Litchfield enquirer., 1858-06-24
ELISHA MASON AND HIS CENTURY

| ELISHA MASON AND HIS CENTURY.
 7ae Last ef the Revolutionary Soldrs of Ltelte,d one
 t IS Snppossd. ef the County.
 1 [MR. EpIToR I It was not until .the 14th inst, that I learned that the Sketch of the Life and Services of the late Elisha Mason, which yon expected for publication would be prepared by myself In tKe Memorial which follows, give you, with slight alterations the substance of my Discourse at his Funeral on the 4th, which directly relates to his life and century1
 The fact that he was born April 5th 1759 and died June list, 1858, in his Tooth year, has already been published The text which was deemed per tinent to the Discourse at thu funeral is in Genesis v., 3l last clause .' And he DIEp It is the last | recorded death before the Flood, and of Lamech, the father of Noah
 Tine average ages of the antideuvian patriarchs 1 was nine hundred years, Very little is known of the details of these years (the sixth chapter gives in few words tile reason of the del uge J but the thought was suggested, that could comparison be drawn between the occurring events during the years of one of the Anteliluvians. and the years of Elisha Mason, it might appear that for responsibility, usefulness and privilege the life of the latter the longest. In confirmation of this a brief reference made 0some of the historic facts which have occurred within the century, leav- ing to those who heard tor read to extend for them selves in other particulars.
 When Elisha Mason was born, the settlement oi to the Atlantic slope. This County was in it's youth :,;t ,,crLt The population of all the Colonies was probably between two and two and half millions while now about twenty eight millions. The long and bloody French War was in progress at his birth. The Re- evolutionary War commenced in 1775, and on the eventful July 4, l776, he was youth in his eight eenth year; and when the treaty of peace was rati- fed in 17S3, he stood freeman at the age of twen- ty-four. When George Washington was inaugura- ted as the first President of the United States, April 30th, l7S9, on which day the Constitution of the United States commenced it's working, he was in his thirtyrst year, and since lived through seven teen full Presidential terms, and into the second year of the eighteenth term. He has lived through all the changes of parties, of union and disnnion, of quietuess and strife, which have occurred in con- necton with the birth and the development of the Republic, which is now bounded by oceans, which in cludes thirty two States and many Territories and to behold it in such maturity. that, including its internal commerce. it scarcely second to any na- tion, and with exhaustless resources. He lived to Postal system, under which, for three cents, letter can be conveyed thousands of miles, and of such vast extent that millions on millions an- nually received and expended. He lived to see the laws of Science successfully applied, that water, air. steam, and electricity, the faithful servants of man, doing his bidding, and under the magic power of steam in one day with ease he could per form journey which would have doubtless rcquir- ed ten days for Lamcch and actually for himself during the first half of his life while, instead of hearing from those few hundred miles distant. af ter the lapse of weeks months, with the assis- tance of electricity they could converse together and instead of hearing from Europe after voyage of months, a few days are sufficient. He lived 10 see the Printing Press perform wonders steamers and racars freigted with its periodicals and count less issues, and daily any who will, may read of O.; riing ev ;nss throiga the leayth and bread h of the nation.
 He lived to see institutions of Science, Learning Humanity and Religion, founded and expanded into gigantic strength, including those for the eyangc zaton of our land, and the salvation of the woYll He lived until nearly forty years of age. in period of comparative declension in spiritual religion, and for some sixty years more which have been marked by works of grace, and it was his privilege to die when thousands of churches saying, C The Lord hath done great things for us nsreo glad' Now add in thought, the History of Europe for centu- ry yea, of the world and then think of the record of Lamech, ]" And he died,' as the world was ripe for destruction and then of Elisha Mason q And he died as the redemption of the world was advancing and must not the result be- that for responsibility influence and privilege, the latter lived the lon gest?
 But of Elisha Mason and his century, we record,
 l. That Litchfield was his birth place and home He was born on Chestnut Hill, on the opposite side of the street of the house on the homrstead in which he lived until his four-score years and ten, when the ages and nfrmities of hiusel and wife, required their removal into the village, that they might be under the of their faithful, affection ate, tirst-born child and daughter
 ?. The inheritance which he derived from his father is still in part retained in the family, and 50 let it continue as long as the name of Mason.
 8. He had been for several years the oldest resi- dent in the town, and about four weeks the oldest born in it..
 II digress, to notice the remarkable coincidence which has occurred that his senior in age only be- tween seven and eight months, Rev. Ethan Os- borne, who was born in Litchfeld in August. l75s. and of revolutionary service died May 1st in his one hundredth year, and was buried in Fairfield, New Jersey on the 9th day of that month, '' among has o,sn people, after long and successful ministry e the glorious Gospel o e blessed God " and farther to add that almost eleven years since, had the satisfaction to welcome to my dwelling these two veterans, and to witness something of their peace fu joy and comfort they lived over, nearly four score years and ten.]
 He lived to see his own entire generation pass !