USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 3
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Auburn > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
One would like to mention some of the ministers you were accus- tomed to hear when the pastor exchanged pulpits twenty-five or thirty years ago: Rev. Mr. Pratt of Auburn, Rev. Mr. Thompson of Ray- mond, Rev. Mr. Putnam of Derry Central, Rev. Mr. French of Londonderry and Rev. Mr. Watson of Hampstead. Later Rev. Mr. Merriam of Derry was heard by you. All these men being dead are yet speaking, and God's word is not returning to him void. The Sab- bath bell still rings, but the voice that speaks in the pulpit is a new voice, and, as I have said, the congregation is in large measure new. "One generation goeth and another cometh." The leaders of the church lay down their burdens but the church continues, like Tennyson's Brook :
"Men may come and men may go But I go on forever."
The church, that is, not the minister, though he, too, at times seems endless.
It is natural for us as we grow older to dwell much in the past, but we must be thankful for the present. Chester people still love the church, and the church, always a powerful influence for good, still lives.
In the very early days when the only roads were Indian Trails through the forests, and there were no wheeled vehicles, a man living in Suncook just across the border of Chester, which then included
12
HISTORY OF CHESTER
Hooksett, went to Newburyport and purchased a barrel of molasses. His problem was, how to get his merchandise home. He grappled with it by rigging up something which he called "a car." Two long poles fastened one on each side of the horse and trailing behind served the purpose. On the rear end of this device the precious freight was loaded. The man mounted the horse and began the journey home. All went well until the last river was crossed, but as horse and man were climbing the precipitous bank, and were almost to the top, some part of the mechanism gave way and the barrel went down the grade, bumped into a rock or tree, and was demolished utterly. The river was sweetened and likewise the soil where the "car" was wrecked. The man was not so much concerned over the loss of the goods as for what was in store for him when he reached home, for he dreaded to meet his wife. The incident has its comical side, but it was far from being a joke, considering the immediate plight of the man and the limitations and hardships of those far off days.
Alas, how often do we all fail to land safely in the dooryard of home the best things God has given! Whatever sweetness there is in us we should wish to retain-we do not want to become embittered or sour. We do not want to bear a grudge against any. We want always, as Phillips Brooks said, to be "sweet and spiritual." It is, indeed, a homely illustration, but it may serve to remind us that it is well to keep the sweetness of childhood and the treasures of faith clear to the top of the bluff, clear to the end of the way.
At the Baptist Church the services were in charge of the pastor, Rev. Mary E. Morse. The sermon was preached by a former pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Cate of Meredith, and remarks were made by another former pastor, Rev. Bernard Christopher of Hampton and also by Rev. Chester J. Wilcomb of Riverside, California, a native of Chester who united with this church more than thirty years ago.
Mr. Cate's subject was, "Those Things Which Are Before" preaching from the following text: Philippians 3:13, 14. "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Anniversaries are times of retrospect. We incline to rest content in our thoughts of the past. It is profitable sometimes to look back to note the progress we have made. But to cease our efforts and stand still, satisfied, means in the end to retrogress.
The celebration in which we engage during these days has its lesson. Chester has a heritage of glory all her own. That any one should rest at ease in contemplation of this fact would be a shame and a disgrace. It would be a profaning of the memory of those men and women who have made Chester's past. The challenge of this celebra- tion is "Onward."
The Apostle who speaks in the words of our text is perhaps engaged for a moment in retrospect. But he is determined to forget. We do not believe that he means an act of will is sufficient to efface from the memory all that is past. His forgetting is other than this. To Paul the message of the present is always the urge forward.
Two thoughts I would bring from our text: First, Forgetting, as Paul uses the term, is essential to progress, and secondly, the prize is closely related to an undivided aim.
I3
CELEBRATION OF 200TH ANNIVERSARY
There are many significant features in Paul's past. His descent is honorable. His education has been thorough. He has won a worthy place among the leaders of his time. He has made progress in that religion he once despised. He is a master of rhetoric. He is an apologist for a vital faith. He champions the cause of a despised sect of people. He has a friendship for the founder of a conquering religion. I cannot think he expects or even desires that all this shall be wiped from the pages of his memory. No. The very declaration of his purpose to forget is a recollection. But self- satisfaction may be a deadly foe to progress, and Paul is not willing that self-congratulation shall thwart further effort and turn him aside from highest success. It might be so if he did not "forget."
Failure, in the case of weak natures, may doom to indifference and discourage further attempt. Paul has not been able to bring about everything that he wished. His failures also are to be set aside in so far as they might hinder further endeavor. Suffering and persecution have constituted a part of lis experience. Even this shall not be permitted to deter him from his purposed consummation of a nobly lived life. He must forget, and press onward to worthier life and greater achievement.
That which was a valuable principle for Paul is good for us. The individual Christian may have gained victories in his fight for Christian character. He may say, "I am satisfied." Or perhaps he has failed. It is weakness that sits down in self-pity to shed tears of futile regret. Each of these extreme positions is attended with danger. Let us beware of both.
This forward-looking spirit of Paul is good also for the Church. This church has had its ups and downs. You have been pastorless. There have been differences of opinion. There has been a struggle to maintain worship. Sometimes you may have thought the service being rendered was not commensurate with the outlay, and you perhaps have said, "What's the use! It is not worth the struggle." But friends, the progress and strength of a stream are not measured by the eddies and shallows, nor by the obstacles in its way. Its power is as great as at the place of its mightiest onrush.
On the other hand, a church may be in danger by being too free from struggle. Its successes may be a greater hindrance to progress, if not watched carefully, than its failures. The churches in this community have been a force for righteousness and truth in a far broader field than within the somewhat restricted limits of the town. They have provided teachers. They have ordained and sent out pastors. There have gone forth public servants. All these have contributed no small part to the sum-total of the world's good. Friends, it is an honorable record. You might be tempted to say, "We have done our part." But have you? Did God call you to a task which you might abandon at will? None has done his part while there is a service he still may render. You have no right to cease.
And so we must ignore. He knows there are competitors pressing him hard, but they must be treated as if there were none. If he turns to look, he may stumble and fall. He will be deprived of the sight of the goal which urges him on. The Christian is a contestant for a prize. He has a goal. It seems to beckon, to reach forth to grasp his hand, and to draw him forward. He must turn his back resolutely upon much of that which is behind. He must safeguard himself against the possibility of turning back. And so he forgets the things behind and goes forward.
14
HISTORY OF CHESTER
There is relation between the prize and having a single great air.
In the Apostle Paul was such an aim. He writes, "For I am determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified." Or, as he declared, he wants to participate in the ex- periences of Christ, in his renunciation, resurrection, and perfection. And he burns with the desire that the world also may know Christ as he does. And he labors to this end. Paul is splendidly equipped for pursuing his purpose. Well grounded in the religion of the Jews when he saw the light that was Christ, his earlier experiences became the bed-rock of this larger faith. His life is clean and wholesome and morally right. He was mighty because his heart was pure. And there is a power which drives him on, an unconquerable will. It does not yield before obstacles. There is also the Presence, a Presence more real than anything else, an indwelling Christ. It is He who furnishes the great motive power of Paul's character.
The Christian and the Church need the single aim and these dominating forces. There must be a visualizing of the purpose, then resolutely setting forth to its accomplishment. The dominant purpose of Christian and Church should be world evangeliza- tion, the establishing of a world-wide kingdom, the making the king- doms of this world to become the "kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." And if we would have this spirit of achievement and the ability to accomplish, we must have it through Him who dwells within, even the Christ Himself.
And then the prize. That of which we have been talking is the prize. The very striving for and the attaining of likeness to Christ, being stirred by His ideals, participating in His motives, this is the prize, "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
A special significance attaches to these three days. Our town is two hundred years old. We must venerate and respect her years. It is unthinkable that we should be willing that this anniversary should be the beginning of a period of senility and decay. This church is but three years over the first century of her age. Our sister church is a little older still. Church and community must build together. They must build in the present and for the present. More important still is it that together they build for the future. Both the present and the future are based much upon the past. Yet we, heirs today of a worthy past, must "forget," if we are in danger of being hindered and stayed in our progress by thoughts of that past. Men build monuments in order to remember events and people. Let us use our inheritance from the two departed centuries as a basis for still worthier achievement and make our monument to the past the greater and continuing glory of a righteous community life. God offers His challenge. It is to individual, to church and to community. He wants all our life per- meated and controlled by the ideals and purposes and spirit of the Man of Galilee. Let us accept the challenge and let us not be satisfied till these yearnings of God be realized. This is the goal. This is the prize.
With others I had the great privilege, not long ago, of climbing one of the beautiful mountains with which northern New Hampshire abounds. The ragged and rugged and beckoning peak of Mt. Chocorua was our goal. The way was blazed and stones had been thrust aside by others who had made the trail easier for us. Through breaks in the trees we caught glimpses now and then both of our goal and of the expanse below, spread out and away across the spaces of the region near. Yet we did not linger, except as we needed the moments for
15
CELEBRATION OF 200TH ANNIVERSARY
recovery of our weakening energies. Our limbs were aching and we grew weary, but our faces were set resolutely forward, and on we went, for we were moved by the desire to accomplish a worthy aim. And at last we reached the summit. From here our eyes leaped out over a wonderful, God-glorified landscape. Our sense of beauty was feasted upon the scene before us. Our souls could here rise freely to meet God. We might have stopped before we reached the top, but then, with our plan defeated, our characters would have suffered the blight of a purpose thwarted for no reason except our own indifference and infirmity of will, our love of ease, and fear of discomfort and pain. Forgetting those things which were behind, we reached out to the things before, and the prize was worth the price.
God's purpose urges us on. Forgetting the past, we will attain the prize.
On Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock union services were held in the anniversary tent in Wilcomb's field on Chester street. These exercises were in charge of Rev. Silas N. Adams and Walter I. Martin conducted the musical part of the program.
Short addresses were given by Rev. J. Wallace Chesbro of Fall River, Mass., Rev. Bernard Christopher of Hampton, Rev. Mary E. Morse of Chester, Rev. Thomas J. Cate of Meredith and Rev. Chester J. Wilcomb of Riverside, California, represent- ing the Baptist Church, and by Rev. James G. Robertson of Strafford, Vt., Rev. Morris W. Morse of Moscow, Idaho, Rev. Harry M. Warren, D. D., of New York City and Charles D. Tenney, of Palo Alto, California, representing the Congregational Church.
Mr. Chesbro emphasized the fact there have gone forth from Chester men and women who have been an honor to the place that gave them birth, recalling the names of Bell, Chase, Currier, Hazelton, Mitchell, Morse, Page, Underhill, West and Wilcomb.
DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL, MONDAY A. M.
A heavy rain during the night and early morning made it necessary to change the program and postpone the parade. A short time before noon it became possible to proceed with the dedication of the Memorial to the Spanish and World War Veterans. These ceremonies took place in front of the Memorial, a massive granite slab to which is attached a bronze tablet of pleasing design.
Among the distinguished persons present were His Ex- cellency Governor Albert O. Brown, Hon. George E. Trudell, Mayor of Manchester, Major Robert O. Blood of Concord, and Major Frank Knox of Manchester.
The assemblage was called to order by George E. Gillingham, Chairman of the Executive Committee, who presented John Carroll Chase of Derry as the President of the Celebration.
I6
HISTORY OF CHESTER
MR. CHASE.
"Sons and Daughters of Old Chester, Ladies and Gentlemen :
"The inclemency of the weather is a cheerless welcome and makes it desirable to proceed at once with the dedication cere- monies, deferring an introductory address until we have the shelter of the tent later in the day. You will now give attention to prayer by Rev. Silas N. Adams."
REV. MR. ADAMS.
"Almighty God, Who from Heaven ordaineth the rising and the falling of the nations and of the children of men. Thou Who art infinite in wisdom and in loving kindness and yet askest of us that we shall in the walks of life stand firmly in our places for right and good. We bow before Thee at such a time as this to commemorate the date of a great conflict. Thou hast given us the victory in the day when it seemed as if we should fail. Thou hast caused us to be victors and we acknowledge the wisdom of Thy greater will over the children of men. We implore Thee that Thou wilt bless every day the nations and the people, that every cause of conflict may be taken away and every man shall be brother to his fellowman, seeking his best good. We pray that Thou wilt watch over and guide us that we may be enabled thus to make this world Thy kingdom and men everywhere rejoicing over that which is right and true and lasting. We pray, Oh Lord, that Thou wilt bless this day in memory of those who went forth in the midst of the turmoil to make the supreme sacrifice for the sake of their country and the defence of the whole world. We ask that Thou wilt bless those who have come back, that Thou wilt give to them in due season health and strength and every needy gift.
"As we come to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of those who have come forward for the cause of patriotism and right, we pray Thee, Lord, that Thy blessing may rest upon their memory, that Thou wilt do justice to those who have been de- pendent upon them, and that their sacrifice may not be in vain. We pray that their death, which is today our life, may still be in remembrance throughout the century and we may remember everything. Also sustain us in our day and generation if we have our sacrifice to make.
"Asking that Thy blessing may be upon the memory of these men and that Thy strength may overcome the weakness of those who have returned alive, bless us this day. We ask it in the name of the Master, Amen."
MR. CHASE.
"The dedication exercises will be under the direction of a well-known former citizen of the town, a veteran of the war between the states. He took a prominent part, a few years ago,
John C. Ramedell
17
CELEBRATION OF 200TH ANNIVERSARY
in bringing about the erection and dedication of the near-by monument to the soldiers of '61 to '65, of which this will be a fitting and enduring companion. It is a matter for congratulation that the erection of this memorial, unlike the other, was not de- layed until two score years after the events it commemorates.
"I present to you Colonel George A. Hosley of Somerville, Mass."
( Applause).
COL. HOSLEY.
"Members of the American Legion, Spanish War Veterans, Grand Army Veterans, The Fusiliers of Boston, His Excellency the Governor, Major Blood and Staff, Major Knox, Ladies and Gentlemen :
"We are gathered here today to dedicate this niemorial to the Spanish-American War Veterans and the World War Veterans. It is very appropriate that we should take this occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of the town for this ceremony, but in a sense we cannot dedicate it. It raises no feeling of gratitude in the hearts of those men who gave their lives for their country, it testifies nothing to these comrades who honor us with their presence here today, more than is testified by spoken word. It meets no obligation to others, it pays no debt, if there be a debt. If there be a debt which it meets it is a debt which we owe to ourselves; for, disguise the fact as we may, we build monuments to our dead and living heroes to testify to ourselves and our children. The finer feelings of human nature are not a matter of human sentiment, but a sentiment that is true to the heart of every loyal man, woman and child throughout the country, and sentiment has a very important part in the human breast. But I am not here to take up your time in talking, as we have dis- tinguished speakers who will entertain you. The monument will be unveiled by a granddaughter of a veteran of the Civil War, Miss Edna Edwards."
UNVEILING OF THE MEMORIAL.
PRESENTATION OF MEMORIAL BY ALBERT F. B. EDWARDS, EsQ.
"Friends and Fellow Townsmen; Veterans of the Spanish and World Wars: Last winter while confined to my house I thought that it would be a grand thing to have a memorial dedicated to the Veterans on this two hundredth anniversary, and I began to arrange for it, found out what it would cost and got an appropriation from the town. But it was not quite enough, so the other committees, and the Spanish and World War Veterans, have worked together to get this memorial ready for dedication, and I now present it to Department Commander Major Robert O. Blood. I am authorized to invite you at this time to accept from the citizens of Chester, at the hands of its accredited represent- ative, this memorial, with the request that it be dedicated by you for the noble purpose for which it was erected."
18
HISTORY OF CHESTER
ACCEPTANCE BY MAJOR ROBERT O. BLOOD.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: We come together at this time to dedicate another mark of the heroism of American soldierhood, and we consider it a great honor to participate in the exercises, and it is a great honor that a man who gave his services two score years and more ago to his country should be active in the erection of a monument to us. The men of these wars represented here before me were as loyal as you who served in the war of '62 to '65. It was our high privilege to be able to serve our country and it is a great honor you bestow upon us. The town is doing us a great honor and is giving the generations to come a memorial to her brave sons who went forth at the call of duty. And the American Legion, which represents the ex-service men of the recent war are greatly honored in accepting this statue, and I command that the American Legion continue the exercises by dedicating to you this monument."
COMRADE LOUIS W. MORSE, REPRESENTING LESTER W. CHASE POST, AMERICAN LEGION.
"Comrades of the World War: We deem it a great honor for our local post to assist at the dedication of this monument, and in the name of Lester W. Chase Post of Derry, I dedicate it to the memory of those who fell in the service of their country by land or sea ; their lives are glorious before us, their deeds an inspiration; as they served may we serve our country in time of need."
PRAYER BY THE CHAPLAIN, LOUIS W. MORSE.
"Almighty God, Judge over men and nations; we stand before Thee today as loyal sons of our country, grateful for this splendid heritage. We ask Thy blessing upon our great republic. May America ever remain free and mighty, and true to her best ideals. Bless our president and all other public servants that they may do justice before Thee and that all their acts may redound to the greater welfare of our people. We pray for Thy blessing upon our flag, the emblem of the republic, may it float forever over a free land. May our ancient watchword "In God We Trust" sustain and guide our people. We bow in loving prayer before Thee asking that Thou wilt bless our department com- mander and comrades who showed their loyalty and risked their lives and sealed it with their deaths. May their heroic example be to us an everlasting inspiration. May Thy spirit rest upon this tablet, may it inspire us all to constant devotion to Thy peace- making and the welfare of our country. Amen."
COL. HOSLEY.
"We are fortunate in having with us a man who fought with these boys over across, who was in the war from the start to the finish, and knew exactly the position that we were placed in
19
CELEBRATION OF 200TH ANNIVERSARY
through our total unpreparedness. I take great pleasure in intro- ducing to you Major Frank Knox of Manchester."
MAJOR KNOX.
Fellow Veterans, Ladies and Gentlemen :
It is, of course, a rare privilege for me to visit Chester and par- ticipate in so significant an event as that which you are celebrating today. It is rarely given to a man to speak under circumstances such as these, to fellow veterans of two wars. It was my good fortune and great privilege to have worn the uniform in both of the wars which are commemorated by this monument. I can thus speak, perhaps, with greater appropriateness because of this unique experience.
Both of these wars marked a significant change in the relations of the United States to the rest of the world. The War of 1898, the Spanish-American War, served to make us a world power. Up to that time we had been chiefly concerned in our own domestic affairs, and had given but trifling attention to those affairs which were beyond our own borders. Our intervention in Cuba was our first great contribution to better international relations. It not only made of us a world power, but invoked that power on the side of justice and righteousness.
Through our efforts an old, ancient and decrepit tyranny which had abused and mis-ruled every colony it had ever owned on the Western hemisphere, was finally ejected from this part of the world's surface. Spain, after the Spanish-American War, receded to its present insignificant place in the family of nations.
There was never a war fought more dis-interestedly than the Spanish-American War. We took up arms-not to free ourselves, nor to protect our own, but to free a neighboring people, burdened under the yoke of a well-nigh intolerable tyranny. By that act we said to the World, that America was interested in the promotion and progress of World peace, World understanding, justice and righteousness.
Since that day when American arms gave to Cuba and to Cubans their liberty our whole influence in the Central and Southern American region of this hemisphere has been for stability, for righteousness, for law and order, and for justice. And we may be sure that throughout the years to come our influence in that quarter, as in other quarters of the world, will never fail in the support of these fundamental principles.
When we entered the World War, we not only revealed ourselves as a world power, but as the greatest power in the world, unselfishly devoted to those ideals which make for democracy and human freedom. We alone did not win the World War, but the weight which we were able to cast into the scales on the side of the Allies gave to the Allied forces preponderance of power, and made a victory possible.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.