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 P^XTOISr; 
 
 OR THE 
 
 EXERCISES OF THE 
 
 HUNDKEDTH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN ; 
 
 INCLUDING A 
 
 HISTORICAL ADDRESS, 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE W. LIVERMORE, ESQ., OF CAMBRIDGE; 
 
 A]V OR ATIOW 
 
 BY REV. JOHN F. BIGELOW, D.D., OF KEESYILLE, N. Y. ; 
 
 A PO E M 
 
 BY MR. GEORGE GARDNER PHIPPS, OF PAXTON ; 
 
 AND OTHER EXBRCISES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 
 
 GEORGE N. BIGELOW, ESQ., OF FRAMINGHAM, 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE DAY. 
 
 THE CELEBRATION OCCURRED, JUNE 14, 1865. 
 
 WORCESTER 
 PRINTED BY EDWARD R. FISKE & SON. 
 
 (^ 1868. 9 
 
 ^^^ — — ^^ 
 
\\i^y^- 
 
 BBtBttary HlBmarial 
 
 OF 
 
 OR THE 
 
 EXERCISES OF THE 
 
 HUNDREDTH MNIVEKSAEY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 INCOEPORATIO^ OF THE TOWF ; 
 
 INCLUDING A 
 
 HISTORICAL ADDRESS, 
 
 GEORGE W. LIVERMORE, ESQ., OF CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 AN ORATIOIV 
 
 BY REV. JOHN F. BIGELOW, D.D., OF KEESVILLE, N. Y. : 
 
 A PO JE M 
 
 BY MR. GEORGE GARDNER PHIPPS, OF PAXTON ; 
 
 AND OTHER EXERCISES UNDER THE DIRECTION OP 
 
 EORGE N. BIGELOW, ESQ., OF FRAMINGHAM, 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE DAY. 
 
 THE CELEBRATION OCCURRED, JUNE 14, 1865, 
 
 WORCESTER: 
 PRINTED BY EDWARD R. FISKE & SON. 
 
 1868. 
 
'O 
 
 ,T2'n3' 
 
 I 0. 
 
PAXTON CENTENNIAL 
 
 INTEODUCTIOF 
 
 The Centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Paxioii, was 
 celebrated on the fourteenth day of June, A. D. 18G5, with ceremonies interest- 
 ing and appropriate to the occasion. Not only the greater part of the inhabi- 
 tants of the town were brought together, but many also from abroad, who 
 claimed relationship by birth or lineage. 
 
 The exercises which occupied the greater part of the day, were admirably con- 
 ducted, and the most pleasant impressions seem to have been left on the vast 
 gathering of the sons and daughters of the town. 
 
 The exercises of the forenoon were held in the Congregational Church, to 
 which the guests and citizens were escorted at a seasonable nour, by the Lei- 
 cester Band. The exercises in the Church were as follows. 
 VOLUNTARY UPON THE ORGAN; 
 PRAYER BY Rev. William Phipps ; 
 ANTHEM BY THE CHOIR. 
 HISTORICAL ADDRESS, by Hon. George W. Livermore, 
 
 of Cambridge. 
 CENTENNIAL SONG, Written for the occasion. 
 ORATION, BY Rev. JoHxV F. Bigelow, D. D. of Keesville, N. Y. 
 ANTHEM, by the Choir. 
 
 After these exercises, the audience adjourned to ihe Common, where a sump- 
 tuous dinner had been provided for nearly four hundred persons. Everything 
 here was tastefully, and comfortably arranged in a large and beautiful booth, 
 through whose covering of green boughs from the forest, the tinted light and 
 the balmy air of one of June's most delightful days, were admitted. 
 
 Following the dinner, many short and spirited speeches were given, and the 
 time was closely occupied till between five and six o'clock, when the celebra- 
 tion was closed, by the singing of " Auld Lang Syne " by the whole assembly. 
 Songs by the Paxton Glee Club, and music by the Leicester Band, were very 
 pleasantly interspersed with the other exercises of the afternoon. The Poem and 
 the Sentiments prepared for the occasion, by the Toast Master, Mr. Creorge G. 
 Phipps, will be found in their place. 
 
 A most important interest to the whole occasion was given by the genial and 
 accomplished manner, the graceful speeches, and the brilliant wit, of the Pres- 
 ident of the day, George N. Bigeloio Esq., of Framingham. 
 
ADDRESS. 
 
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NATIVES AND CITIZENS 
 OF PAXTON : — 
 
 An absence of almost half a century has deprived me of 
 citizenship, but not of a feeling of interest in the place of 
 my nativity ; for time and distance cannot make me forget 
 that my grand-parents were among the early settlers of this 
 town — that here they dwelt through a long life, reared 
 a numerous familj^, participated in its municipal affairs^ 
 took an active part in the event which we commemorate 
 this day, and that their remains now rest in yonder church- 
 yard. That here my father was born and lived more than 
 four score years, an active member of this community, and 
 that his body, with that of my honored mother, are tenants 
 of the same mansion of the dead ; that here I first saw the 
 light, spent the halcyon days of childhood and youth, first 
 enjoyed the pleasures of social intercourse with my fellows 
 whose homes were here. 
 
Alas ! where are those late companions now ? Some, like 
 myself, have emigrated, many have gone to the eternal 
 world, a few remain, but so changed by time that I cannot 
 recognize in them my former playmates. When I look 
 around and see none but strange faces, the mutability of 
 form and the brevity of life become painfully apparent ; the 
 bloom and vigor of youth supplanted by the hoar and im- 
 becility of age, infants and children become parents and 
 grand-parents, tottering upon the verge of eternity, are inci- 
 dents which force the reflection upon the mind, that prob- 
 ably not one, not only of this assembly, but of the hundreds 
 of millions that now people the earth, will live until the 
 advent of a second centennial anniversary of the incorpora- 
 tion of this town. They will all have passed away, and 
 their places will be filled by billions yet unborn. 
 
 But I see change has not been idle in regard to other 
 things ; roads have been discontinued and altered, new 
 ones located and opened, " The crooked made straight, and 
 the rough places smooth ; " old buildings have been demol- 
 ished and many new structures erected on their sites and 
 vacant lots ; and even this centenary church "^ has been 
 rejuvenated by the plastic hand of change ; formerly a plain, 
 square structure, standing in the middle of the common, in 
 primitive simplicity, without dome or spire, destitute of 
 external ornament and internal embellishments, its prom- 
 inent sounding-board above, and its deacon seat and semi- 
 circular communion table at the base of the pulpit; its 
 uncarpeted aisles and pen-like pews, with their uncushioned 
 and hinged seats, to be turned up and let down at the rising 
 
 * The Meeting-House, in which the address was delivered, was built during 
 the years 1765 and 1766 ; but moved back, repaired and remodeled, a steeple 
 added, and the whole exterior and interior modernized in the year 1835. 
 
and sitting of their occupants with a clatter sufficient to 
 have awakened a Rip Van Winkle ; its negro seats in the 
 rear of the front gallery, and the old people's in front of 
 the pulpit, for the use of the deaf; its two corner pews 
 perched aloft over the galler^^' staircases, 
 
 Through which, and the scuttles above, were the ways 
 To the attic, the arsenal of those early days : 
 
 has now fallen hack from its conspicuous locality to the site 
 of its former horse-sheds ; rearing its steepled head in all 
 the grandeur and assurance of modern renovation. 
 
 What changes will take place in the next coming hundred 
 years, not only in this town, hut in the world around, lie 
 beyond the broad sphere of conjecture ; but judging the 
 future from the past, they will be many and great. Less 
 than two-and-a-half centuries ago our present enlightened 
 and populous Commonwealth, a model to the world of in- 
 dustry, intelligence and national thrift and greatness, was 
 a wilderness, covered with primeval forests, the gloomy 
 haunts of savages and wild beasts, literally the domain of 
 barbarism. * 
 
 In 1620 our pilgrim fathers, driven by persecution and 
 oppression from their native land, sought an asylum in the 
 wilds of America, and landed on the inhospitable shores of 
 Kew England, preferring liberty of conscience and self- 
 government, coupled with all the hardships, the privations 
 and perils incident to colonizing the New World, to the 
 domestic conveniences and comforts of homes in the Old, 
 conjoined with its intolerance and tyranny ; purposing to 
 found a commonwealth upon the basis of civil and religious 
 liberty, where they and their posterity might enjoy these 
 inestimable, blessings. To this end, before leaving the 
 
Mayflower, they drew up and signed that memorable com- 
 pact, which enunciated the vital principles set forth, more 
 than a century and a half afterward, in the preambles of our 
 state and national constitutions. It is so clear and emphatic 
 I cannot forbear repeating it : They say, " We do by these 
 presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and 
 one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into 
 a civil body politic for our better ordering and preservation, 
 and the furtherance of the ends aforesaid ; and by virtue 
 hereof, to enact, constitute, establish and form such just and 
 equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from 
 time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient 
 for the general good of the colony." Here we find the germ 
 of our American Liberty Tree, thus planted by our fore- 
 fathers, which was subsequently nurtured by the blood and 
 treasure of their descendants, and now stretches its branches 
 from the shores of the A.tlantic to those of the Pacific, giv- 
 ing shelter and protection to more than thirty-one millions 
 of freemen. 
 
 It was considered that this compact embraced no more 
 immunities nor greater rights than was conferred by the 
 charter of the Plymouth, and subsequently by that of the 
 MassachusettSj'Colony, under which the emigrants organized 
 their respective colonial governments that continued until 
 these colonies were erected into the province of Massachu- 
 setts Bay, in the year 1692. 
 
 This union, with the changes made at that time in the 
 provisions of the colonial charters, was the first overt in- 
 fringement made by the British Government upon American 
 liberty, and was the initial one of a series that eventuated 
 in the dismemberment of the Colonies from the Mother 
 Country, and the establishment of our glorious Republic. 
 
9 
 
 Under the colonial charters the people elected all the 
 officers of government, while the provincial gave to the 
 Grown the appointment of the Governor, the Deputy Gov- 
 ernor and Secretary ; the freeholders electing the Coun- 
 sellors and House of Representatives, each town having the 
 right to send two delegates to the General Court, which was 
 composed of the Governor and Council and House of Ee- 
 presentatives, and was to be convened annually on the last 
 Wednesday of May, and at such other times as the Gover- 
 nor might see fit to call them together.* 
 
 The Pilgrims and the Puritans, although under distinct 
 governments until they were erected into a province were 
 united in their efforts to extend the bourn of civilization, 
 and to build up a commonwealth, based upon the principles 
 of self-government and equal rights ; which should be as 
 enduring and stable as the Rock of the one and the Tri- 
 mountains of the other. History and experience both 
 furnish incontestable proof that their efforts, thus far, have 
 been eminently successful, notwithstanding the magnitude 
 and difficulties of their laudable undertaking. 
 
 The Plymouth, in seventy-two years from the time of its 
 first settlement, increased from one hundred to at least seven 
 thousand souls, inhabiting seventeen towns ; and the Massa- 
 chusetts, in sixty-six years, had established fifty-five towns, 
 havino^ a population of about forty thousand. 
 
 This great progress was the result of a strict adherence to 
 the principles of their civil and ecclesiastical polity, based 
 
 * This continued to be the commencement of the political year until altered 
 by an amendment of the Constitution, adopted by the people on the eleventh 
 day of May, A. D. 1831 ; by which it was changed to the first Wednesday of 
 January 5 thus abolishing forever in Massachusetts a holiday, time honored, 
 loved, and observed during almost a century and a half. 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 upon the doctrines of Christianity. Hence, they exting- 
 uished the titles of the Indians to the lands in the interior 
 by purchase and not by conquest, and in all cases made pro- 
 vision for the establishment and support of the gospel and 
 schools. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great progress that had been made 
 in the settlement of the country, immense tracts of land 
 remained in the possession of the aborigines near the end 
 of the seventeenth century. In conformity with the policy 
 of our forefathers, on the twenty-seventh day of January, 
 A. D. 1686, Colonel Joshua Lamb, of Roxbury, and others 
 purchased of certain Indians a tract of land eight miles 
 square, called Towtaid, lying near Worcester ; which pur- 
 chase was confirmed by an order of the General Court, 
 passed on the fifteenth day of February, A. D. 1713, on condi- 
 tion that within " seven years time fifty families settle 
 themselves in as defensible and regular a way as the circum- 
 stances of the place will allow on part of said land ; and 
 that a sufficient quantity thereof be reserved for a gospel 
 
 ministry there and a school The town to be named 
 
 Leicester and to belong to the county of Middlesex." This 
 tract embraced the present towns of Leicester, Spencer, a 
 part of Auburn and about two miles in width of the south- 
 erly part of Paxton. 
 
 On the twenty-second day of December, A. D. 1686, 
 Henry Willard and four others bought of certain other 
 Indians another tract of land twelve miles square, called 
 Naquag, or l!^aqueag, embracing the present towns of Rut- 
 land, Oakham, Barre, Ilubbardston, Princeton, and about 
 two miles in width of the northerly part of Paxton. On 
 the twenty-third day of February, A. J). 1713, this tract was 
 confirmed to the sons and grandsons of the late Major 
 
11 
 
 Simon WiJlard, of Lancaster, and others * ; '^ on condition 
 that within seven years time there be sixty families settled 
 thereon, and sufficient lands be reserved for a gospel min- 
 istry and schools." " The town to be called Rut- 
 land and to lie in the county of Middlesex." The proprie- 
 tors voted at Boston, in December, A. D. 1715, *' That the 
 contents of six miles square be surveyed and set off for the 
 settlement of sixty-two families in order to the performance 
 of the condition of the grant." This territory is what 
 constitutes the town of Rutland, The requisite number of 
 settlers having been obtained, the proprietors confirmed this 
 grant ; and at a meeting of the freeholders and other 
 inhabitants of this six miles square, held on the ninth day 
 of October, A. D. 1721, it was " voted to prefer a petition 
 to the General Court to give their sanction, and to establish 
 them as a town, to have and enjoy all the privileges other 
 towns enjoy." The prayer of this petition was granted in 
 May, A. D. 1722; and under authority of the General Court 
 Captain Samuel Wright called the first town meeting, at 
 which the town was organized by the choice of its proper 
 officers. This meeting was holden on the last Monday of 
 July, A. D. 1722. 
 
 ^ This was the celebrated Major Willard, who in A. D. 1675 went to the 
 relief of Brookfield when attacked and finally destroyed by the Nipnet or Nip- 
 muck Indians ; who, according to Hutchinson, were located ^' On rivers and 
 lakes, or large ponds where Oxford now is and towns near it." 
 
 Major Willard had been sent (by the General Court) after some Indians 
 westward of Lancaster and Groton ; but hearing of the attack on Brookfield, 
 marched with Captain Parker and forty-six men to its relief ; and was after- 
 wards censured and cashiered for disobedience to orders, says Doctor Fiske, 
 which act of the Government " disgusted his friends and broke his heart." — 
 Fiske^s Sermon, Dec. 81, 1775. 
 
12 
 
 About two miles in width of the southerly part of Kut- 
 land, as thus established, now constitutes the northerly part 
 of Paxton.* 
 
 As the prime object of the founders of Massachusetts, 
 was civil and religious liberty, they, and their descendants, 
 in all their movements touching the settlement of the coun- 
 try, and the establishment and construction of its municipal- 
 ities and institutions, care was taken to provide for the 
 support of " the Gospel Ministry, and Schools ; believing, 
 and truly, Christianity and learning to be the only sure 
 foundations and pillars of republican government and insti- 
 tutions, and the perpetuity of democratic power.f 
 
 Hence the first public act of almost every district and 
 town in the county, was to erect a meeting house, and 
 settle a minister ; religion and its ordinances being the 
 alpha and omega of those stern pioneers of freedom ; and 
 whatever interfered with, or hindered their enjoyment of 
 the public and social worship of their God, was deemed a 
 serious evil, and they spared no pains or expense for its 
 removal. 
 
 Meeting Houses had been built in Leicester and Rutland, 
 standing near the sites of the present Congregational 
 Churches in those towns ; and a road opened leading from the 
 one to the other, as early as A. D. 1721. This road, as appears 
 on a plan of the District of Paxton, now in the Secretary's 
 
 * A part of Holden was annexed to Paxton, February 13th 1804, also, April 
 9th., 1839 : and a part of the southwesterly part of Rutland was annexed to 
 Paxton, and the line between the towns altered in some other parts by the 
 Legislature, May 24th., 1851, and February 20th., 1829. 
 
 t See Provincial law passed in the year 1792 : Ancient Charters and laws 
 of Mass., page 243. 
 
13 
 
 office in Boston ; * passed throuoch the town to the east of 
 its centre. 
 
 The first settlers of Paxton, were located on the outskirts 
 of Leicester and Rutland, and many of them remote from 
 this road; which was reached only by paths through the 
 woods and fields ; consequently, they were subjected to 
 great inconvenience in attending public meetings, in either 
 of those towns ; and therefore desired to become a distinct 
 municipality, in order to be authorised to build a " meeting 
 house " easier of access, than w^ere those in Leicester, or 
 Rutland.f To this end as early as A. D. 1761, a petition was 
 presented to the General Court, by the inhabitants of the 
 southerly part of Rutland, and the northerly part of Lei- 
 cester, praying to be incorporated into a distinct munici- 
 pality ; assigning as a reason, " the great difficulties they 
 labor under in attending public worship, by reason of the 
 great distance they were from its places in the towns to 
 
 * See vol. 4, Map or page 19. 
 
 fSee Colonial law A. D. 1679, Section 20. "For as much as it hath too 
 often happened that through differences arising in several towns, and other 
 pretenses, there hath been attempts by some persons to erect new meeting 
 houses, although on pretense of public worship of God on the Lord's days, yet 
 thereby laying a foundation (if not for schism and seduction, to errors and her- 
 eses,) for perpetrating divisions, and weakening such places where they dwell 
 in the comfortable enjoyment of the ministry, orderly settled amongst them. 
 For prevention whereof for the future, it is ordered by this Court, and by the 
 authority thereof, that no person whatsoever without the consent of the freemen 
 of the town where they live, first orderly had and obtained at a public meeting 
 assembled at that end, and licence obtained to the County Court : or in defeat 
 of such consent and license, by the order of the General Court, shall erect or 
 make use of any house as aforesaid ; and in case any person or persons shall 
 be convicted of transgressing this law, every such house or houses, wherein 
 such persons shall so meet more than three times, with the land whereon such 
 house or houses stand, and all private ways leading thereto, shall be forfeited 
 to the use of the County, and disposed of by the county treasurer by sale or 
 demolishing, as the Court that gives judgment in the case shall order." 
 
14 
 
 whicli they belong." This petition having been dismissed, 
 they presented another similar one, headed by Jeremiah 
 Howe, of Leicester, in A. D. 1762, which was also dismissed. 
 Not disheartened by their former ill success, but encouraged 
 by the parable of the unjust judge, and importunate widow, 
 they made a third application, assigning similar reasons 
 with the additional one, " that the land prayed for in Lei- 
 cester, was set off by a town vote, for the ends proposed, at 
 a town meeting held on the sixteenth day of May A. D. 1763. 
 This petition was presented to the General Court the same 
 year, and an order of notice, was served on the town of 
 Eutland, who objected to granting the prayer thereof, and 
 it was dismissed on the thirty first day of December A. D. 
 1763. * 
 
 * The following is a copy of the petition, upon which the vote of the town of 
 Leicester was passed. 
 
 To the selectmen of the town of Leicester, and the other inhabitants of the 
 same. The petition, and desire of the subscribers hereof, humbly showeth — 
 That whereas in the government of Divine Providence, our habitations are at a 
 great distaiice from the place of public worship in this town, which, together 
 with the snow, and moisture of the land, it is exceedingly difficult a great part 
 of the year, to attend on the public worship of God in this town ; We look upon 
 it as our bounden duty to endeavour to set up the Gospel among us, by which 
 we, with our families might more constantly enjoy the means of grace. 
 
 In order to accomplish the good end of setting up the Gospel, we propose, if 
 possible to obtain leave so to do, to erect a town, or district between the towns 
 of Leicester and Rutland, by taking two miles off each town, to make up the 
 contents of four miles square. Wherefore your petitioners, humbly and ear- 
 nestly desire, that for the good end above proposed, you would now set off by a 
 vote of this town, two miles at the north end of this town, the lands with the 
 inhabitants thereon, to be laid out, and connected with the south part of Rut- 
 land that is adjoining the same, to be erected into a town or district, by order 
 of the Great and General Court of this province, as soon as may be, that we 
 may set up a Congregational Church, and settle a gospel minister, according to 
 the constitution of the churches in the land; which we judge will be for the 
 advancement of religion, and our comfort, if it be obtained in the way of peace. 
 So wishing you health and peace, as in duty bound, we subscribe your peti- 
 tioners : Leicester, May 13th., 17G3. Oliver Witt, Timo. Barrett, Abraham 
 
15 
 
 l^otwitb Stan ding the discouragements of a triple failure, 
 these petitioners presented still another petition to the Gen- 
 eral Court, for an act of incorporation, signed by " Oliver 
 "Witt and others, inhabitants, some of them of Leicester, 
 others of Rutland, setting forth the great difficulties they 
 labour under by living at such a distance from the place of 
 public worship in the several towns to which they belong, 
 none of them living less than three miles distant, one only 
 excepted, and some of them four, and many of them five 
 miles distant, and the way bad ; and praying that they 
 may be erected into a distinct town, or district, or pre- 
 cinct, by certain bounds in said petition mentioned ; " " it 
 was ordered that Jedediah Foster, of Brookfield, and Col. 
 Williams, on the part of the House, and Benjamin Lincoln, 
 of the Council be a committee, in the recess of this Court to 
 repair to the place petitioned for, to be erected into a parish 
 at the charge of the petitioners, and that they hear all 
 parties interested for and against said corporation, and 
 report at the next session whether the prayer thereof should 
 be granted." This committee reported in favor on the 23d., 
 of January 1765 ; and a bill entitled "an act for incorpora- 
 ting the southerly part of Rutland, and the northerly part 
 of Leicester in the county of Worcester, into a district by 
 the name of Paxton, passed both branches of the Legisla- 
 ture to be enacted ; and of the twelfth day of February, 
 Anno Regni Georgii Tertii, Quinto 1765, was approved by 
 the Governor Francis Bernard, and Paxton was authorized 
 to take its place among the incorporated municipalities of 
 the Commonwealth, vested with all the powers, privileges 
 
 Smith, Abner Morse, James Thompson, William Thompson Jr., William 
 Thompson, Abijah Bemis, Daniel Snow Jr., James Nichol, Jason Livermore, 
 Isaac Bellows, Nathan Livermore, Daniel Steward. 
 
16 
 
 and immunities which with the inhabitants of any town in 
 this Province, do, or by law ought to enjoy, excepting only, 
 the privilege of sending a representative to the General As- 
 sembly." The charter gave them the right to join with the 
 town of Leicester, and the Precinct of Spencer, in choosing 
 representatives to the General Court. 
 
 John Murry Esq., of Rutland, was authorized to call the 
 first meeting of the inhabitants to choose the-proper District 
 ofiicers. That meeting was warned by Phineas Moore, and 
 was held at the house of Mr. John Snow, on the eleventh 
 day of March, in the year Seventeen hundred and sixty-five, 
 when and where the proper ofiicers were chosen, and the 
 District was duly organized. 
 
 On the first day of April, A. D. 1765, and only twenty days 
 after its organization, the district held a meeting, and voted 
 to build a Meeting House ; and at subsequent meetings 
 during the year arrangements were made for carrying that 
 vote into efiiect ; a committee was chosen and the sum of 
 thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence was appropri- 
 ated " for the purpose of procuring the Gospel to be preached 
 in the place during the winter." The Meeting House was 
 raised and partly finished that year, and a further appropria- 
 tion was made for preaching. 
 
 Notwithstanding this prompt action in relation to the 
 establishment of the public worship of God, more than two 
 years elapsed before the Congregational Church was organ- 
 ized and a pastor settled. The Church Covenant is dated 
 September 3d. A. D. 1767 ; and was signed by Phineas Moore, 
 John Snow, Jason Livermore, David Davis, Benjamin 
 Sweetser, Silas Biglow, (the pastor elect) Samuel Mann, 
 Oliver Witt, Stephen Barrett, and Samuel Brown. 
 
17 
 
 This delay was probably occasioned, at least in some de- 
 gree, as I have often heard from persons who lived there at 
 that time, by the efforts that were made for the establish- 
 ment of an Episcopal Church in the district, a measure 
 which was attempted, but finally defeated by the unyielding 
 opposition of the sturdy descendants of the^ puritans, who 
 had fled from its intolerance in Europe, and whose horror 
 and hate of Episcopacy, had been transmitted to their sons. 
 
 The ecclesiastical and municipal records of Paxton, show 
 that although the prime and professed object of the peti- 
 tioners for a distinct municipality, was to obtain and enjoy 
 greater facilities for public religious worship ; they were not 
 exempt from trials and difficulties. There was a lack of 
 harmony and unanimity in regard to clerical and ecclesias- 
 tical affairs, during some portion of more than forty years. 
 During its municipal existence, Paxton has had eight settled 
 Congregational Clergymen, the aggregate of whose pas- 
 torates is about eighty-two years, averaging a fraction over 
 ten years each. 
 
 Their first clergyman was Rev. Silas Biglow, a gentleman 
 highly esteemed for his intellectual and moral worth, greatly 
 beloved during his life, and as much lamented for years 
 after his death by his parishioners. He was ordained on the 
 21st.;of October A. D. 1767 ; and died on the 16th., of JSTovem- 
 ber A. D. 1769. His successor was Rev. Alexander Thayer, 
 who was ordained on the 28th, of November A. D. 1770, and 
 dismissed by an ecclesiastical council, mutually chosen by 
 the parties in interest, on the 14th., of August 1782. The 
 connection between Mr. Thayer and his congregation was 
 not harmonious ; various causes contributed to this want of 
 Christian love and fellowship. He was strongly suspected 
 of being at heart a royalist, which alone was sufficient to 
 3 
 
18 
 
 alienate the aiFections of his people ; he charged his society 
 with injustice, for not making good to him all loss in his 
 salary by reason of the depreciation in the currency ; his 
 salary having been fixed at £QQ, 13s. 4d., he contended that 
 this sum should be increased in the same ratio that the cur- 
 rency had depreciated, which was not always done, although 
 several grants were made for his relief. But political ani- 
 mosity and the increasing demand for money to carry on the 
 war, prevented the inhabitants of Paxton from giving that 
 aid and support to their clergyman, which under other cir- 
 cumstances they would have done. After the dismission of 
 Mr. Thayer, the society became very much divided, particu- 
 larly in relation to the settlement of Rev John Foster as his 
 successor. Mr. Foster possessed brilliant talents, but from 
 some cause was not universally popular; he had ardent sup- 
 porters and determined and active opponents. Protests 
 were read at the town meetings held on the subject of his 
 settlement, and entered upon the town records, the protest- 
 ants declaring they would never pay any taxes assessed 
 upon them for his salary, unless taken from them by 
 force ; * and alleging that in their opinion " said Foster is not 
 learned, nor orthodox, neither of good report." Yet he was 
 finally settled on the 8th. of Sept. A. D. 1785, and dismissed 
 in 1789. He was a man of extraordinary mental powers, 
 possessing a stentorian voice, great fluency, a perfect com- 
 mand of language, never writing his sermons, yet never hes- 
 itating a moment in their delivery, independent minded, 
 
 * At that time the Minister's salary was raised by a tax assessed by the 
 town officers upon the polls and estates of all the inhabitants, except such as 
 had filed certificates with them of belonging to some other religious society. 
 This tax was specified on the assessor's books as '' Minister Tax," and was 
 collected in the same manner as the " State," " County," and " Town," taxes 
 were. 
 
19 
 
 with a certain obliquity of character which rendered him 
 unpopular, especially with his rigid puritan brethren in the 
 ministry. In early life I have heard some of his parishioners 
 relate many anecdotes concerning him ; one or two of which 
 will elucidate his character : — It was customary in those 
 days when capital punishment was to be inflicted, to take 
 the culprit on the day of his execution to some meeting- 
 house in the immediate neighborhood of the gallows, and 
 there in his presence have religious services performed, the 
 clergyman to officiate on the occasion being previously 
 nominated by the criminal. One Johnston Green, a thief 
 and burglar who had been convicted and sentenced to be 
 hung at Worcester, selected Mr. Foster to preach his execu- 
 tion sermon. On the appointed day a large concourse had 
 assembled in the church as usual, among whom were many 
 of the clergymen of Worcester and the adjacent towns. 
 After the arrival of the officers of the law with their doomed 
 victim, Mr, Foster invited one of the ministers then present 
 to make the introductory prayer on the occasion, who de- 
 clined ; another was requested and he declined ; still another 
 who also refused, and th^ invitation was extended to all whom 
 he saw in the house, which was successfully declined by all : 
 Mr. Foster then stepped on to the stand in the pulpit, and 
 as he did so, soliloquising, yet in a voice that reached every 
 ear, " Thank God, I can preach and pray too." He then 
 prayed with such fervour and pathos that not only the pri- 
 soner, but many of the audience wept aloud, and to use the 
 language of my informant who was present *' there was not 
 a dry eye in the house." In a sermon he once said that 
 "the doctrine of original sin, sprang from Rome in the third 
 century, and would to God it was back again." Some 
 Church members were greatly shocked and offended, deem- 
 
20 
 
 ing it rank heresy, if not absolute blasphemy. A church 
 meeting was called to consider the matter ; Mr. Foster 
 attended, and to pacify the disaffected, he promised to make 
 a public recantation of the offensive language the next Sab- 
 bath. On that day the house was crowded, and after the 
 usual religious exercises were finished, he stated that he had 
 been left to say in his pulpit that the doctrine of original sin 
 sprang from Rome in the third century, and would to God it 
 was back again. He then in a very penetential tone con- 
 tinued, " brethren I am sorry, I humbly confess my error, I 
 regret it exceedingly ; I regret that I did not say that the 
 doctrine of original sin sprang from hell, and would to God 
 it was back again." He was not required to make any 
 more public recantations. 
 
 So great was the opposition to Mr. Foster that many 
 seceded from the society and formed a new one ; but after 
 his dismission an effort was made to reunite the two socie- 
 ties, w^hich was effected, and took place on the 27th. day of 
 May 1793 ; and on the 5th. day of E'ovember 1794, Rev. 
 Daniel Grosvenor, previously settled at Grafton in Massa- 
 chusetts, was installed, who by his urbanity and affability, 
 succeeded for some years in maintaining harmony and peace 
 in the society ; and it was fondly hoped that the old root of 
 bitterness was eradicated. But that hope proved fallacious. 
 About the commencement of the present century dissatis- 
 faction began to manifest itself, and increased to so great a 
 degree that Mr. Grosvenor, whose health had become some- 
 what impaired, asked a dismission, which was granted on 
 the 17th. of March A. D. 1802, After a lapse of more than 
 five years, Rev. Gains Conant succeeded Mr. Grosvenor, 
 and was ordained on the 14th. of February A. D. 1808 ; and 
 
21 
 
 dismissed of the 21st. of September A. D. 1831 ; and on 
 the same day, and by the same council that dismissed Mr. 
 Conant, Eev. Moses Winch, was ordained as his successor. 
 Mr, Winch held the sacred office until the 28th. day of Au- 
 gust A. D. 1834, when he was dismissed ; and was suc- 
 ceeded by Rev. James D. Farnsworth, who was ordained 
 April 30th. 1835, and dismissed in May 1840. On the 
 eleventh day of l^ovember Eighteen hundred and forty, the 
 present worthy incumbent of the clerical oflSce, Rev. William 
 Phipps, was ordained, whose continuance in it for a quarter 
 of a century, is plenary proof of his worth, and acceptability 
 to his parishioners. 
 
 Paxton like many other towns in the Commonwealth was 
 never incorporated as a town by any other special enactment 
 than the one already mentioned ; by which the inhabitants 
 were vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities 
 of a town, except only the right of sending a representative 
 to the General Court. This right was granted to Paxton in 
 common with all the towns and districts in the colony, 
 restricted like it in that particular, by an act of the new 
 State Government of Massachusetts in July, in the j^ear 
 Seventeen hundred and seventy-five. In the preamble of this 
 act it is set forth, *' Whereas there are divers acts, or laws 
 heretofore made and passed by former General Courts, or 
 assemblies of this colony for the incorporation of towns and 
 districts, which, against common right and in derogation of 
 the rights granted to the inhabitants of this colony by the 
 charter, contain an exception of the right and privilege of 
 choosing and sending a representative to the Great and 
 General Court or assembly : — Be it therefore enacted and 
 declared by the Council and House of Representatives in 
 General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, 
 
22 
 
 that henceforth every such exception contained in any act 
 or law heretofore made and passed by any G.eneral Court 
 or assembly of this Colony for erecting or incorporating any 
 town or district, shall be held and taken to be altogether 
 null and void ; and that every town and district in this Col- 
 ony consisting of thirty or more freeholders and other 
 inhabitants qualified by charter to vote in the election of a 
 representative, shall henceforth be held and taken to have 
 fall right, power and privilege, to elect and depute one or 
 more persons being freeholders, and resident in such town 
 or district, to serve for, and represent them in an}/ Great and 
 General Court or Assembly hereafter to be held and kept 
 for this Colony according to the limitations in an act or law 
 of the General assembly, entitled an act for ascertaining the 
 number and regulating the House of Representatives, any 
 exceptions of that right and privilege contained or expressed 
 in the respective acts or laws for the incorporation of such 
 town or district notwithstanding." 
 
 As this act was passed by the inchoate Eepublican Gov- 
 ernment of Massachusetts, it may be interesting to inquire 
 how that body came into existence and obtained power and 
 authority to make altogether null and void the enactments 
 of the Great and General Court, instituted and established 
 by, and under the authority of "William and Mary, by the 
 grace of God King and Queen of England, France and Ire- 
 land, Defenders of the faith ; and of George, by the grace 
 of God, of Great Britain France and Ireland King, defender 
 of the faith, &c." To do this I beg your indulgence for a 
 few moments, while I call your attention to some of the 
 events which immediately preceded the commencement of 
 armed resistance to British encroachments upon American 
 liberty. 
 
23 
 
 Thomas Gage arrived at Boston, in May A. D. 1774, com- 
 missioned as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of His 
 Majesty's forces in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 
 New England, under royal instructions to enforce the ob- 
 noxious acts of Parliament, which the people justly deemed 
 oppressive, and flagrant encroachments upon their charter- 
 rights, and subversive to their liberties. He endeavoured to 
 carry out those instructions by military force, and official 
 chicane. The General Court was in session ; and in conse- 
 quence of the doings of the late Governor, Francis Bernard 
 and his official satelites, a plan had been matured by the 
 people to call a continental Congress, for the purpose of 
 forming a union of all the Colonies, to resist British tyranny. 
 This plan was to be brought before the House of Represen- 
 tatives for their approval and adoption ; all of which had 
 been kept secret from His Excellency and his tory officials. 
 On the seventeenth day of June, the House closed its doors 
 and proceeded to the consideration of that momentous 
 measure ; a tory member obtained leave of absence, and 
 communicated to the Governor the subject of deliberation 
 then before the House ; whereupon he immediately dis- 
 patched the Secretary to dissolve the Court- That function- 
 ary, upon finding the doors closed, and demanding admit- 
 tance was informed that " the House was engaged upon 
 very important business, which when they had finished they 
 would let him in : " whereupon he read the proclamation of 
 dissolution, upon the door-steps, and in the Council Cham- 
 ber. This was the last General Court ever convened and held 
 in Massachusetts under the summons and authority of a Royal 
 Governor. Subsequently General Gage issued writs to the 
 towns and districts to elect delegates to a General Court, to 
 be convened at Salem on the fifth day of October, but a 
 
24 
 
 few days before that time arrived, he countermanded those 
 precepts by proclamation. This last measure was deemed 
 illegal, and therefore generally disregarded.* Ninety dele- 
 gates were duly elected and assembled at the time and place 
 designated in the writs, where they waited the entire day 
 for the arrival of His Excellency, or some other constitu- 
 tional officer to administer the customary oath of office to 
 them ; but no one appearing for that purpose, on the seventh 
 day of October A. I). 1774, the delegates resolved them- 
 selves " into a Provincial Congress of Deputies of the sev- 
 eral towns and districts in the Province of Massachusetts 
 Bay, in I^ew England," and temporarily organized by choos- 
 ing John Hancock, Chairman, and Benjamin Lincoln, 
 Secretary. The Congress then adjourned to meet at Con- 
 cord the eleventh day of October ; that being the time and 
 place which the conventions of Delegates of the several 
 counties in the province, had previously agreed upon, for 
 the meeting of a Provincial Congress. This adjournment 
 was therefore made in conformity with the resolves of those 
 County Assemblies, which had been held before the issuing 
 of those execution writs. 
 
 This Congress met agreeably to adjournment, and in con- 
 junction with Delegates, who had. been chosen by the towns 
 and districts, for the express purpose of forming a Provin- 
 cial Congress, they reconsidered the vote passed at Salem, 
 and then organized by choosing John Hancock, President, 
 instead of Chairman ; and Benjamin Lincoln, was re-elected 
 Secretary. A Continental Congress having been formed by 
 Delesrates from the several Colonies, and beins; in session at 
 
 * It was contended that the Governor could not dissolve the General Court 
 until the members had assembled, and had been duly qualified : and having 
 summoned one, he could not nullify that summons by a proclamation. 
 
25 
 
 that time in Philadelphia. This Provincial Congress of 
 Massachusetts consulted that body relative to the formation 
 of a government for this Commonwealth. On the ninth 
 day of June A. J). 1775, the Continental Congress in 
 answer to the request of Massachusetts, passed the follow- 
 ing ; — " Resolved that no obedience being due to the act 
 of Parliament, for altering the Charter of Massachusetts 
 Bay, nor to a Governor or Lieutenant Governor, who will 
 not observe the directions of, but endeavour to subvert that 
 Charter, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are to be 
 considered as absent, and their offices vacant,* and as there 
 is no council there, and as the inconveniences arising from 
 the suspension of the powers of government are intolerable, 
 especially at a time when General Gage hath actually levied 
 war, and is carrying on hostilities against His Majesty's 
 peaceful and loyal subjects of that colony ; in order to con- 
 form as near as may be to the spirit and substance of the 
 Charter, it be recommended to the Provincial Congress to 
 write letters to the inhabitants of the several places w^hich 
 are entitled to representation in assembly, requesting them 
 to choose such representatives ; and that the assembly when 
 chosen should elect councillors ; which assembly and coun- 
 cil should exercise the powers of Government, until a Gov- 
 ernor of His Majesty's appointment will consent to govern 
 the Colony according to its Charter." 
 
 Li accordance with the recommendation of this resolve, a 
 *' letter" was duly prepared, printed and dispersed to the 
 several towns and districts, requesting " the selectmen 
 thereof to call meetings of the leo:al voters of their respec- 
 
 * By the Charter of William and Mary it is provided that in the absence of 
 the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, or deputy Governor, a majority of the 
 Council were vested with the powers and authority of the Governor. 
 
 4 
 
26 
 
 tive corporations to elect representatives to represent them 
 in a Great and General assembly to be convened, held and 
 kept for the service of said Colony, until the end of the day 
 next preceding the last Wednesday of May next, if neces- 
 sary, and no longer, at the Meeting House in Watertovvn, 
 upon Wednesday the nineteenth day of July next ensuing 
 the date hereof. " This was dated the 19th. of June A. D. 
 1775. 
 
 The third Provincial Congress was dissolved on the nine- 
 teenth day of July A. D. 1775, and the New Government, 
 in accordance with the recommendation of the Continental 
 Congress was organized upon that plan ; and this continued 
 to be the form of Government, and the manner of electing 
 its members, until the formation and adoption of our State 
 Constitution in A. D. 1780.* 
 
 The Legislative body which gave to Paxton, and to all 
 other municipal corporations restricted in like manner, the 
 right of Representation in the State Legislature, was created 
 and constituted, as I have just related by the voice of God, 
 that is the voice of the people : "Vox populi vox est Dei," 
 an authority superior to that of British Potentates. 
 
 The first Representative of Paxton, according to the best 
 information which I have been able to obtain from its records, 
 
 * The Executive Council which was annually elected by the House of Rep- 
 resentatives, as recommended by the Continental Congress, performed the 
 duties of Governor as provided by the old Charter. Yet the people, being ap- 
 prehensive that the exigences of the times required a Chief Executive Officer, 
 as early as A. D. 1777, agitated the subject of framing and adopting a State 
 Constitution ; and on the 17th. of June 1779, precepts were issued by the Gen- 
 eral Court for the election, by the towns and districts of the State, of Delegates 
 to meet at Cambridge in September following, for the purpose of forming a 
 State Constitution. Adam Maynard, was chosen a Delegate to this Conven- 
 tion from Paxton on the tenth day of August A. D. 1779, as the town records 
 show, " for the sole purpose of forming a new Constitution." 
 
27 
 
 was Abraham Smith, who was probably elected on the 23d. 
 of May A. D. 1776. I find a record of a warrant for calling 
 a Town Meeting to be held on that day for the purpose of 
 choosing " a person to represent them in the Great and 
 General Court agreeably to a precept directed to them for 
 that purpose." But there is no record of what was done at 
 that meeting, and the warrant was not recorded until A. D. 
 1779. That Mr. Smith was then chosen is reasonably infer- 
 red from a vote of the town passed at a meeting held on 
 the third day of May A. D. 1777, by which " Mr. Abraham 
 Smith, our present representative " was instructed "to use 
 his influence in the General Assembly " that a certain act be 
 repealed. This is the first mention made in the records, of 
 the town having a representative in the legislature. Rev. 
 Alexander Thayer was sent as a delegate from Paxton, to 
 the third Provincial Congress, which was convened at 
 Watertown, on the thirty-first day of May A. D. 1775. The 
 Committee of Correspondence for the County of Worcester, 
 knowing; Mr. Thayer's political proclivity to toryism, remon- 
 strated against his holding a seat in that body ; and a com- 
 mittee to whom the case was referred, reported against his 
 right ; but their report was not accepted, yet leave of absence 
 was granted to the Rev. delegate, and a motion " that he 
 be instru(jted to return as soon as may be " was negatived. 
 Thus it appears, tho' the Congress virtually admitted his 
 right to a seat, it was very willing to dispense with his occu- 
 pation of it, probably on account of his want of political 
 orthodoxy. 
 
 Paxton having been a part of Leicester and Rutland, for 
 nearly half a century after the settlements of them, it is dif- 
 ficult to ascertain when the first permanent settlements were 
 
28 
 
 made within its limits. Ralph Earl * owned and lived on 
 the farm which formerly belonged to the late Joseph Pen- 
 niman ; and Ralph Earl was one of the first fifty families, who 
 settled in Leicester, and was one of the grantees named in 
 the deed of the Proprietors of Leicester, to John Stebbins 
 and others ; and to him was assigned Lot ]^o. 47. Seth 
 Metcalf was an early settler in the Korth-westerly part of 
 the town, as appears from a special act of the Legislature to 
 prevent his fiirm from being taxed in both Rutland and 
 Paxton; Phineas Moore, who lived on the road leading 
 from Leicester to Rutland, John Snow, on the farm where 
 the late Colonel Willard Snow lived ; David Davis, Benjamin 
 Sweetser, Samuel Mann, Jonathan Witt, Oliver Witt, 
 w^ere among the early settlers ; also in the South-westerly 
 part of the town were James Thompson, William Thomp- 
 son, James Bemis, Abijah Bemis, Jason Livermore, Josiah 
 Livermore, William Wicker, David Wicker, Jacob Wicker, 
 John Wicker, Isaac Bellows, and Ezekiel BeDows, at a very 
 early period. These facts I have learned from old family 
 Records, and from the statements of very aged persons made 
 to me more than sixty years ago. 
 
 When the engrossed bill for incorporating the town 
 passed the House of Representatives, there was no name in- 
 serted in it; the blank was filled in the Council by the word 
 Paxton, in honor of Charles Paxton, who was at that time 
 the Marshal of the Admiralty Court, and a great friend 
 
 * Ralph Earl had two sons, one of whom became somewhat famous as an 
 artist 5 — he made a painting of Niagara Falls ; and subsequently resided in one 
 of the Southern States ; and there is good reason to believe that he, or a son of 
 his, was the R. E. W. Earl, who for many years was an inmate of the Hermit- 
 age, employed almost exclusively in painting portraits of General Andrew 
 Jackson ; and died there in A. D. 18?>1 ; and was buried in the garden near the 
 graves of Gen. and Mrs. Jackson. 
 
29 
 
 and favourite of Francis Bernard the Governor, and of 
 Thomas Hutchinson, the Deputy Governor. When a child 
 I have often heard it stated by elderly persons, that Mr. 
 Paxton promised to give the town a Church bell if it was 
 named after him ; but which promise was never fulfilled. 
 Although the political sins of Charles Paxton, were com- 
 mitted almost a century ago, history has not forgotten them 
 and I trust I shall not be charged with supererogation, if on 
 this occasion, I repeat some part of its record. He was a 
 man of polished manners, pleasing address, and gentlemanly 
 appearance,* but an intriguing politician, and a despicable 
 sycophant, '' every man's humble servant, but no man's 
 friend," as his proper figure was labelled, when on Pope's 
 day, as the anniversary of the Gun-powder jDlot was called, 
 it was paraded through the streets of Boston, standing be- 
 tween the effigies of the Pope and the Devil. He was the 
 tool of Charles Townshen, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 and in connection with that functionary devised the scheme 
 of raising a revenue from the Colonies by a tax on glass, 
 paper, painter's colors, and tea, which passed both Houses of 
 Parliament, and was approved by the King on the Twenty- 
 ninth day of June A. D. lT67.t " The passage of this bill," 
 says Barry, "was not a little forwarded by the influence 
 of Paxton, a citizen of Boston, who had been sent from 
 America, at the instance of Bernard and Hutchinson, and 
 Oliver, to appear as advocate of the officers of the Crown, 
 
 ■^ There is a portrait of Mr. Paxton, bj Wainwright, ia the Rooms of the 
 Massachusetts Historical Society, in Boston ; and also another, as I am 
 informed, in the Hall of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester. 
 
 f This was the act which led to the associations in the Colonies to abstain 
 from the use of English manufactures, &c., and in opposition to which the Tea 
 was thrown overboard in Boston Harbor on the IGth of June A. D. 1773. 
 
30 
 
 and to mature a scheme for a Board of Customs," at the 
 head of which, Paxton was afterward placed, Sabin says, 
 *' for a pecuniary consideration," as he thinks there is evi- 
 dence to show, "as he was a place hunter, bought and 
 sold office with money, and was as rapacious as the fabled 
 horpy." Mr. Paxton was particularly active and earnest for the 
 issuing writs of assistance, by which the officers of the cus- 
 toms were fully authorized to enter any and all buildings to 
 search for, and to seize, any and all goods and merchandize 
 which they suspected had been smuggled. He often applied 
 for them to the courts, and in opposing such an application, 
 James Otis made that memorable speech which has immor- 
 talized his name as the accoucheur of American Indepen- 
 dence ; and of which speech John Adams said, "American 
 Independence was then and there born. The seeds of patriots 
 and heroes to defend the vigorous youth were then and there 
 sown. Rvery man of an immense crowded audience appeared 
 to me (says he) to go away as I did, ready to take up arms 
 against writs of assistance." After the arrival of the first 
 troops in Boston, at the instance of Paxton and his fellow 
 Commissioners, James Otis denounced in a card the com- 
 missioners by name, which led to the assault upon Mr. Otis 
 by John Robinson, one of the Commissioners of the Cus- 
 toms, and others, when Mr. Otis received a blow upon his 
 head which finally terminated his life. 
 
 The course pursued by Paxton was so rapacious, insolent 
 and tyrannical, that he became the just object of public 
 hatred, was treated with indignity, was hung in e&igy upon 
 Liberty tree, * driven at one time by the wrath of the 
 
 * " Liberty Tree," was a large elm, which stood at the Junction of Essex 
 street with Washington street, on the site of " Liberty Tree Block," nearly 
 opposite Boylston street ; on the front of this Block is carved in bass-relief, a 
 
31 
 
 people into Castle William, and left Boston at the time of 
 its evacuation by the British troops, went to Halifax, thence 
 to England, where he lived in merited obscurity, and died 
 at the advanced age of eighty-four years, A. D. 1788 ; as 
 stated in Sabine's Loyalists. 
 
 One of the first public acts of the town, touching the 
 affairs of the revolution, was to raise a committee " to peti- 
 tion the General Court for a name more agreeable to the 
 inhabitants and the public than thatof Paxton." No wonder 
 that the citizens of this town wished to drop a name worthy 
 of oblivion, and the execration of every true patriot ; and 
 even at this late period it is a source of regret, at least to 
 me, that the committee chosen for that purpose, either neg- 
 lected their duty, or the Legislature did not discharge 
 theirs. 
 
 However infamous the name Paxton may be when remem- 
 bered as the designation of an unworthy British official, 
 there is none that stands fairer on the page of history, than 
 does the Toivn of Paxton. 
 
 During the exciting events which immediately preceded 
 
 representation of this tree, upon freestone. It was a favorite resort of the 
 " Sons of Liberty," and the space around it was called *' Liberty Hall," at the 
 commencement of the Revolution. Here large assemblies of people often met for 
 consultation and to deliberate upon measures to be adopted in vindication of 
 heir rights against Parliamentary aggressions. It was this spot consecrated to 
 liberty, that the consignees of the tea, sent to Boston by the East India Com- 
 pany were summoned to come, on the 3d. day of November A. D. 177.S, to 
 resign their commissions before the citizens of Boston and vicinity, who had 
 been requested to assemble there to witness the ceremony. 
 
 This famous tree, says Barry, was cut down by order of General Gage some- 
 time in the summer of 1775, by the British troops and the tories, " who after a 
 long spell of laughing and grinning, sweating and swearing, and foaming with 
 diabolical malice succeeded in bringing its tufted honors to the ground, but 
 not without the loss of one of their number perched upon the topmost limb, 
 who was crushed by his precipitate fall to the ground." 
 
32 
 
 the actual commencement of hostilities, the inhabitants took 
 all those precautionary measures universally adopted by the 
 towns throughout the country. At a town meeting holden 
 on the 22d. of August A. D. 1774, a committee w^as chosen 
 to consult and report on the state of public affairs ; and they 
 voted to buy a barrel of powder in addition to the quantity 
 then on hand, A Committee of Correspondence and one 
 of Inspection, was duly appointed ; the latter of which was 
 very vigilant in watching the conduct of all such persons as 
 were suspected of Toryism, of whom there were several in 
 the town, one of whom was the Clergyman. All the able- 
 bodied men capable of bearing arms were formed into two 
 companies, " The Standing Company," and the "Minute 
 Company. " The latter were fully armed and equipped, 
 and were often exercised in military tactics ; money was 
 raised to pay the minute men for their time and expenses 
 spent and incurred in military training. On the 17th. of 
 January A. D. 1775, thirty-three men were drafted from 
 these as minute men, who were duly organized and officered 
 and on the receipt of the intelligence of the affair at Lex- 
 ington and Concord, April 19th. 1775, they marched to 
 Cambridge under the command of Capt. Willard Moore, 
 where he with a portion of his men enlisted into the Conti- 
 nental army. Captain Moore was promoted to the office of 
 Major, and fell in the battle of Bunker Hill. Several of 
 this company served during the war. From one of them I 
 heard the following statement of an event he witnessed, and 
 which is illustrative of the feelings of the men of that day. 
 Baron Stuben, a former European Military Officer, was In- 
 spector-General of the Continental Army, was a thorough 
 tactician and rigid disciplinarian, and in drilling our troops 
 was very strict, and sometimes severe. The army was in 
 
New Jersey, and where the musquitoes were so numerous 
 that unless continually kept ofl' by force would cover a per- 
 son's face almost in an instant. The troops were being 
 drilled by Stuben, who seeing a man near him brush the 
 musquitoes from his face, sprang towards the offender with 
 his uplifted bludgeon, aiming a blow at his head, which 
 missing its intended object fell upon a soldier at his side 
 with such force as brought him down upon his knees. The 
 injured man rose instantly to his feet, and as he did so, drew 
 a ball-cartridge from his box, bit off the end, dropped it into 
 his musket, aimed at the Inspector and fired ; but an officer 
 seeing the actions of the soldier, rushed forward and with 
 his sword threw up the muzzle of the gun, so that the ball 
 passed over its intended victim. He was seized and dis- 
 armed, whereupon General Stuben apologized, saying it 
 was the other he intended to hit, not him, for he was a good 
 fellow, and offered him a piece of gold as an atonement for 
 the blow ; that was spurned with disdain by the champion 
 of freedom, he saying "your money perish with you, I came 
 to fight for my country against oppression and tyranny, and 
 not to have my brains beat out by a d d foreign rene- 
 gade." This was the spirit of " 76." 
 
 Paxton contained at the commencement of the war of 
 the revolution about ^ve hundred inhabitants, and during 
 that struggle always furnished its full quotas of men, which 
 were from three to eight for different lengths of service ; 
 on two calls it was eight each time. Besides these requisi- 
 tions it furnished ma?iy volunteers. Jason Livermore, of 
 Paxton, and Samuel Brewer, of Sutton, raised in Paxton 
 and Sutton a company which marched from this town on 
 the ninth day of August, 1776, to Charlestown, No. 4, in 
 New Hampshire, thence to Tyconderoga and Mount Hope, 
 5 
 
34 
 
 where they were stationed some considerable time. In 
 short, there were many acts of individual devotion and pat- 
 riotism, especially among the women of this town, which 
 would have done honor to Spartan or Roman matrons. In 
 order to furnish the minute-men with ammunition they gave 
 up their pewter dishes to be made into balls with which to 
 punish the violators of their country's rights and liberties.* 
 It appears from the records that Paxton paid almost ten 
 thousand dollars for hiring, clothing, &c., furnished the 
 soldiers and for military stores demanded by the Government, 
 besides the amounts paid into the State and other treasuries. 
 In short, it did its full share in resisting the encroachments 
 which its infamous namesake had labored so assiduously 
 to make upon American liberty ; and although its in- 
 dividual and municipal sufferings were extreme, and some- 
 times almost intolerable, its patriotism never flagged, and it 
 evinced by its conduct a determination to die or be free. 
 And history, if just, will laud its inhabitants as much for 
 their untiring efforts in defence of liberty, as it may justly 
 
 * A father and three sons were plowing in their field when informed by a 
 messenger of the incursion of " The Regulars " to Lexington and Concord, and 
 that the Minute Company, of which they were members, would march forth- 
 with. The father said ^' boys, unyoke the cattle, and let us be off." This was 
 done, and with the wife's and mother's pewter plates and spoons in their 
 pouches, in the form of bullets, they marched to Cambridge, and on the seven- 
 teenth of June, 1775, these same pewter bullets, were sent forth from the 
 works on Breed's Hill, as messengers of death to .the assaulting foe. The 
 above facts I had from one of the actors ; and from the wife and mother, who 
 was left at home with a son, then not quite twelve years of age, to carry on 
 the farm and provide for the family. This she cUd effectually, and in addition 
 thereto, excavated the earth from beneath her barn and from some other build- 
 ings, and manufactured from it more than a hundred pounds of nitre, or salt- 
 petre, for the purpose of making gunpowder ; of which there was a great want 
 for the army. This woman died in Paxton about forty years ago, at the great 
 age of one hundred years, lacking a month or two. She was the widow of 
 Jason Livermore. 
 
35 
 
 execrate Charles Paxton and his wicked coadjutors for their 
 strenuous exertions for its destruction. 
 
 In consequence of the smallness of its territory and its 
 unfavorable position, and lack of natural advantages for 
 manufacturing purposes, the inducements for immigration 
 into the town have been small, while beyond a limited num- 
 ber to take the places of parents, its native sons and daugh- 
 ters have had but few motives to remain ; hence its popula- 
 tion has not increased in as large a ratio as that of many 
 other towns in the Commonwealth. At the time of its in- 
 corporation it contained about five hundred souls : in A. D. 
 1790, 558 ; in 1800, 582 ; in 1810, 619 ; in 1820, 613 ; in 
 1830, 597 ; in 1840, 670 ; in 1850, 820 ; in 1860, 725 ; inhab- 
 iting one hundred and forty houses, and constituting one 
 hundred and seventy families. Their occupations were, in 
 A. D. 1860, sixty-two farmers ; twenty-five farm laborers ; 
 thirteen laborers ; three merchants ; ninety-seven boot- 
 makers ; two male and four female teachers. Although the 
 increase of population has been small, it does not follow that 
 Paxton has not contributed its share in swelling the popula- 
 tion of Massachusetts from three hundred eighty-seven thou- 
 sand, seven hundred and eigthy-seven, to one million two 
 hundred and thirty-one thousand and sixty-six souls ; and that 
 of the United States from three millions nine hundred twenty- 
 nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, to thirty- 
 one millions four hundred and forty-three thousand three 
 hundred and twenty-two souls, in seventy years ; that is, 
 from A. D. 1790 to 18*0. 
 
 Paxton, during its municipal existence, has participated 
 in and witnessed mighty events, such as have astonished the 
 world and are unparallelled in the history of nations. Thir- 
 teen young colonies with an aggregate population of a little 
 
36 
 
 rising three millions, without an army, without a navy, 
 without a treasury and general government, successfully 
 resisting the oppressive domination of one of the most 
 powerful nations of Europe, vindicating their title to a high 
 -place in the family of nations, and proudly assuming the 
 part and majesty of a free Independent Republic, with a 
 constellation of thirteen, now increased to thirty-six, stars 
 upon its banner ; the tide of civilization rolling on to the 
 foot of the Rocky Mountains, breaking over their summits, 
 reaching to the shores of the Pacific, and unlocking its vast 
 stores of precious metals ; guided by the arts and sciences, 
 industry delving into the Alleghanies and their valleys, and 
 unbarring their vast store-houses of coal and petroleum to 
 commerce and manufactures ; the vast discoveries of science 
 and their application to the arts and the use of man ; 
 Franklin taming the lightning of heaven, and Morse with a 
 wirey harness making it the post-boy of thought, transport- 
 ing its messages from one extreme of the Continent to that 
 of the other in an instant ; the sun made a rapid and most 
 accurate limner ; the sting of pain extracted by the anaesthe- 
 tic power of ether and chloroform ; the immense improve- 
 ments in navigation, commerce, agriculture and the mechanic 
 arts, by which steam out-strips the wind ; the reaper and the 
 mowing-machine have rendered obsolete the sickle and the 
 scythe ; the rude looms and spinning-wheels of our grand- 
 mothers are superceded by the automatic machinery of the 
 present day, whose millions of spindles and liy-shuttles, in 
 concert with the voice of our watfr-falls, chant constant 
 peans to the skill of our artizans; the cities and towns of 
 our immense country linked together by a net-work of rail- 
 roads, rendering transportation and communication easy and 
 rapid ; the science and the art, and the implements of war 
 
37 
 
 revolutionized, by which the boasted wooden walls of Eng- 
 land have become imbecile before the iron-clads of her 
 former colonies, and the British Lion cowering behind them 
 terror-stricken by the defiatory gaze of the American Eagle 
 perched upon the towers of her Monitors. It has seen a 
 Southern Confederacy, " conceived in sin and brought forth 
 in iniquity," like its prototype, the Apocalyptic Eed Dragon, 
 whose tail, rebellion, drew a third part of the stars of our 
 political heaven and endeavored to cast them to the earth, 
 *' speaking great things, saying, who ,is able to make war 
 with me," fighting on the bloody fields of Bull Eun, at 
 York Town, at Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill ; in the Valley 
 of the Shenandoah, on the Heights of Antietam and the 
 Plains of Gettysburg ; at Pittsburg-landing, at Memphis, at 
 ISTew Orleans, at Yicksburg, at Chattanooga ; in Alabama, 
 in Georgia ; the Carolinas ; along the banks of the Eappa- 
 hannock and the Eapidan ; at the Wilderness and Spott- 
 sylvania Court House ; before Petersburg and Eichmond, 
 that " habitation of devils and of every foul spirit, and the 
 cage of every unclean and hateful bird," — at last subdued 
 and brought to nought, and its epitaph written by the red 
 hand of assassination with the life-blood of a second Wash- 
 ington, ^''Eternal infamy and execration.'' It has seen all this, 
 and more ; it has seen that plague-spot, slavery, washed from 
 the body-politic by the blood of more than two hundred 
 thousand of our gallant soldiers, and the foul stain of bond- 
 age removed from our escutcheon at a cost of more than 
 three thousand millions of treasure. 
 
ANNIYERSA RY SONG 
 
 WORDS AND MUSIC WRITTEN FOR THE OCCASION, 
 BY REV. WILLIAM PHIPPS. 
 
 YEA^ItS OONE BY 
 
 The song of years gone bj, to-day we sing, 
 As here we gather round our native home ; — 
 
 The kindest memories of the past we bring, 
 With welcome greetings and with joy we come. 
 
 Chorus : — A hundred years, a hundred years, 
 With all their scenes are gone j 
 Yet may this home be safe to heirs, 
 A hundred yeara to come. 
 
 Our parents, friends, and kindred dear here came. 
 And lived to weave their brightest web of life ; 
 
 We muse enchanted on their hallowed name, 
 
 Since now they rest, beyond these years of strife. 
 
 These hills and vales from opening life we've known, 
 And here our earliest friendships have been made ; 
 
 No other spot on which the sun has shone, 
 Claims memories like these, that will not fade. 
 
 We come with teeming thoughts and melting hearts, 
 To consecrate a century'' s hirth-day ; — 
 
 May they who next in life shall take our parts, 
 More earnest toil, and sing a sweeter lay. 
 
ORATION: 
 
 BY REV. JOHN F. BIGELOW, D. D. 
 
 THE 
 
 PROGRESS OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC. 
 
 Friends and Fellow Citizens : — 
 
 We have met to day to celebrate the Centennial of our 
 birth-place : we have come to honor our native town by the 
 services and festivities of this commemorative occasion. It 
 is said that seven cities contended for the honor of being the 
 birth-place of Homer ; we hope that none will quarrel for 
 that distinction in respect to us, being content if our native 
 town is pleased to acknowledge us as her sons and daugh- 
 ters. We are glad that so many of the family have come to pay 
 a visit to our civic mother, on her hundredth birth-day. We 
 rejoice that she bears her age so well ; without flattery, we 
 can say that she grows prettier as she grows older. Since 
 our boyhood, the town has received many improvements, 
 not remarkable indeed to a stranger's eye, but noticable by 
 ours. Though our native hills cannot boast an Acadian fer- 
 tility, yet we are glad to see the smooth fields, the fine roads, 
 the white dwellings, the convenient school-houses, and the 
 pleasant Church. We rejoice that all of its affairs are so 
 well maintained ; but, though interested in the present, our 
 
40 
 
 thoughts will involuntarily turn to the past. We go back 
 to our childhood : it seems but yesterday since we were on 
 our way to school, padding bare-footed along the dusty road, 
 pausing to skate the glancing stone upon the way-side 
 pond, gazing with curiosity and wonder upon the Indians 
 with their gay-colored baskets, and making our first acquisi- 
 tions in the mysterious lore of reading, writing and the multi- 
 plication table. It seems also but yesterday, since of a Sabbath 
 morning, we were on our way to the house of God. Even 
 now rises up to view the old unsteepled Church, and we see 
 the great square pews surmounted by a rack, through which 
 we used to look, and the lofty pulpit towering above the 
 deacon's seat, overhung by a ponderous sounding-board 
 threatening every moment to fall upou the preacher's head, 
 and making us feel that then as'now-a-days, the ministry does 
 not always occupy a safe position. We shall never forget 
 the clatter which was made by the falling seats at the close 
 of prayer, nor our astonishment at the first hearing of the 
 bass-viol, nor the coldness of our feet before the end of the 
 sermon, for then there was no heating apparatus,^as now, to 
 modify the frigid atmosphere. We remember also how the 
 ears of the people were caught and their ideas set astir by 
 the voice of the town-clerk publishing the marriage bans, 
 ^or should we neglect to mention another vivid reminis- 
 cence. I mean that of the intense exhilaration felt, when 
 one Sabbath noon, we saw a package of new and brilliant 
 books opened for the establishment of a Sabbath School. I 
 became a member ; and recall with pleasure the memorizing 
 and recitation of the scriptures, a practice, which the abuse 
 of the question-books has thrown into desuetude. We 
 cannot look upon the change, otherwise than with regret, 
 for one Bible-lesson of this kind, is worth more than a 
 
41 
 
 whole quarter's reference reading. Meanwhile other and 
 soberer reminiscences are not absent from mind. There 
 comes before me the countenance of the Pastor, whose ven- 
 erable form has but so lately been missed ; there are present 
 also the recollections of those, who, by exchange, sometimes 
 occupied his place ; among whom were Tomlinson and Gay, 
 Clark and Packard, Boardman and Miller, Goffe and Wood, 
 kelson, Bardwell, and others. I^or are forgotten those 
 younger men, some or all of whom, if we mistake not, are 
 natives of the town, the junior Conant, Grosvenor, Pierce 
 and HoVe. Going to our several liomesteads, thoughts of 
 fire-side scenes and by-gone days come back to us, which 
 though a pensive sadness steals over us, we love to recall. 
 We think too, of our early playmates, and wonder where 
 they have gone and how the world has treated them. Alas, 
 only a part of them remain ! The words of a grand-daugh- 
 ter of the gifted Sheridan rush to mind and we ask you, 
 
 ^' Do you remember all the sanny places, 
 
 Where iu bright days long past, we played together ? 
 Do you remember all the old home faces, 
 
 That gathered round the hearth in winter weather? 
 Do you remember all the happy meetings, 
 
 In summer evenings round the open door, 
 Kind looks, kind hearts, kind words, and tender greetings, 
 * And clasping bauds whose pulses beat no more. 
 
 Do you remember them ? " 
 
 We have met on this centennial day to exchange mutual 
 salutations ; to look on the scenes which first we beheld; to 
 revisit the places where we played in childhood ; and to stand 
 by the graves of friends ; for "who has not lost a friend ? " 
 No convocation will ever assemble us all again on earth ; 
 for, following in the rear of our ancestral procession, we 
 soon, like our fathers, shall pass the shadowy bourne. 
 6 
 
42 
 
 Would we gain the bright land whose flowery fields we trust 
 they have reached ; then must we follow in their footsteps ; 
 then must we heed that solemn voice saying : 
 
 '* So live, that when thy summons comes to join 
 The innumerable caravan, that moves 
 To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take 
 His chamber in the silent halls of death, 
 Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night. 
 Scourged to his dungeon ; but, sustained and soothed 
 By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, 
 Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
 About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 # 
 
 Our local annals have been ably traced. Having found in 
 them much to interest and instruct us ; much to attach us 
 to our ancestral home ; much to give us sentiments of ven- 
 eration for our fathers ; much to inspire in us high and 
 noble purposes of life, and being as we hope, duly resolved 
 to transmit, with all possible improvements, to those com- 
 ing after us, that, which we received from those preceding 
 us, let us turn our thoughts to a broader field, The progress 
 of the American JRepublic. 
 
 I speak of progress : I shall not now undertake to 
 prove that human society is progressive, for I assume it, be- 
 lieving that the development of the Divine plans in history 
 requires this progressiveness. Without this fundamental 
 idea, we can have no philosophy of history. More than 
 this : society gives forth in itself manifestations of a law of 
 advancement. When we reflect upon the tendencies of so- 
 ciety ; when we reflect upon its compensations, one being 
 able to supply, what another lacks ; when we reflect upon 
 the disposition in society to secure its gains in the form of 
 institutions, and to displace those institutions so soon as 
 they have accomplished their end ; when we reflect upon 
 the power in society of conveying the gains of one genera- 
 
43 
 
 tioii to another ; when we reflect upon the liberalizing and 
 enlightening effect of intercommunication, the stimulative 
 influence of exigency, the encouragement to endeavor de- 
 rived from success, and the desire in the human mind to 
 realize ideals ; when we reflect upon these things, we yield 
 our assent to the doctrine of the progressiveness * of hu- 
 man society. Yet we construct no apriori theory of social 
 progress, like that of Gurgot, and his disciples, Condorcet 
 and Madame de Stael, based on the assumed perfectability 
 of human nature, and requiring the utmost violence to set 
 the fact* into its Procrustean framework. While the reality 
 of the progress is clear, it is not claimed, however, that it 
 is chronologically uniform nor geographically equal. What 
 we claim is, that a law is verified, the action of which is 
 carrying forward the human race to a far higher historical 
 destination. In accordance with this view, we assert that 
 the last hundred years have formed an epoch of vast impor- 
 tance, in its bearings upon the interests of mankind. Limit- 
 ing the view to our own country, we wish to look at it with 
 respect to its general progress past mid future. 
 
 I. We speak first of the past ; but, upon this point, I re- 
 gret to say, that the brevity of the hour will oblige me to 
 omit all beyond a brief synopsis of what I intended to pre- 
 sent. 
 
 Look to the nation's political progress. That the political 
 institutions of a State are fundamental to its happiness and 
 prosperity ; that they have generally been found in a defec- 
 tive and inadequate condition ; and that every patriotic and 
 enlightened statesman will employ his utmost influence and 
 endeavor to advance them to the highest practicable point, 
 will doubtless be admitted truths. How did our Puritan 
 
 ^ See Dr. Huntinortoa's Graham Lectures. 
 
44 
 
 ancestry find them in the mother country ? All the world 
 knows the answer : they found them in a sadly deficient 
 state, imposing heavy burdens, allowing but a stinted liberty, 
 and especially abridging religious freedom. What course 
 did they take ? Such was the opposition to the progress of 
 ideas, and such the hopelessness, for their day, of any essen- 
 tial reform, that finally they determined on the establish- 
 ment of a new political system. With what breadth of con- 
 ception they devized it ; with what energy of purpose they 
 went forward to its foundation ; with what tenacity they 
 clung to their difficult enterprise despite all forms df obsta- 
 cles, the world well knows. What was the result ? Behold 
 it in this great Eepublic, which we see to-day, and of which 
 we form a part. The settlement at Plymouth was made, 
 and the volume of American history was begun. Engaged 
 in fierce contests with the savages, distressed by the bloody 
 wars with France, in which England was involved, and an- 
 noyed by grievance piled upon grievance, they had come 
 forward to the year 1765, the date of our town, a year 
 marked by an event more decisive, perhaps, than any other, 
 in its influence on the history of the Colonies. What was 
 that event? It was the passage of the memorable Stamp 
 Act. The spirit of the people was aroused : a Congress of 
 the Colonies was called : the country was agitated from one 
 end to the other ; and this state of public feeling progressed, 
 until it finally culminated in the Declaration of Independence. 
 Such was the condition of aftairs, at the beginning of our 
 century. Within a decade from that time the Revolution had 
 already begun. In the spirit and struggles of that crisis, 
 our fathers had a share ; for they would not fail of partici- 
 pation in them if they could, and they could not if they 
 would. The intellio-ence of the bloodshed at Lexington, the 
 
45 
 
 call for recruits, the military preparation and the moment- 
 ous emergency, which was forced npon the countr}^, pro- 
 duced an intense excitement. To aharm and agitation, 
 succeeded grievous pecuniary embarrassment ; for the Con- 
 tinental currency became so depreciated, that it was almost 
 valueless. Stories of these scenes, from the lips of a vener- 
 able relative, a sharer in them, are among the familiar 
 memories of my boyhood. Of the successive stages of the 
 revolutionary struggle ; of the deplorable state of things 
 which followed the war ; of the origin and history of polit- 
 ical patties ; of the formation of Constitutional Govern- 
 ment ; of the progress of religious freedom ; of the exten- 
 sion of our territorial limits by the Louisiana purchase ; of 
 the last war with England and of the late national crisis, I 
 have no time to speak. I have alluded to the formation of 
 the Union. What sort of a system was it ? Was it a loose 
 congeries of states, or was it a compact National Govern- 
 ment ? This is the question between Unionism and Seces- 
 sionism : this is the issue, which has been contested in the 
 great conflict, and which we believe the conquering arms 
 of the Nation have settled for all time. 
 
 The material aspect of the national progress is one, too, 
 which we must not leave out of view. Though the tenden- 
 cies to a sordid materialism are to be deprecated, yet we 
 suppose that mankind will always continue to look after 
 their substantial interests. Proudhon tells us that " pro- 
 perty is theft ; " but probably he will not very soon make 
 the world concur in his definition, for they will pertina- 
 ciously insist that the stealing of property, not the property 
 itself, is theft. On this view, our people have acted ; and, 
 within the last hundred years, most notably have they 
 augmented their worldly substance. What an increase of 
 
46 
 
 property has there been since the beginning of our cen- 
 tury ! Look to the country, as it then was. See the 
 thirteen English Colonies lying along the shores of the 
 Atlantic and skirting an almost unbroken wilderness, 
 that stretched from ocean to ocean. The resources of 
 the people were limited. What was the state of things at 
 the close of the Eevolution ? The national debt, at that 
 time, as compared with the same at the end of the civil 
 war, was only a mere item ; but, considered in relation to 
 the amount of ability to meet the indebtedness, it vvas a far 
 heavier burden. In fact, the disparity, in this rellpect, is 
 such as to forbid all comparison. ]^o more than three mil- 
 lions at the close of the Revolution, the population is now 
 more than thirty millions : at a still higher rate of increase 
 has been the rise of property. Forests have been cleared : 
 lands surveyed : roads laid out : cities reared : wharves and 
 ships built to such an extent, that the statistics are amazing. 
 The present, how unlike the past ! How different now the 
 great majority of the dwelling-houses, from what they were 
 a hundred years ago ! In expense, in architectural design, 
 in internal arrangement, in furniture, and in general effect, 
 how different ? We do not deny that there were fine houses 
 then ; but they were the exceptions. The majority of them 
 were not of costly construction. Enter them. Their occu- 
 pants clad in home-spun, their buzzing wheels, their sanded 
 floors, their straight-backed chairs, their wooden trenchers 
 and their pewter plates give to things an unfamiliar air. 
 How few are the conveniences and luxuries ! Carpets and 
 pianos are seldom found ; heating furnaces, cooking ranges, 
 bath-rooms, gas-lights and sewing-machines never. Look 
 at the agriculture of those days, , and compare it with the 
 present. Invention and science have procured for us mani- 
 
47 
 
 fold improvements and processes, of which there was then 
 no knowledge. As to manufactures, it went ill with them, 
 for English monopolists prohibited the fabrication, by the 
 Colonists, of those things which they themselves had to 
 sell. How rapidly, too, since the day of the fathers, have 
 been developed the resources of our wide domain ! Coal 
 beds of untold extent lay spread out beneath their feet ; 
 metallic ores of incalculable richness slumbered in their un- 
 worked veins. To what an extent have later genius and 
 industry brought these to light ! What progress has there 
 been in mechanical invention in general ! If we mention 
 the steamboat, the lightning-rod, the cotton-gin and the 
 mowing-machine, these names will only sugo^est a number- 
 less list, to which we cannot even allude. Almost every- 
 thing is done by machinery, from the pointing of a needle 
 to the tunneling of a mountain ; the iron-horse speeds across 
 the country, dragging after him scores of cars, with hun- 
 dreds of passengers, at the rate of forty miles an hour ; and 
 messages of affliction, or business, or war are sent over the 
 Continent on the wings of the lightning. 
 
 Still further ; the intellectual j^rogress of the people is a 
 noble exemplification of public improvement. As there is 
 a historic advancement of the individual, so there is also of 
 the collective mind. By this progress I mean to include 
 whatever is achieved in the enlightenment of ignorance ; in 
 the removal of error ; in the enlargement of the sphere of 
 ideas ; in the attainment of truth ; in the clearing of the 
 popular intuitions ; and in the increase, in general, of intel- 
 lectual power. I mean also, to include whatever embodies 
 and expresses, in a literary form, the national mind. In the 
 early history of the Colonies there was a large number of 
 cultivated men ; but these were an importation, and, in pro- 
 
48 
 
 cess of time, had passed away : there must be an intellec- 
 tual growth from our own soil, which was the work of time. 
 In no stinted degree, that growth has been realized. What 
 have been the agencies at work in its production ? The 
 influences have been manifold : some are obvious, others 
 occult. Of all, however, the most fundamental and perva- 
 sive have been the Church, the College and the School ; for 
 they are everywhere, opening their doors to instruct the 
 people, not only in the city, but in the town as well, and even 
 in the pioneer settlement, almost on the remotest verge of 
 civilization. Co-ordinate with these agencies has also been 
 found the Press, sending forth its bound volumes and its 
 printed sheets in almost countless numbers. The newspaper 
 is the peculiarity of the times. Dr. William Adams, in a 
 graphic article on the first half of the present century, has 
 well compared it to the telescope of Sir John Herschel, 
 *' which was so swung that it reflected all the distant wonders 
 of the sky, sweeping across its lenses, upon a small horizontal 
 table under the eye of the observer : analogous to this, 
 the newspaper brings all the occurrences of the world, 
 under the light of your reading lamp and within the sphere 
 of your parlor table." What a development has there been 
 of American Literature ! In the last half of the eighteenth 
 century, it contained materials so valuable, that we must 
 never cease to prize them ; but, so late as 1820, its meager- 
 hess was ridiculed by Sydney Smith, in the Edinburgh 
 Keview. How is it now ? Who pretends to deny that 
 American Literature is a highly respectable entity. A Li- 
 brary could be formed consisting solely of American authors, 
 and representing every department of thought and investi- 
 gation. Such a Library w^e should rejoice to see established, 
 and we hope it may be done. Not only in quantity, but 
 
49 
 
 also in tone and quality how great an improvement ! Ear- 
 nestly have we looked for the time, when our Literature 
 would become independent in its spirit and national in its 
 character ; when it would be no reproduction of a foreign 
 species, but a native growth from our own fresh sward. 
 Deeply did the eloquent Choate long for the day, when 
 American scenery and history would be made classic by 
 story and song. Of the realization of this wish, not a few 
 have despaired, while some have hoped that the epoch might 
 never come. Says Hawthorne, as quoted in the Westmin- 
 ster Review, it will be very long, I trust, before romance 
 writers may find congenial and easily handled themes, either 
 in the annals of our own stalwart Republic, or in character- 
 istic and probable events of our individual lives. " Romance 
 and poetry, ivy, lichens and wall-flowers need ruin to make 
 them grow." Is not the hope of the novelist in a fair way 
 to be disappointed, while the aspiration of the advocate is 
 likely to be fulfilled ? An English critic has already an- 
 swered this question in the aflirmative. Are we not justi- 
 fied in the belief, that this answer is the right one? We 
 think so ; for we are apprehending, more clearly, the prin- 
 ciples of Christian civilization and statesmanship : we are 
 promoting the study of theology and philosophy : we are 
 rapidly preparing the materials for history, poetry and ro- 
 mance, which we believe can grow, not only in the shadow 
 of ivied ruins and the gloom of decaying empires, but in 
 the sunshine of a prosperous Republic. American Science, 
 too, has come to be a great reality ; for the scientific spirit 
 has been active in our countrymen, since the days of Frank- 
 lin. It has gained a European recognition. Not a few of 
 its foremost names are mentioned with honor on the Con- 
 tinent. Who can doubt that another influence tending to 
 7 
 
50 
 
 the improvement of our people is found in the facilities for 
 intercommunication ? If we had no means of conveyance, 
 public and private, other than those possessed by the fathers; 
 if the passage from Boston to J^ew York required as much 
 time now, as it did a hundred years ago ; if the reports 
 from Congress should travel no faster than they did, when 
 Washington became the Capitol, would not this state of 
 things be a sad disability, depriving most persons of op- 
 portunities for personal acquaintance with any section 
 beyond their own neighborhood, limiting the diffusion of 
 ideas and thus diminishing the popular intelligence ? Is 
 there not, also, an educational effect, in the action, in gen- 
 eral, of free institutions ? When we remember that Gov- 
 ernment springs from, and is responsible to the people ; that 
 they are called upon to apprehend principles and to form 
 judgments of men and measures ; that the Rulers receive 
 and retain their positions only at the popular will ; and that 
 the masses exercise the right of elective franchise ; when 
 we remember these things, we cannot doubt their educa- 
 tional influence. For yet other illustration of our intellec- 
 tual progress, could we not refer, with modest pride, to the 
 long list of splendid names, adorning the history of the Re- 
 public ? They would be connected with Divinity, States- 
 manship, Law, Medicine, Education and Science pure and 
 applied. 
 
 Furthermore, no account of our national progress would 
 be at all complete, which should neglect its moral features. 
 No theory of civilization, like that of Buckle and others, ex- 
 cluding moral causes, can be considered other than viciously 
 erroneous. In the dynamics of social progress, moral influ- 
 ences, instead of being effectless, are the most potent of all. 
 What was the state and form of these in 1765 ? What have 
 
51 
 
 they been since? The Colonists were never indifferent to the 
 interests of religion ; and, according to their means, had 
 made, from the beginning earnest efforts to secure the estab- 
 lishment of its institutions ; but, during the war of the 
 Revolution, religious influences were greatly interrupted. 
 Pulpit services were suspended : church edifices were taken 
 for barracks : the army chaplaincies could meet, only in part, 
 the spiritual needs of the soldiers : the vices of tbe camp 
 abounded ; for war, however holy the cause in which it is 
 carried on, is usually attended with more or less of demoral- 
 ization. ]^or was this all. English deism and French infi- 
 delity were spreading their baleful blight over the country. 
 To say nothing of their effect on society in general, there is 
 sad evidence, that many of the public men of that day were 
 becoming the propagators of scepticism. The names of 
 Thomas Paine, Ethan Allen and others will occur to mind. 
 A favorable reaction, however, soon commenced. In the 
 early revivals under Edwards and Whitefield, religion had 
 struck to a profounder depth in the hearts of the people, 
 resting not in the mere form, but becoming regenerative and 
 experimental. Much seed was then sown, which germin- 
 ated in the spring that followed the winter of the Revolution. 
 After Independence had been achieved ; after the excite- 
 ments of the War had died away ; after the formation of 
 the Government had been effected ; and after the period of 
 national development had opened, the better influences of 
 an earlier day soon re-appeared, and a happier epoch was 
 beginning to dawn. What has been the subsequent moral 
 and religious history of our people ? The Christian element 
 belongs to our institutions, as being inseparably connected 
 with them, as being wrought into their ver^^ composition. 
 In proof of this, we point to their origin, their theory, 
 
52 
 
 their design and their name. What has been the working 
 of that element ? True, there has been not a little of social 
 and political evil : there has been of late a stupendous out- 
 break of wickedness : there are amono: us multitudes of 
 unevangelized people ; but, in the moral and religious as- 
 pects of our country, there has been much to which we can 
 look back with pleasure ; much to encourage the faith and 
 hope of pious men. Consult the annals of the different 
 branches of the Christian Church. Trace the history of 
 their growth, their trials, their sacrifices, their efforts for the 
 evangelization of society. See them, on a better mutual 
 acquaintance, laying aside their bigotries, discussing their 
 differences with fraternal courtesy, and striving in love, 
 though without the surrender of conscientious principle, for 
 the conversion of sinners : see them founding Seminaries for 
 the more thorough education of the ministry : see them 
 rearing Churches, that the people might have the gospel 
 preached to them : see them establish Sabbath Schools, that 
 the young might be instructed in the Word of God : see 
 them founding Bible and Tract organizations for the diffu- 
 sion of religious truth, and employing the means, which the 
 inventive genius of piety has devised, for the application of 
 the Gospel to the masses : see them instituting the system 
 of Missions, to send the knowledge of the way of life to the 
 heathen, an enterprise whose lustre sheds a glory over the 
 nineteenth century. We ask again, what has been the re- 
 sult of the Christian element working in our institutions ? 
 The full answer to this question would demand a reference 
 to other topics, and especially to those vast combinations of 
 our citizens for the promotion of temperance, reform, phi- 
 lanthropy and social progress. The century has developed 
 
53 
 
 in an extraordinary degree, the mechanism, at least, and we 
 hope no small amount of the true spirit of moral and re- 
 gions culture. 
 
 This sketch of the Nation's jpast progress, though brief, is 
 enough to shew the richness of the materials at hand, for the 
 purposes of proof and illustration. With greatful pleasure, 
 we have pointed out some of its leading aspects. Nor is the 
 pleasing emotion felt by us while doing this, if kept within 
 proper limits, an illegitimate one ; for it is stimulative to 
 high endeavor; but the feeling of gratification must not 
 become self-complacency, and the cheer of encouragement 
 must not pass over into boastfulness. To impart to us the 
 needful knowledge of ourselves, to chasten the spirit of self- 
 gratulation, to sober the flush of giddy expectancy, let us, 
 while rejoicing over the advancement already gained, re- 
 member that there are many deficiencies to be supplied ; 
 that there are many evils to be corrected; that the future 
 lies before us as a conception and not as a fact ; that the 
 realization of the ideal is dependent upon contingencies ; 
 and that the progress hoped for can be gained only by the 
 formation, in our citizenship, of those great national virtues, 
 which give soundness to individual character and solidity 
 to the social system. 
 
 n. Let us, then in the second place, turn to the future of 
 of our national progress. What, now, are some of those 
 indispensable virtues ? Prominent among them, if not fore- 
 most is sincerity. Does this seem to be a cheap and unimpor- 
 tant virtue ? It is one of the noblest elements of moral 
 being. By sincerity, I mean not merely real or unbiassed 
 conviction in matters of religious belief; but guiltlessness, 
 freedom from hypocrisy, the correspondence of thought with 
 expression, the conformity of reality, to appearance. This 
 
54 
 
 quality is the inmost essence and conditioning principle of 
 character. What therefore can exceed it in importance ? 
 Nothing ; for, without it, all else is false and valueless. 
 
 IIow is it with respect to this virtue at the present time ? 
 Is it found in all the walks of society, at the required de- 
 gree ? The question needs no answer. Talleyrand is the 
 reputed author of that master maxim of hypocrisy, that lan- 
 guage is the means, not of expressing, but of disguising 
 one's thoughts. That the unscrupulous diplomatist acted 
 boldly and fully on his own principle, there can be no 
 doubt; and no student of the revolutionary period of French 
 history, can fail to see the evidence that the spirit of the 
 minister had penetrated deeply into the character of the 
 people. How is it in American Society ? Is speech uni- 
 formly used for its legitimate purposes ? No one can be 
 uninformed on this point. Bj well phrased apologies gloss- 
 ing over some neglect of duty ; by over- wrought recom- 
 mendations made in order to sell at the highest prices ; by 
 pretended indifference feigned as a means of obtaining com- 
 modities at the lowest cost ; by'bland compliments addressed 
 to one's face, while behind his back depreciatory criticism 
 is not spared ; by the countless forms of verbal artifice, ad- 
 justed always to a nice boundary between designed expres- 
 sion and intended reticence, is it not sadly evident that our 
 English Vernacular is often employed for other purposes 
 than the sincere utterance of thought? 
 
 Sincerity is the harmony of being and seeming ; it is 
 therefore the foundation of honesty, another of the Puritanic 
 virtues.. IIow is it thus ? Through the fact that commer- 
 cial integrity is only the adjustment of reality to appearance ; 
 is only making an article to be, just what it seems to be. 
 There doubtless were dishonest men a hundred years ago. 
 
55 
 
 for all times have produced them ; but who doubts that 
 honesty was a prevailing and (characteristic virtue of the 
 Fathers ? None ; for whatever ma}^ be our deficiencies in 
 this respect, no one will wish to show himself so lacking 
 in honesty, as to deny their chxim to it. I have spoken only 
 of the commercial applications of this virtue ; but was this 
 the only development of it found in the earlier times? It 
 was applied not merely in business, but as well in the social, 
 the political, the universal relations of life. It guarded the 
 sanctities of home : it presided over the ballot-box : it di- 
 rected the course of private and public activity. This great 
 excellence, so marked in the fathers and so nobly exhibited 
 anew, in the character of our late martyr President, let the 
 ^Nation seek to copy. 
 
 Another stern, but noble and indispensable virtue is 
 justice. Long has she held the emblematic sword and bal- 
 ance. Her name and her principles not only had a place in 
 Roman Law, but are found in the christian Scriptures. The 
 idea of justice is that of rendering whatever is due. Of 
 dues, there are two kinds, rights and penalties : the 
 former are for the innocent, the latter for the guilty. Law 
 and justice were accepted and familiar ideas in the Puritanic 
 epoch. What is needed in our times, 'more than anything 
 else, is the re-establishment of these ideas, in the public 
 mind. Justice, not Policy, should be the national motto. 
 Let justice then, be rendered to all classes, in the concession 
 of rights. Is it so rendered ? The Government is hesita- 
 ting on the extension of suffrage to the only loyal class in 
 the South : it is questioning, which motto it had better 
 adopt, forgetting that justice is the better policy. Justice is 
 not a vengeful passion, but a righteous principle. It is no 
 more a passion, when rendering dues in the form of penal- 
 
56 
 
 ties, than when conceding them in the form of rights. Let 
 justice, then, be rendered in the application of penalties. Is 
 it so rendered? Kot to the extent, which the safety of 
 society requires ; but we hope, that hereafter, tliese dues will 
 be more generally and promptly received. Upon all classes of 
 felons, let the just penalty of the law be dispassionately, but 
 surely inflicted. With respect to the insurgents, whose 
 hands are stained with the crime of the foulest and the 
 bloodiest rebellion known in history, let our maxim be 
 "amnesty for the many, and penalty for the few." With 
 respect to the Ringleader and his compeers in crime, does 
 any Portia ask, what mercy can you render them ? Justice 
 answers in the words of Gratiano, " a halter gratis : nothing 
 else." Let treason, the highest crime against society have 
 its deserts. We ask not for the bloody code of Draco, in- 
 flicting death for the least, and finding no severer punish- 
 ment for the greatest crimes ; but we do ask for the unfal- 
 tering infliction of penalty proportioned to the turpitude of 
 guilt. 
 
 An additional characteristic, the lack of which has been 
 so marked in the development of nations and of society in 
 general, is huynility. In Staties, this spirit stands opposed to 
 national vanity: in society, to aristocratic feeling. The 
 student of history is acquainted with no fact more familiar, 
 than that of the opposite of humility, appearing in both of 
 these forms. He has seen that in nations as well as indi- 
 viduals, " pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit 
 before a fall." Exulting in their grandeur and glory, and 
 lording it over the weak with despotic rule, he has seen the 
 proud monarchies of the East disappearing from the cata- 
 logue of nations. Following the march of empire, he has 
 seen that the ancient nationalities of Egypt, Greece and 
 
57 
 
 Rome have passed away, as if in retribution for their over- 
 weening insolence of pride and power. In the social de- 
 velopment of mankind, he has seen, too, the aristocratic 
 spirit exemplifying itself, from the earliest dawn of historic 
 times, down to the present. lie has seen it in perpetual 
 conflict with its natural opposite, the spirit of democracy. 
 The American civil War taken with the causes which led to 
 it, supplies a chapter, and that the most awful in the history 
 of the struggle. Social aristocracy appears in the pride of 
 race ; and you have, as one species of it, the phenomenal pre- 
 judice against color. It appears as the pride of birth : and 
 3"ou recognize it in the boasted claim of descent from old 
 families. It appears as the pride of position ; and it looks 
 down with supercilious leer upon the common people, whom 
 it styles the vulgar masses. It appears as the pride of 
 wealth ; and it displays itself in the tawdry trappings of 
 "shoddyism." Mankind do not object to aristocracy, for 
 there will always be an aristocratic class : its distinction, 
 however, must not be found in titled pedigree, in stately 
 piles of brick and mortar, in gilded equipages, but in charac- 
 ter and culture. This is a true aristocracy consisting of the 
 best men ; and, in this country, no other will be able to 
 erect itself into an institution, for it is hostile to the genius 
 of the government. Here, where there exists no peerage ; 
 where there is no fixed entailment of property; where each 
 man can choose his own business or profession ; where the 
 lists of competition are open to all comers, it behoves the 
 purse proud aristocrat to chasten the spirit of class pride ; to 
 cultivate humbleness of mind ; and to be kind and aifable 
 to all ; for his hostler and boot-black may, hereafter, be 
 living at the next doors, in larger houses and with more 
 servants than he. 
 
58 
 
 To this catalogue of fundamental virtues, there must be 
 added that of self-control. In all ages, mankind have ac- 
 corded to military conquest the honors of greatness ; hut we 
 have high authority for the assertion, that self-conquest is a 
 still loftier achievement, for "greater is he that ruleth his 
 own spirit, than he that taketh a city." The one is a ma- 
 terial, the other is a spiritual victory. This warw^ith the spirit 
 is one in which there is no escape from the draft; and each 
 soldier becomes a conqueror or a captive. By Divine help 
 the struggle, though severe, may be won. Conquering 
 the higher nature asserts itself in independence of sordid 
 desires and fleshly lusts ; but, being conquered, the lower 
 nature triumphs, subjecting the man to the sway of passions 
 and sensuality. What is the moral issue at present, of this 
 militant state of society? Rejoicing to see so many nobly 
 win the day, we are agonized, when we behold such numbers 
 yielding themselves, the almost unresisting victims, to the 
 dominion of vice. What is their condition morally and 
 physically? The character once fair is now blasted: the 
 countenance once bright is covered with shame-facedness : 
 the body once lithesome and magnetic, is flabby and nerve- 
 less : the whole man once an object of attraction is bloated 
 with intemperance and sodden in debauchery. From this 
 class of persons no longer exercising the power of self-control, 
 society and the country have little to hope and much to 
 fear. 
 
 The virtues already specifled are deeply subjective, con- 
 substantial wdth character and essential to it. Others there 
 are which are more objective. Of these, one of the most 
 important is hidustry. We are told that this is a hard working 
 age ; that the people are killing themselves by excess of 
 work ; that they must be called upon to desist from such 
 
59 
 
 exhausting and mortal labor. Is this the correct view ? The 
 present is an age of morbid and vehement excitability, 
 rather than of healthful and effective action. There is a 
 class of persons, it is true, whose constitutions have been 
 broken down by real toil ; but subtract the number of those 
 who have died by improper diet, by needless exposure, by 
 vicious indulgence, by preternatural excitement, by unavoid- 
 able disease, and the statistics of mortality w^ould be reduced 
 to small figures. With all the ceaseless hum of business; 
 with all the noisy bustle of activity ; there are many who are 
 trying to live without work. What is the result ? We see 
 it in the multitudinous host of office seekers ; in the numbers 
 resorting to questionable forms of pursuit ; in the multitude 
 seeking unlaborious callings, instead of finding their way to 
 the farm and the work-shop. We see it in the preference 
 for the avocations relating to the exchange over those rela- 
 ting to the production of property. We see it in the unre- 
 spectability of labor, an idea not absent from the I^ortli, but 
 long prevailing, a blight and a curse, over all the South. 
 Society must always depreciate in all its classes, both 
 morally and intellectually, so long as an indignity is cast 
 upon work. 
 
 Closely linked with industry, is the virtue of economy: 
 they must ahvays be associated ; for without the latter, the 
 former is profitless. What is economy? It is the judicious 
 husbandry of one's means. Kept within proper limits, it is 
 a fine virtue ; but carried over to excess, it becomes parsi- 
 mony, which is a mean vice. With this understanding of 
 the term, look abroad upon society, and what do we behold ? 
 We see some who are pushing economy to a vicious excess, 
 and in their coffers are hoarded the gains of the niggard and 
 the miser. We see happily a large and we hope increasing 
 
60 
 
 class, who expend judiciously, while they give liberally, re- 
 ceiving a prosperous thrift and accumulating wealth for 
 their encouragement and reward ; and we trust we shall see 
 this class, in enlarging numbers, imitating the example of 
 Mr. Peabody, planning comprehensive charities, executing 
 their own Wills, thus aiding the progress of the Country and 
 blessing the world. What else do we see ? We see not a 
 few, who are exhausting their means with lavish profuseness, 
 some wasting large patrimonies, thus renderwg themselves 
 poor, and others squandering ample earnings, thus keeping 
 themselves poor. Found as it is in all classes, extravagance 
 is characteristic of the times. If it was confined to the 
 wealthy, we should have little to say respecting it ; for, . 
 though their expenditures might be foolish, the amplitude 
 of their resources would enable them to meet the demands : 
 when we see it to such an extent, however, in persons of 
 limited means ; when we see them striving in dress, in style 
 of living, in exterior show, to imitate the rich ; no sagacious 
 mind can fail to perceive that the subject is one of momen- 
 tous bearing upon the future progress of the country. Do 
 you ask how this is so ? I answer, through its moral effects, 
 its reflex influences striking back into the character, and 
 affecting it with unsoundness to the very core. The strife 
 to keep up unreal appearances begets hypocrisy; and the 
 effort to procure means leads to dishonesty. How was it a 
 hundred years ago ? How was it for a long period subse- 
 quent to that time ? Then different ideas regulated the do- 
 mestic economy. A young couple, upon their marriage, 
 began the world in a small way. By taking sober views of 
 life, and by pursuing a course of action in accordance with 
 those views, they gained a competency, establishing pleasant 
 mes and rearing respectable families. It was from homes 
 
61 
 
 such as these, went forth the men, filling offices botli sacred 
 and secular, who have done such honor to the country. 
 How is it .now? Young peoi3le think they must begin mar- 
 ried life, at a point higher than that, at which their parents 
 ended it ; in houses more ample, with furniture more expen- 
 sive. What is the result? The glitter has no underlying 
 solidity : expense increases : debt accumulates : mortgage is 
 added to mortgage : business is done on credit : ownership 
 becomes supposititious, rather than real. On the shores of 
 the Piraeus, there once lived a demented Athenian, whose 
 name was Thrasyllus. In his hallucination, he supposed 
 that all the vessels in the harbor were his own, entering 
 them in his books, giving them bills of lading, and rejoicing 
 over their safe return. Is there not many a modern Thrasyl- 
 lus, holding property by only a putative proprietorship ? We 
 once heard of a pious clergyman, who was wont to sing 
 with delight, 
 
 " No foot of land do I possess, 
 No cottage in this wilderness, 
 A poor wayfaring man." 
 
 Having been presented with a house and lot, it was not long 
 before he went to the donors, requesting them to take back 
 the property ; and giving, as the reason, that it deprived him 
 of the privilege of singing his favorite song. Are there not 
 some reputed holders of large amounts of real estate, who 
 may sing that song, so far as any embarrassments arising 
 from ownership are concerned, with all the freedom they 
 can desire ? 
 
 With the economical management of the household, 
 stands in close connection the exercise of family control. 
 That free institutions must have for their foundation the 
 intelligence and virtue of the people, is a received maxim. 
 By its educational system, the country has made provision 
 
62 
 
 for the security of the popular intelligence ; but for the 
 popular virtue, it can have no guaranty, so long as the influ- 
 ences of home are adverse to it. The foundation of character 
 must be laid in childhood and youth. The fathers under- 
 stood this principle and based upon it their theory and 
 practice of family discipline. Filial obedience, fraternal 
 kindness, deferential manners, appropriate speech and 
 seemly behavior were enforced by parental authority. Those 
 virtues, without which no State has in it any principle of 
 life and prosperity, were planted in the family. Age and 
 superiority were respected, and respect was expressed by 
 word and act. We are no sticklers for the formalities of 
 deference : in most things we are opposers of fogyism ; but 
 we can hardly help sighing for the good old days, when the 
 boys and girls, on their way to school, made their respectful 
 obedience to the passing stranger, and in replying to ques- 
 tions, were not wont to curtail their answers to the abrupt 
 and naked monosyllables "yes" and "no." How is it 
 in these times ? Is family government maintained in its 
 pristine validity ? The new spirit of the Age considered as 
 a progressive tendency towards the ameliorations of society, 
 is that which we glory in, and which we would promote ; 
 but regarded as the casting away of wholesome forms, as the 
 wanton rupture of social restraints, as mere change without 
 improvement, it is not to be commended. Progress, which 
 leaves behind the disciplinary domestic influences of by-gone 
 days, the country must not encourage. A Christian house- 
 hold is the seminary of citizenship ; for obedience to parents 
 prepares for loyalty to the State. 
 
 The idea of a well-regulated family calls up that of simi- 
 lar ones in its vicinity, thus suggesting the virtue of neigli- 
 horlincss and the offices of kindness in general. Eomance 
 
68 
 
 and Poetry have portrayed the loveliness of the cottage homes 
 in Scotland, in England, in Switzerland and in other coun- 
 tries. They have, indeed, no elaborate architecture, no 
 artificial beauty, no shining display; but, though simple 
 and unpretentious, they are beautiful, suiTounded by flowers 
 and shrubbery, and peeping out from behind jasmine and 
 woodbine. These pictures of domestic life, so fully set forth 
 in literature, are interesting; but the quiet rural homes of 
 IsTew England, too, have always had, for me a touching 
 charm. True, the aesthetic eye m4ght have demanded more 
 of ornamentation ; but there was in them a pleasing sim- 
 plicity : there was irreproachable neatness : there was fire- 
 side happiness : there was neio^hborly good-will. As there 
 was aftection between the members of the separate fami- 
 lies, so there was ordinarily mutual kindness and esteem 
 among the collective families of the neighborhood. Kind 
 offices were rendered : social aifections were cultivated : sor- 
 rows and joys were participated in as common experiences : 
 in sickness and trouble, they sympathized with the afliicted ; 
 and when death came, removing any of their number, they 
 all mourned together, for they had all lost a friend. From 
 the Savior's teaching, in the case of the good Samaritan, 
 we see how naturally and beautifully, neighborliness widens 
 and rounds out into a broad and generous philanthropy. 
 Who cannot perceive the moral beauty of such a picture ? 
 Who does not wish that its realization may not be lost, but 
 perpetuated and reproduced through all the country's future ? 
 Let the 'world talk to us of its greater and grander scenes, 
 for it has them: let it boast its higher intellectual cul- 
 ture,' as truly it may : let it extol its more finished forms of 
 society, as it may be permitted to do ; but where, in this 
 imperfect sphere, has there been so much of good, with so 
 
64 
 
 little of evil ? Where has there been a state of society pro- 
 ducing happiness so great, without corruption, and develop- 
 ing character so high, without ungeniality ? If there has 
 been such, we know not where. 
 
 We shouhi never forget, and in times like these, we should 
 not omit to mention patrioti»7n, the highest and most essen- 
 tial of the civic virtues, for it is the soul of citizenship. 
 Deficient patriotism is undeveloped treason. What is pat- 
 riotism ? Is it mere partiality for any particular division of 
 the earth's surface ? Is it pride with respect to one's own 
 country, and insolence with respect to all others ? Is it the 
 doctrine of " my country right, or wrong? " It is none of 
 these : it is the sacred principle of loyalty to truth and duty 
 represented in the Nation's institutions, defined by its laws, 
 and protected by its power; a principle surrounding, with 
 the hallowed associations of its own sacredness, the land- 
 scapes, which make up the country's domain and the flag 
 which emblemizes its glory. It is an idea and an affection : 
 as the former, it recognizes the great Puritan principle of 
 freedom and religion, for which the Country was established 
 and of which it is the defender; as the latter, it loves the 
 institutions, which characterize it and the men who serve it. 
 It seeks not the loaves and fishes of office ; but, with gener- 
 ous self-sacrifice, it strives to promote the public good. It 
 is not only ready to do and to suffer ; but, with the mj^riads 
 of our martyred heroes, it is ready, if called for, to bleed 
 and to die. 
 
 These are some of the virtues of the Puritanic character 
 not adorning it, as shining jewels hung upon the outward 
 form, but entering into its constitution and making a part 
 of its compacted substance. Let them become our own. 
 If we would avoid an ill-starred future ; if we would proceed 
 
65 
 
 on the highway of advancing civilization ; then must these 
 elemental virtues be taken up^ and, by assimilation, become 
 organic parts of our individual, social and national charac- 
 ter ; if we would see the Country achieving any true gain 
 in the career of national progress ; then must we endeavor, 
 in an earnest and profound spirit, to guide our course on 
 Christian principles ; to raise these ethical virtues, so that 
 they may move upon a Christian plan ; to discard the doc- 
 trine of expediencies, compromises and policies ; to Chris- 
 tianize the great interests of society, in general, and to act, 
 not alone with reference to the material and temporal, but 
 with regard to the spiritual and the eternal. 
 
 Finally, what is the outlook for the future of the American 
 Republic ? Scarcely had it come into existence, when it 
 became the subject of adverse and gloomy vaticination : its 
 horoscope was declared to be unpropitious. At home, we have 
 had a class of men, who have made it a point to depreciate 
 free institutions, by comparing them unfavorably with Euro- 
 pean systems, and by asserting their failure. What was the 
 consequence of such a course ? Just what might be ex- 
 pected : to the extent of their influence, before the civil 
 war, they had shaken the faith of the people in the perma- 
 nency and adequacy of popular Government. Who are these 
 men ? Is it those, whom the Government had, in any way 
 oppressed ? Is it those, whose persons and property have 
 been unprotected by the laws ? JSTo ! It is generally those 
 who have grown rich beneath its fostering care : who have 
 had means and leisure to go abroad : who have become 
 enamored of British and Continental aristocracies ; and 
 who have been dazzled by the stars and garters of nobility. 
 We have but little to say to this class of persons ; for it is 
 all summed up in this, that if they cannot cease from 
 this course, we hope they will go where they can have things. 
 9 
 
66 
 
 more to their wishes, leaving good houses and fine premises 
 to better men. I^ot only so, but abroad there has been a 
 school of prophets prognosticating evil to the country, and a 
 multitude of Gibbons eager to write its decline and fall. 
 With a spirit of equal prejudice and baseness, the charge 
 has been put forth, that the American Government is a 
 failure ; " that a fatal degeneracy is stealing over the Coun- 
 try." In one of the most valuable of his speeches, the 
 eloquent Everett vindicated the Republic from this vile 
 slander, made, in the interest of absolutism, not only by 
 the European Press, but in substance, in the E iglish House 
 of Lords. When we think of the brief time since the 
 establishment of the Government : of the limited resources, 
 in the beginning, at the Country's command : of the diffi- 
 culties with which she has had to contend, we hesitate not 
 to pronounce the American Republic an unexampled suc- 
 cess. True, we have had evils in the national system, por- 
 tending disaster, and one monster wrong, menacing certain 
 destruction. This well-known dano-er was not one of mere 
 weakness, threatening the dissolution of the political fabric, 
 through the simple lack of cohesion in the materials ; but 
 the peril was that of explosion, through the antagonism of 
 discordant elements. DeTocqueville could not have had an 
 adequate conception of this form of peril, when he said that 
 " the 'prosiKrity of the United States is the source of the most 
 serious dangers, that threaten them." Doubtless there was 
 and is much of peril threatening us from that quarter ; but 
 there was another more ominous portent. The darkening 
 cloud of Slavery, however, so long castin^ its gloomy 
 shadow over the land, is lifted, and its blighting effects are 
 passing away. The question, meanwhile, recurs, what are 
 the probabilities of the Country's Future ? If the Kation 
 follows the crooked counsels of Demagogues, making expe- 
 
67 
 
 diency her Bible and Mammon her Jehovah, no prophet is 
 needed to foretell her doom ; but, if she pursues the course 
 marked out by ethical and Christian principles, if she re- 
 mains true to herself, to humanity and to God, she needs 
 nothing, beyond this, to insure her a glorious future. A 
 Government, moreover, may be said to be strong or weak 
 in itself and strong or weak in its resources. How is ours 
 in the last of these respects ? Go to the history of the four 
 years of the Rebellion, and you will be informed on the 
 question of resources. How is it in the first regard ? It is 
 strong, for it is emphatically a Government of Institutions, 
 which cannot be overthrown, except with the breaking up 
 of society itself. Says Guizot, '' free institutions are a guar- 
 anty, not only for the prudence of Governments ; but also 
 for their stability. 'No system can endure otherwise, than 
 by institutions." Pure monarchy, instead of being the 
 strongest, is the weakest government, for it is one without 
 institutions, hung on the brittle thread of the ruler's life. 
 Were you asked to point out the grandest and most bril- 
 liant monarchy in the history of modern times, where would 
 you look for it ? Doubtless to the reign of Louis XIV of 
 France. The old institutions had been destroyed and no 
 new ones had been created. What was the result ? The His- 
 torian of civilization says that " pure monarchy was as much 
 worn out in 1712, as the monarch himself." Our Govern- 
 ment, as I have said, is institutional ; and this characteristic 
 is, in itself, a principle of permanency. Who doubts, now, 
 the strength of the Government ? The conviction of its 
 power is fix' ^ itself, more and more deeply, upon all minds, 
 both loyal and disloyal. N'or is this impression confined to 
 our own people ; for a reconstruction of European opinion 
 is rapidly taking place. The " obstructive classes " on the 
 other side of the ocean, have aided their natural allies on 
 
they have prophesied ; they have ridiculed aud they have 
 reproached; yet what has it all availed ? Is the world any 
 longer in doubt, with respect to the result of the great con- 
 flict ? IS'ot at all. Though contending with powerful and re- 
 morseless foes, the course of the country has been onward. 
 The people of other hinds, having looked, with a painful 
 mixture of hope and apprehension, for the result of the 
 struggle, are now rejoicing over the prospect lying before 
 the friends of freedom. " The duel between Aristocracy 
 and Democracy, in which there are no seconds, is deter- 
 mined in favor of the latter, the watchword being, as has 
 been well said, on the one side " Privileges for the few," 
 and on the other, " Rights for all." Let us, then, cherish a 
 serene faith in the future of the country and the progress of 
 humanity ; for despairing of these, we lose faith in God. 
 Nor is the brightness of the prospect dimmed at all, by the 
 circumstance of our brief stay upon earth. A hundred 
 years hence, and we shall have long passed away, we hope 
 not without leaving behind some good influences, going on- 
 ward to the coming time : but the aflairs of society will 
 move on, others will have taken our places. How glorious 
 will be to them the retrospective view ! The traveller in Switz- 
 erland, having followed down the banks of the Rhone, on 
 his way to Mont. Blanc, and having gained the heights 
 above Martigny, looks back with rapture upon the ground 
 over which he has passed. Like a beautiful picture, the val- 
 ley lies spread out at his feet. Thus will it be with those 
 who shall come after us. Standing upon the heights of the 
 twentieth century, how fine the landscape of history, on 
 which they will turn their backward gaze ! How favored 
 the eyes beholding the scenes, which will then meet their 
 vision ! We are thrilled by their emotion, inspired by their 
 spirit and irradiated by their glory. Li the language of 
 ^ew England's great orator, we address to them our 
 heart-felt greeting's. '• Advance, then, ye future gener- 
 ations." We hail you across the plain of a hundred years. 
 We congratulate you upon the sublime epoch, which j^our 
 lives may illustrate. More worthily than we, may you per- 
 form your duty and fulfil your destiny. 
 
p»OE]Sd: 
 
 BY MR. GEORGE G. P H I P P S 
 
 VOICE FROM THE HILL TOP. 
 
 IlTot mine to sing this Century Day, 
 
 Nor other man's, I ween : 
 'Tis not for leaves on an oak-tree bough 
 
 To tell what the trunk has seen. 
 
 A voice from Asnebumskit ! * 
 
 Wreathed with the morning's mist, 
 A voice from Asnebumskit ! 
 
 Whose mouth the clouds have kissed. 
 A voice from that stern old Sentry 
 
 Who has stood the long years by. 
 And steadily watched and guarded us 
 
 Witli calm, unfaltering eye, — ; 
 And has marked all changes that have come 
 Upon this Village that we call '' Home." 
 
 Speak to us Asnebumskit ! 
 
 Come to our feast, we pray, 
 And be for us, Grand old Hill,' 
 
 The Poet of the Day. 
 
 And as I shouted to his ear. 
 
 Mid the pine bough locks a-listening 
 He heard, and turned — with long, deep gaze, — 
 
 With tears in his dark eye glistening. 
 Which told there were thoughts of by-gone days 
 
 Upon his memory stealing, 
 And within his heart of rock, a place, 
 
 Wliere yet there were springs of feeling. 
 
 * Name of a hio:h hill in Paxton. 
 
TO 
 
 And all his love for the little town, 
 That thus in his shadow has nestled down, 
 And so safely rested a Hundred Years, 
 Seemed to rush to his eye and dissolve in tears ! 
 But again, of a sudden, his brow was clear 
 
 As when in the night we've seen him, 
 Loom up against the pure blue sky, 
 
 Kot the tihn of a cloud between him 
 And the stars above ; — then with voice as great 
 As the roar of "a tempest, He shook the State. 
 
 " Attention, Massachusetts ! 
 
 From Berkshire to the brine ; 
 A Birthday, Massachusetts, 
 • To a little child of thine ! 
 A century old is Paxton ; 
 
 Come up on her hills, and twine 
 A wreath of love about her now, 
 
 A wreath of your oak and pine. 
 With a mother's kiss imprint her brow, 
 
 Then list to a word of mine. 
 
 "Brave, Loyal Massachusetts ! 
 
 'Tis praise enough to say 
 This Paxton 's been a Child of Thine 
 
 A Hundred Years, to-day ! 
 Born on thy cloud-encircled hills, 
 
 N^or cradled gently, there — 
 Her lullaby but roaring winds, 
 
 Her food pure mountain air, 
 Ko wonder that thus long she lives ; 
 
 For though seem young she may, 
 Still must I witness to the truth. 
 
 She's a century old, to-day ! 
 
 " Ah me ! but it seems but yesterday. 
 
 Since the Lidians' plumes went nodding by 
 
 And the wigwam stood on the hillsides bare. 
 And the smoke of his camp-fire blurred the sky. 
 
 But yesterday, — since with delight I watched 
 
 The white-man's axe the tall pine boughs lower. 
 
 While along the streams the rude saw-mills sang 
 That both Red man and forest's reign was o'er. 
 
71 
 
 But yesterday, — since to these hills there came, 
 Their homes and fortunes to seek or make, 
 
 Strong honest men, thus to plant a town 
 "With their plough and anvil, hoe and rake. 
 
 But yesterday, — since to their village strayed 
 The famed Saint Crispin, Patron "of leather, 
 
 Who, halting to give the good people advice. 
 And smilingly summoning all together, 
 
 Advised them to stick to the last and the awl. 
 
 And peg out their living with right arm and true, 
 Then promised whate'er else they might come to want, 
 
 He would furnish them boots, and a plenty to do. 
 
 For the clever old Saint, has himself always thought, 
 And declared his belief, that true men are as great 
 
 With a hammer for scepter, a bench for a throne. 
 As if ruling an Empire, or guiding a State. 
 
 So in busy obedience have all since then lived, 
 
 Busy as bees when the winter has flown, 
 Busy with pegging, or drawing the thread ; 
 
 While busy in playing, their children have grown. 
 And busy has happiness been in these homes, 
 
 Here busy contentment and joy have been known. 
 Aye ! busy has love been, as elsewhere on earth. 
 
 And busy has death been, — tells many a stone ! 
 
 Ah yes ! full a hundred times indeed, 
 
 Have I watched the snows of the winter, pile 
 Down in the streets of this little town. 
 
 As I've stood snow-crowned myself the Avhile ; 
 Then seen the Winter give way to Spring, 
 
 Then the Summer roses in turn come on. 
 Then the deep dyed leaves of the Autumn fall. 
 
 Yes, — truth ! full a hundred years have gone ! 
 
 Paxton, Dear Paxton ! " left out in the cold." 
 
 High up on your hillsides, ne'er sought for their gold, 
 
 But healthy and happy and not to be sold ; 
 
 Aye, rugged in heart as the rocks in your mould, 
 
 Paxton, rejoice ! you're a hundred years old ! 
 
72 
 
 But Paxton, dear Paxton ! I fold to my heart 
 
 The thought that though small, you have well borne 
 
 your part 
 In all that your country has needed or asked, 
 E'en to answer her bugles, your steps were not last, 
 So Paxton, dear Paxton ! your honor is fast ! 
 
 Then Paxton, dear Paxton ! While onward you press. 
 In my heart I'll not find it to love you the less. 
 Though you may be but humble : — your name is enrolled 
 Mid the long list of towns, that the Union uphold. 
 So Paxton I'm proud, you're a hundred years old ! 
 
 And Paxton, dear Paxton ! thus stand to the last. 
 Ever firm at the post where your lot has been cast. 
 And let each year that crowns you, but add to the weight 
 Of your sterling heart virtues, and eouarge so great. 
 And through centuries coming, still honor your state. 
 
 So Paxton, dear Paxton ! I bid you adieu. 
 
 Peace, joy and prosperity rest upon you ! 
 
 Still above you I'll watch, as through years that have 
 
 fled; 
 Yes ! on oath will I guard you, by the Blue White and 
 
 Eed. 
 Till the bow of two centuries bends o'er your head ! 
 
 Thus the stern old Sentry ended. 
 
 And though long I stood and hearkened 
 Not a word more condescended 
 
 And the clouds his face soon darkened ; 
 But you see his post is taken. 
 
 And his face like flint is set, 
 So he's bound to watch above us 
 
 One more hundred years as yet ! 
 
 And may Paxton be forever. 
 
 Or while foot shall press her sod, 
 True to law and liberty. 
 
 True to Country and to God, 
 As the rocks stand firm beneath her. 
 
 As his post this one will fill, 
 Who on oath now stands to guard her. 
 
 Grand old Asnehinnsldt Hill ! 
 
SENTIMENTS. 
 
 PREPARED AND ARRANGED BY 
 
 ME. GEOEGE G. PHIPPS. 
 
 No. 1. The Day we Celebrate: — 
 
 Our little Paxton, this day closes its First Century of Life ; 
 but in it commences, also, its Second Century. May its march 
 be thus ever onward, its humble place in the ranks of the Old Bay 
 State never deserted ; its marching music ever thus the Voice of 
 the Centuries. 
 
 Eesponse by Hon. G, W. Livermore, Historian of the Day. 
 
 2. Paxton, the Rome of our early Bays : — 
 
 May its remembrance be as dear to those who shall come after 
 us, as it has been to ourselves. 
 
 Eesponse by Eev. William Phipps. 
 
 3. The Natives of Paxton : — 
 
 Though so unfortunate as to have been allowed no Choice, as to 
 Birthplace, yet will Paxton never be sorry that their parents 
 chose for them, and chose so loisely. 
 
 Eesponse by Eev. J. F. Bigelow. 
 
 Eeading of the Poem : [A Voice from Asnebumskit.'] 
 
 4. The Paxton Glee Club : — 
 
 Blending with echoes they can awaken from the past long cen- 
 tury, let them also send down the ringing song to the Hundred 
 Years that are coming. 
 
 Singing by Glee Club of " A Hundred Years Ago," and ^' A 
 Hundred Years to Come." 
 
 10 
 
74 
 
 5. The Town of Leicester : — 
 
 Though she could aiford to give up her rights to our lands ; not 
 yet can she to our waters : yet, on the bosom of the streams that 
 rising among our hills, go forth to carr^^ on her manufactures, 
 would we ever float down to her kindest wishes of Peace and 
 Prosperity. 
 
 Response by Jos. A. Denny, Esq., of Leicester. 
 
 6. Our Common Schools : — 
 
 And Little Paxton, it seems, must needs send out its own edu- 
 cated sons, to teach New England's other sons and daughters how 
 to become True Scholars like unto themselves. 
 
 Response by Increase S. Smith, Esq., Teacher in Dorchester, 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 7. Mrth Brookfield :— 
 
 Though so powerful be the fascination of her eye, that she has 
 drawn away more than one of Paxton's children from her, we 
 can yet but rejoice in her taking such good care of them; and 
 allowing them, at least occasionally, to come home to visit. 
 
 Response by T. M. Duncan, North Brookfield, 
 
 8. Jjeicester and Mutland : — 
 
 Though Paxton was originally "set off" from these towns, not 
 yet is she in the least " set off" from their neighborly good-will 
 and affection. May the Band of Music the one sends us to-day, 
 to aid in our festal joys, be an emblem of that Band of Sympathy 
 whose music of mutual trust shall ever unite these respective 
 towns. 
 
 Response by " Leicester Band," Capt. J. Coggwell leader. 
 
 9. Our Fathers and Mothers : — 
 
 Sowers of good seed by the fireside, they have thereby given 
 sons and daughters to their Country and to God : — may their dear 
 Memory and Love be ever green as the pines upon our hill tops. 
 
 Response by A. E. Bigelow, Esq., of Clinton, Mass. 
 
 10. Worcester — " the City down below " us : — 
 
 Commerce with her is certainly brisk, if not so very advanta- 
 geous to Paxton : we receive her goods, but pay in jeioels — even 
 our sons. 
 
 Response by Loammi Harrington, Esq., of Worcester. 
 
 11. Illinois. 
 
 Though many birds reared mid the wind-rocked boughs of Pax- 
 ton have since built nests of their own in the distant forests of 
 
75 
 
 the West, we rejoice that at least, once in a hundred years, their 
 voices can be heard again in the Old Home Tree. 
 
 Response by liev. E Gerry Howe, of Waukegan, Illinois. 
 
 12. The Natural Productions of Paxton : — 
 
 Limited though they may be, yet Spencer alone can testify that 
 we have at least raised, now and then, a few good wives. 
 
 Call for response from either of the "four Prouty/* brothers, 
 who have all taken wives from Paxton. 
 
 13. Massachusetts: — 
 
 Proud of her noble honor, trustful in her love, and nestled 
 closely, as we are, to the very Heai't of this dc;ir Mother, (viz, 
 Worcester) there is little danger of Paxton's ever seceding. 
 
 llespouse by David Manning, Esq., Worcester. 
 
 14. Our .Returned Volunteers: — 
 
 May the thought of those Victories they have helped to secure, 
 and the sight of the Old Flag they have so nobly defended, mingle 
 with the grateful thanks of a saved country in being ever to them 
 the richest of rewards — the most satisfactory of annuities. 
 
 Eesponse by Capt. Verannus Parkhurst, of Templeton. 
 
 [Glee Club sing " Jefferson D."] 
 
 15. The Union of the States : — 
 
 Paxton has always been interested in it; has done its full 
 share with sword and rifle, taxes and men, to maintain it; upon it 
 then docs she also trust, and with hope and confidence look for- 
 ward to another Century, of prosperity and happiness. 
 
 16. Those " to the Manor born : — 
 
 Wherever in the " wide, wide world " they pitch their tents, 
 still may they ever be in heart — not far from HomCr 
 
 Eesponse by Solon C. Howe, Esq., Holden. 
 
 17. The Church and Sabbath School : — 
 
 The Safe guard of the Present and Future, as they have been 
 of the Past : may the sacred care and love of coming generations 
 ever protect and sustain their interests. 
 
 Eesponse by Eev. Moses G. Grosvenor, Clarendon, Yt. 
 
 18. Our Fallen Brave : — 
 
 Among the thousands that have died for country in the past 
 four years, wherever may rest our own martyred soldiers, — peace to 
 their hallowed dust! Still living in our hearts and memories for 
 
76 
 
 the deeds that led them unto death — with pride mingling with 
 our tears will we never cease to twine wreaths to their honor. 
 
 19. Worcester Boys : — 
 
 As so many of them have courageously scaled our heights 
 to-day, we will dare them to withdraw their charged batteries 
 without firing a gun or two more; if for no other reason, at least 
 to hear them speak, on these echoing hill-tops. 
 
 Eesponse by K. A. Hawes, Esq , of Worcester. 
 
 20. The Ladies of Faxton : — 
 
 Blossoms of our Century Plants : may the fragrance of their 
 memory be dispensed through all the century to come, 
 
 21. The Boot-ynakers of Faxton : — 
 
 May their industry " stick to the last,'' and luax greater and 
 greater even to the ends of their thread of life ; may their zeal in 
 enterprise never flinch a peg, nor their " understandings " ever 
 grow shaky : while upon the altar of country may they still ever 
 be ready to lay down their " little all " with unshackled arms and 
 whole-souled (soled) effort to hammer out no boot-less blows for 
 Home and Liberty. 
 
 22. Our Committee of Arrangements : — 
 
 Our thanks and compliments shall all be included in one far- 
 sweeping wish : — when the next Centennial comes round, may this 
 same Committee be as fully '' Alive " to duty as they have been to- 
 day 
 
 Eesponse by Wm. Mulligan, Esq., Paxton. 
 
 (final toast.) 
 
 23. The Two Hundreth Anniversary of the Town of Faxton, 
 
 Let those here who may survive to see it, if one there be, — not 
 then forget to call forth from their long, long memory this charge : 
 bear down our salutations and good wishes to the joyfid 19G5. 
 
 Eesponse by Band, and united singing of '' Auld Lang Syne." 
 
 Thus closed the delightful Celebration of the First Centennial 
 of the Town of Faxton, leaving the most pleasant impressions upon 
 all who assembled to enjoy its varied exercises. 
 
77 
 
 MILITARY ROLL OF HONOR, 
 
 The celebration of the Paxton Centennial occurred during the 
 war of the rebellion; but as this memorial is printed after the 
 close of the war, it has been deemed not inappropriate to add the 
 names of the soldiers who enlisted in the defence of their country 
 from this town. 
 
 The following is believed to be as accurate and com])Iete a list 
 as can now be obtained : 
 
 brought 
 
 Henry A. Allen, served two 
 enlistment, nine months and 
 one year. 
 
 Simon C. Abbott, 
 
 Henry G. Bigelow, wounded at 
 Antietam. 
 
 George li. Browning, re-enlist- 
 ed. 
 
 Henry A. Browning, wounded 
 at Coal Harbor, and died on 
 the wa}^ to Washington, June 
 16th. 18 64. Was " 
 home. 
 
 Charles Butler. 
 
 Charles G. Bigelow, served 
 two enlistments, nine months 
 and one year. 
 
 William F. Browning, served 
 two enlistments ; nine months 
 and one year. 
 
 Isaac J. Bowen. 
 
 Henry A. W. Blackburn, 
 
 Geo. p. Browning. 
 
 Herbert Cheeney, 
 
 Daniel Cummings, died April 
 2Sth. 1862. 
 
 John A. Cummings. 
 
 Everett W. Con ant. 
 
 Wallace S, Chase. 
 
 Otis JDamon, — re enlisted. 
 
 George W. Dodd. 
 
 Alanson H. Dodge. 
 
 Ambrose Eames. 
 
 Charles O. Goodnow. 
 
 Alvin S. Graton. 
 
 James Holmes. 
 
 Michael Iverrivan. 
 
 Sylvkster Laribek. 
 
 iJ^ATHAN A. MuNROE, died at 
 Murfresboro, Teiin. Aug. 8th. 
 1862. 
 
 Solomon E. Maynard, died at 
 Newport News, March 2d. 
 1863. 
 
 Edward E Munroe, died a pris- 
 oner in the hands of the 
 rebels. 
 
 Frank W Mulligan. 
 
 John S. Mills, died at Washing- 
 ton, April I5th. 1865, 
 
 Alvin S. Nichols, died at Crab 
 Orchard, Tenn. 
 
 Samuel A Newton. 
 
 Nahum Newton. 
 
 Erastus W. Newton. 
 
 Charles H. Newton. 
 
 Cyprus Osland, died May 4th. 
 1862. 
 
 David W. Pratt, captured at 
 Plymouth, N. C. and died in 
 Andersonville prison in 1864. 
 
 John S. Pratt, captured at Ply- 
 mouth, N. C. and died at Ander- 
 sonville prison in 1864. 
 
 Edward F. Pratt. 
 
 Albert Pratt. 
 
 George 0. Peirce, died at Har- 
 rison Landing, Va. July 1862. 
 Was brought home. 
 
 John D. Pierce, shot in front of 
 Petersburg, July 19th. 1864, 
 was brouiilit home. 
 
78 
 
 Wm. F. Pike. 
 
 Hiram N. Parkhurst, died at 
 Newbern, N. C. Sept. — 1864. 
 was brought home. 
 
 Charles H. Parker. 
 
 Walter Shaw, died at Washing- 
 ton, Aug. — 1862: brought 
 home. 
 
 Isaac R. Savage. 
 
 John W. Smith. 
 
 Wm. M. Warren. 
 
 Henry C. Ward. 
 
 William Ware. 
 
 HoLLis H. Howe, died at York- 
 town, Va. June — 1862. 
 
 Charles A. Harrington, died 
 at Annapolis, Md. Jan. 8th 
 1862, and was brought home. 
 
 Ward Harris. 
 
 Samuel Harrington. 
 
 George M. Harris. 
 
 John Holmes, Jr. 
 
 George R. Hubbard, shot dead 
 in the trenches in front of Pe- 
 tersburg. 
 
 William E. Keep, served two 
 enlistments, nine months and 
 one year. 
 
 Of the fifty-nine, whose names are here given, four served two 
 enlistments, of nine months and one year, and counted a second 
 time on the quota. Four '^ three years men," re enlisted, and 
 were counted again on the quota. Of the twelve men who were 
 drafted, two responded in person and entered the service, viz : 
 John K. Davis, and William Gibson. One furnished a substitute, 
 and one paid commutation. Two men were credited to this town 
 on other enlistments. John C Bigelow, placed a representative 
 in the service (Henry Evans,) thus making in all seventy-four 
 men furnished directly by the town of Paxton. 
 
 In addition to these the following persons, citizens of Paxton, 
 enlisted elsewhere. 
 
 James D. Butler, died June — 
 
 1865, 
 Edward J). Bigelow. 
 Benj. F. Ware. 
 Charles A. Bemis. 
 
 Charles"E. Graton. 
 George F. Cheeney. 
 Samuel Stratton, died Sept. 
 
 6th. 1864 : was brought home. 
 George W. Brown, died in 
 
 1864. 
 
 Of the number of those who entered the service for the town of 
 Paxton, fifteen died while thus engaged: — two who were dis- 
 charged for disability, died very soon after, viz. Daniel Cum- 
 mings and Cyprus Osland. Of those who enlisted elsewhere, 
 ihveb died while in the service. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that twenty in all, citizens of Paxton, who 
 served in the war died. All the rest as far as known at this time, 
 are still living. 
 
 A record worthy to be preserved, for at least, a century to come. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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