marble, from the Parthenon, Athens ;
Marble, from the Stadium, where St. Paul fought with wild beasts at Ephesus ;
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Pebble, from Mersina, the port of Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul ;
Brick, from Pompeii ;
Red granite, from the quarries in Thebes, Egypt ;
Lava and scoriæ, from the old crater of Vesuvius, the eruption from which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in A. D. 70 ;
Piece of stone from the top of the great pyramid, Egypt ;
Relic of the 2,000-year-old fig tree, near Cairo, Egypt, under which, tradition says, Joseph and Mary halted during their flight into Egypt ;
Marble, from the palace of the Caesars, Rome ;
Piece of mosaic, from the baths of the Emperor Caracalla, Rome ;
Rosaries made of olive wood and shells, from Bethlehem and Athens ;
Olive wood, napkin-ring and card-case, from Jerusalem ;
Cones, from cedars on Mt. Lebanon ;
Cones, from the giant trees of California ; Antique, gilded coffee-cup holders, from Damascus ;
Bellows, from Damascus, of Syrian make ;
Combs, from Damascus, made there ;
Shells, from the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and the Red Sea ; Ancient and modern coins, from various countries,-one being from Smyrna, of Roman make, dating back to the time of the Cæsars ;
Piece of stone, from Lincoln castle, England, built by William the Conqueror, in the eleventh century ;
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Decayed wood, from Luther and Melancthon's rooms, Witten- berg.
Fossil shark's tooth,-the fish estimated to have been seventy- five feet long ;
A book entitled "Touchstone of Sincerity," written in 1678, and printed in 1698;
" Divine Breathings," printed in 1709.
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SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
Simultaneously with the firing of the first gun at sunrise, came a dash of rain, which led many to fear that a stormy day was to inter- fere with the festivities of the occasion; but soon all fear on that score was removed, as the showers, after laying the dust, passed away. At an early hour the citizens, from different parts of the town, began to arrive, and long before the hour for the procession, the streets, Green, and Ludlam's Plain where was located the mammoth Yale tent, were thronged with people intent upon celebrating this, the greatest social event in the history of the town. Trains soon arrived from New Bedford, the Cape and Boston, the latter bearing the Governor, his staff and various State officials. The arrival of this train was greeted by a salute of seventeen guns, fired by the battery stationed near Fresh Pond. As the procession moved over its route, through the streets and by the shores of Vineyard Sound, it was ac- companied by a crowd of sight-seers, and at intervals photographers were stationed, anxious to secure views of the grand pageant. The inspiring music, the brilliant display of flags and bunting, the long array of carriages laden with citizens and guests, made a scene long to be remembered. When all were seated in the tent, who could find room therein, a large crowd still remained outside, who enjoyed them-
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selves by viewing the natural beauties of the town, and in renewing acquaintances and friendships of former years, and when the time came for the departure of the trains, all felt, as they left for home, that the celebration had been a perfect success, and that they had passed a most enjoyable day. Not the least gratifying feature of the celebration was the fact that not the slightest appearance of drunken- ness or disorder occurred during the day or evening, and no accident happened to dampen the enjoyment of any.
The evening entertainment was by no means the least enjoyable feature of the celebration. Soon after sunset the Middleboro band, stationed on the piazza of the Falmouth National Bank, gave a fine concert, which was listened to by a large and appreciative audience, which occupied the streets and Green in the vicinity.
At the close of the concert, the display of fire-works began, under the direction of Mr. Tilton, agent of the U. S. Fireworks Co., and for about two hours the citizens were delighted with the grandest display of the kind ever seen in the town. Rockets, serpents, bombs, etc. followed each other in rapid succession, interspersed now and then with a set piece, the most elaborate of which was the closing piece, which showed the word "Falmouth " with 1686 and 1886 on either side in dazzling brilliancy ; after which, those citizens who did not care to attend the Bi-centennial ball at the Town Hall, re- turned to their homes wearied in body, but well satisfied that the events of the day had reflected much honor upon the town.
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The following letter, from Hon. Charles L. Swift of Yarmouth received while this volume was in preparation, adds one item of his- toric interest :-
YARMOUTH PORT, MASS., Aug. 9, 1887.
MR. CLARKE :-
Dear Sir: In examining the Provincial statutes at the State House, recently, I found that the town of Falmouth had the sum of £22 8s. assigned as its share of the province tax for the year 1694, in the statute passed Sept. 14 of that year. This is six years earlier than the researches made last year enabled us to find the name of Fal- mouth officially recorded as applicable to the town.
** * *
Yours truly,
C. F. SWIFT.
The following article is a description of Falmouth, written nearly fifty years ago, and recently republished by the local newspapers :-
" FALMOUTH."
"'This town, forming the southwestern extremity of the peninsula of Cape Cod, was incorporated in 1686. Mr. Samuel Shireick labored in this place as a minister previous to 1700. Rev. Joseph Metcalf, who graduated at Cambridge, was chosen minister. He died in 1723, and was succeeded by Mr. Josiah Marshall. Rev. Samuel Palmer was ordained in 1731, and was succeeded by Mr. Zebulon Butler, who was ordained in 1775, and dismissed in 1778. The next minister, Rev. Isaiah Mann, was ordained in 1780, and died in 1789. Rev. Henry Lincoln was ordained in 1790, and dismissed in 1823. His successor, Rev. Benjamin Woodbury, was ordained in 1824, and dis-
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missed in 1833. The next minister was Rev. Josiah Bent, who was installed in 1834, and dismissed in 1837, and was succeeded by Rev. Henry B. Hooker, who was installed in the same year. The Congre- gational church in East Falmouth was organized in 1810, and the one in North Falmouth in 1833.
"The town is bounded on the west by Buzzards Bay, and on the south by Vineyard Sound. A chain of hills, which is continued from Sandwich, runs on the west side of the township, near Buzzards Bay, and terminates at 'Woods Holl,' a harbor at the southwestern point of the town. The rest of the land in this township is remarkably level. The soil is thin, but superior in quality to the light lands in the eastern part of the county. An extensive pine forest is situated between the villages of Falmouth and Sandwich. There are not less than forty ponds in the township, which give a great variety to the scenery. The village, which is one of the handsomest on the Cape, consists of about one hundred dwelling-houses, two churches (one Congregational and one Methodist), an academy, and the Falmouth Bank with a capital of $100,000. The village is twenty-two miles from Barnstable, eighteen from Sandwich, and seventy-one from Bos- ton. Woods Holl is four miles to the southwest. At this place there is a village, and ships of the largest class can go up to the wharf. The landing at Falmouth village is about three-fourths of a mile from the Congregational church. The mail is carried over from this place to Holmes's Hole, on Martha's Vineyard, three times a week in a sail boat. The distance between the two landings is seven miles. Two streams afford a water power, on which are two woolen mills, having three sets of machinery. There are five houses of worship, three
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Congregational, one for Friends or Quakers, and one Methodist. Population, 2,580. In 1837, there were nine vessels employed in the whale fishery ; tonnage of the same, 2,823 ; sperm oil imported, 4,952 barrels (148,560 gallons) ; whale oil, 275 barrels (8,250 gal- lons) ; hands employed in the fishery, 250 ; capital invested, $260,- 000 ; salt manufactured, 35,569 bushels."
The following is copied from monuments in the village grave- yard :-
" Here lies interred the body of the Rev. Samuel Palmer, who fell asleep April ye 13th, 1775, in the 68th year of his age and 45th of his ministry.
" His virtues would a monument supply, But underneath these clods his ashes lie."
" In memory of Capt. David Wood, who died in his 42d year, in Cape Francois, Aug. 10th, 1802, of the yellow fever, with 4 of his men.
" He's gone; the voyage of human life is o'er; And weeping friends shall see his face no more;
Far from the tenderest objects of his love, He dies, to find a happier world above. Around this monument his friends appear To embalm his precious memory with a tear."
"His men who died were Edward Butler, aged 15 years, and Prince Fish, aged 19 yrs., both died August 10th ; Henry Green, aged 20 years, Willard Hatch, aged 12 years, both died August 17th. " These hopeful youths with life are called to part And wound afresh their tender parents' hearts."
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200TH ANNIVERSARY.
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL FOR DEAF-MUTES.
TRENTON, June 21, 1886.
MY DEAR MR. CLARKE :-
I wish to offer my hearty congratulations to you and to the other gentlemen who made the arrangements for what seems to have been one of the best planned and most successfully carried out of the minor celebrations which have been so numerous lately. I write to say that, if the proceedings of the day are to be printed, as I think they should be, in separate form, I should like to be informed of the fact, and also of the price per copy.
I am much pleased with General Swift's oration, as being suffi- ciently laudatory for the occasion, but with a due sense of proportion, which local eulogists sometimes lack. I rather fear, however, that his reference to my father, flattering as it was, would give a wrong idea of the man to those who did not know him. If, in his quiet sphere, he was to some extent a leader, it was not because he forced his way to the front, but because those who trusted his judgment and his integrity chose to follow. Indeed, one trait which I espe- cially honor in Falmouth people is just that quiet balance of character which, in my day certainly, made it the worst possible field for the aggressive, self-asserting man to push his claims.
My early life in Falmouth has ingrained in me an abiding faith in democracy, as the noblest social ideal. Men and women less capa- ble of being awed by adventitious claims-social, political, or ecclesi- astical-than those old Falmouth folks, never were ; yet the respectful affection which they gave, for instance to Mr. Hooker, or whenever
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character and ability deserved it, was a more genuine feeling than can arise in a more artificial society.
Of course, not having lived there for many years, I know little of the people of the place now, but from the liberality and good taste shown in the administration of public affairs, it would seem that the same qualities survive, with " modern improvements " superadded.
Very truly yours,
WESTON JENKINS.
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200TH ANNIVERSARY.
The committee issued about nine hundred invitations to natives and former citizens, nearly three hundred of whom accepted the invi- tation by letter previous to the day of celebration. About one hun- dred and fifty declined, and the others were not heard from; but many of them reported in person on the morning of the 15th. The following are a few of the letters received from those unable to be with us :-
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