USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1869-1879 > Part 26
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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; Unawed 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 scans 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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1
The laurel bright will never fade that virtue's brow surrounds, Nor 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' name. 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!"
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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 early ringing of bells and firing 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,
GEORGE D. WILLIS,
E. WATSON ARNOLD, AMASA S. THAYER,
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 87, " 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, John 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, Elm, 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.
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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
" 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 us 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 inother-country ; and after all peaceable means of redress had been exhausted, and their respectful petitions had been spurned with con- tempt, 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 orators were the most eloquent and potent in arousing 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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first blood in the cause of American liberty; and in the great struggle which ensued, no State contributed more lavishly of men and means to the common cause.
The commonwealth which gave to the country such statesmen and orators as Samuel Adams and John Adams, Hancock, Otis, and the elder Quincy, and which holds within its borders the historic battle- fields of Concord, Lexington; and Bunker Hill, may well exult on this day. If her children did not " celebrate it with thanksgiving, with festivity, with bonfires and illuminations," if on this centennial anni- versary, of all others, we did not " shed tears, copious, gushing tears of exultation, of gratitude, and of joy," we should be recreant to the great trust committed to us by our fathers, and unworthy of the pre- cious blessings which we have inherited from them. In every possible demonstration of rejoicing Massachusetts should be foremost on this day.
But while, as citizens of a common country and of our beloved com- monwealth, we participate in the general rejoicing, there is a special purpose which brings us together here. It was only twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock that Braintree became a town.
Its first settlers were among the most influential men in the colony. In the events which preceded and accompanied the struggle for inde- pendence, its citizens were among the foremost ; and I am told that the records of no town in the commonwealth were more full and com- plete during that most interesting period.
In the subsequent war of 1812, and in that terrible struggle for national existence in our own time, her sons fully sustained the ancient reputation of their native town.
In whatever was necessary to advance the general weal, she has borne her part most faithfully. And yet of the early history of this town, of the men who were famous in its councils, and of their deeds which contributed to its renown, we of this generation know comparatively little.
We have come to listen to that story, as yet untold. That it will be faithfully and instructively portrayed by our townsman, the orator of the occasion, I need not assure you.
And as, with gratitude and pride, we learn what our fathers accom- plished, not only for us but for the country and the world, we shall receive new strength for the present, new hope and inspiration for the future.
A pleasant duty yet remains to me. At different periods of her history Braintree has been shorn of large pieces of her territory upon the north and south, which have been incorporated as independent towns, and in the course of events the children have outgrown the mother; yet she contemplates their prosperity to-day with a feeling
5
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in which envy has no share. The staid matron also boasts a grand- child of tender years! 1 As was fit and proper on this thanksgiving day, she extended a cordial invitation to all the family to assemble in the old homestead, and to unite with her in these festivities. Affection- ately and cordially, as becomes dutiful children, they have responded, but have excused themselves by reason of festive gatherings at their own family boards. We regret their absence exceedingly, but in your name, I send to them all cordial salutations. In whatever of pride and satisfaction may result from a contemplation of the early history of the original town, we claim to be admitted, as we cheerfully admit them, to a full participation. And to those who, from near or far, liave been drawn here to-day by affection for their birthplace, or by an- cestral ties, I extend a hearty greeting. Welcome all! The old mother opens wide her doors to-day and welcomes home her wander- ing children. With high hopes and resolute purpose she crosses the threshold of the new century.
It is not perhaps known to all of you that the Declaration of Inde- pendence was not signed by the members of the Continental Congress until Aug. 2, although the signatures of the president and secretary were appended to it July 4, the resolution with which the instrument concluded having been adopted two days before. As soon as the document had received the signatures of the president and secretary, it was ordered that it be printed, and a copy sent to each State, and that it be proclaimed at the head of the army. July 17 the Executive Council, in Boston, passed an order that copies be sent to every town ; that it should be read by the ministers from every pulpit, and by them transmitted to the town clerk, who was required to enter it at large upon the town records.
I hold in my hands the copy then made upon the Braintree records, in a clear, bold hand, by Ebenezer Thayer, the town clerk, who had been recently elected to that office as successor of Elisha Niles, deceased.
Methinks .I see that sturdy town clerk, as, with hand in which there was not the slightest sign of trembling, and with a heart, we may be sure, which was a stranger to fear, he transcribed that immortal document. From the leading part which he took in public affairs at that time, we know that he was a worthy associate of those men who had pledged . their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" in defence of liberty.
The president concluded by introducing Samued A. Bates, Esq., the present town clerk, who read the Declaration from the original records.
1 Holbrook, incorporated Feb. 29, 1872.
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Following this was music by the Braintree Band. Hon. F. A. Hobart was then introduced as the orator of the day, and proceeded to pronounce his oration, at the close of which the choir sung the "Ode on Science," and a poem by Asa T. Pratt, Esq., followed.
The services, which had been throughout of a most inter- esting character, were concluded by the singing of "Old Hundred," in which the audience joined, and with the bene- diction pronounced by Rev. E. M. Taylor, of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Braintree. A fine display of fireworks on the Common, in the evening, attracted a large crowd, and brought to a close a remarkably busy and interesting day for old Braintree.
Numerous letters were received by the committee in re- sponse to invitations, all of which we should be glad to print did space permit. A few of them are appended.
LETTERS.
QUINCY, 22 June, 1876.
E. HAYWARD AND OTHERS, BRAINTREE:
Gentlemen, - I should be very happy to accept your friendly invita- tion to be present at your celebration of the 4th of July, were it not that I had been so hasty as to engage myself elsewhere. I have prom- ised to address the citizens of Taunton on the same day.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 1, 1876.
DEAR SIRS, - I have received your esteemed favor inviting me to be present at the Centennial celebration at Braintree. It will not be possible for me to be with you on that occasion, which I am sure will
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be a most interesting one. There is no town in the commonwealth which can celebrate that day with a more just pride in her history, or with a more hopeful prospect for the future, than Braintree. She gave to the cause of national independence some of its noblest defend- ers, whose names and deeds will not only be rehearsed by her sons, but will be on that day upon the lips of every patriot throughout the Republic. She has in every crisis of the nation been foremost among the supporters of its life and honor, and after having given two splen- did daughters to the old commonwealth, she still remains one of the foremost, and is provided with all the conditions of a most prosperous future. And, my dear sirs, proud in being the son of such a town, and anxious to express most strongly my most earnest desire for her future success, I will say: " May her future success be equal to her past merits, and the spirit of 1776 and 1876 be the spirit of her sons through all coming centuries." Regretting that I cannot be with you, and appreciating your kind consideration, I am,
Yours truly, CHARLES P. THOMPSON.
ELIAS HAYWARD, ESQ., AND OTHERS, Committee.
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RANDOLPH, June 17, 1876.
DEAR SIR, - Your polite official and personal invitation to attend the Centennial celebration of old Braintree on the coming " Fourth " was duly received, and would be most gratefully accepted, had not Mother Braintree's second daughter, the "South Precinct," concluded at the youthful age of more than fourscore to " go alone " on the one hundredth birthday of National Independence, and with modest efforts in " procession, music, oration, decoration, and fireworks," strive to keep alive grateful memories of the fathers of our old town, who, in their well-remembered predictions of the future, fell far short of the blessings enjoyed by their descendants in the glorious land of our in- heritance. Confident that, in the orations with which Braintree and her children are to be favored, much will be found to inspire to renewed effort in behalf of our whole country, the writer is equally sure that the occasion will bring to us stores of historic matter both profitable and interesting.
With best wishes for the success of your celebration, believe me,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SETH TURNER.
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RANDOLPH, June 30, 1876.
GENTLEMEN, - Your cordial invitation to be present at the Centen- nial celebration at Braintree, July 4, 1876, is received. Nothing would gratify my feelings more than to accept your complimentary invitation, but the fact that a celebration of like character comes off in " Ye Old South Precinct," renders my acceptance somewhat inconsistent. I regard with great respect and veneration the old town of Braintree and its people, and why should I not? having personally known most of the generation that last passed away, and many of those who now occupy their places; but more than all, I venerate it from the fact that my paternal ancestor as early as 1675 adopted Braintree as his home, and to the present time, a period of more than two hundred years, his descendants have remained upon the old homestead; and wherever one of the name is found in this country, he proudly hails old Braintree as the birthplace of his ancestor.
I congratulate our old mother on this Centennial occasion, that she enjoys so great prosperity, happy in all her surroundings; that she one hundred years ago contributed so largely to the independence of these United States, through the great ability and statesmanship of her distinguished sons. I congratulate her on the success of her two children, Quincy and Randolph; though comparatively young, being but little over fourscore years, permanently settled within her ancient domain, a sober, religious, and industrious people. May the descend- ants of the present generation of old Braintree, who, I doubt not, will celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of American Independence at the next centennial in 1976, find the old lady as healthy, wealthy, and wise as we find her to-day. One word for myself, in the language .
of another: -
"I, though the humblest and homeliest one, Feel the natural pride of a dutiful son; And esteem it to-day the profoundest of joys That, not less than yourselves, I am one of her boys."
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
ELIAS HAYWARD, JOSEPHUS SHAW, SAMUEL A. BATES, AND OTHERS, Committee.
BRADFORD L WALES
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WINCHESTER, MASS., June 22, 1876.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF BRAINTREE ON THE CEN- TENNIAL CELEBRATION, JULY 4, 1876:
Gentlemen, - It would afford me much pleasure to unite with you and the citizens of Braintree at the approaching celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of our National Independence.
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