Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-20

was fired. The procession forming Ill asquare
round the stand, Gen. George IL. Ward, CHIEF
marshal, announced Mayor Davis as president
of the day, after a voluntary by Joslyn's Cor
net Band. Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR.
Hill, and the following song, written tor the
occasion by c. Jillson, Esq, was sung by the
glee club, under the direction of Albert S. AL
len. by whom the music was composed -
We come to day with solemn tread
To consecrate an earthly shrine,
And raise this column DER the head
OF hero, patriot and d1vlnej-
hero in his countrys cause,
A patriot on the lists OF fame,
Divine, because an honest man
Can justly own no other name.
thousand other men have died
Who toiled for fame and sought renOWnI
But no one knows their resting-pace,
On hll' in valley, or the town.
But here, the humbest OF them all "A
Beneath this beauteous column liesi
His dust has unto dust returned,
His spirit to the upper skies.
Here ages hence, when spring-time comes
With laughing footslep DER the hills,
When Nature hits her wintry hand
From all the valleys and the rills
Shall generations yet unborn
Beside this marble column stand,
And mingle with the dust their tears,
For one who loved his native land.
L
and spoke as follows =
.nay it please gour honor :-Actuatsl ~ the
wish to perpetuate in slLfcable manner, the
memory OF one w4asss name has ever been
[STerently cherished by his descendants, in
formed your municipal government year and
half ago, OF my desire to erect monument
upon Worcester Common, over the remains OF
Col. Timothy Bigelow. That desire was re-
| cognized in the kndest manner, by the prompt
| passage of a resolve, authorizing the mayor TO
set apart the lot in question, and to dedicate 1t
| forever to this purpose. For the cordial re-
Spouse thus given, permit me now TO return
| my most sincere thanks. The work is com
| pleted, and at the request OF your citizens, l
| am here to consign ii in Il formal manner, to
| the custody and sale-keeplng OF yourself and
| your successors.
| Little did l expect however, 10 witness This
| imposing civic ceremonial. and the lst assem-
| blage here collected But | cannot be sur
| prised when l remember that the regiment
sgoHc q o BE ftp 81 aifIJps5Ashtsiaa
county of Worcester; and seeing, as l do
| around, me, the descendants OF the men who
followed him to Cambridge, fought by his side
under the walls OF Quebec, and on the plains
| of Saratoga and Monmouth, endured with INN
| the trials and terrible sutferings of Valley
| Forge, and participated with him in the crown
ing glories of Yorktown.
| feel that the tribute pad to day, and on
| this anniversary, is not to the memory OF one
| man alone, but to the revolutionary sires of
| Worcester, an ancestry of which we may well
be proud. May venture 10 hope that in the
present dark and trying hour oil our country g
life, this monument may serve to sustain and
stimulate our patriotism, by recalling to men,
DRY, the public spirit, the courage, and the sac
ritices so nobly displayed for the cause Of lib.
erty during the Revolution, by the soldiers Of
the gallant old fifteenth regiment Of the CONT
mental line.
Mayor Davis responded as follows:
Col Timothy Bigeloc Laurence, Sir You
have caused to be erected on our Central Park
monument to the memory of one who was
foremost among the citizens of this place in the
great acts of the American Revolution.
This civic procession, this large concouIse
of people, are assembled here to commemor
ate your generosity to the memory OF one of
those heroes of the American revolution. This
very monument, as you have well said, sir
and this very occasion should admonish us to
rally in support of the principles, TO express
anew our admiration Of the character, and our
gratitude for the lessons of wisdom and patri-
otism, bequeathed to us by those who fought
the battles of the revolution and laid the toun.
dation of our liberties. They are fixed stars
i'll the armament OF great names, shining with
out twinkling, with clear and beneficent
light.
Sir, allow me, as the chief executive officer
of the city, in behalf of all It's ciIzens to thank
you sincerely for this splendid tribute to the
memory OF one OF our bravest and most cherish
ed citizens. With great pleasure, accept in
behalf Of the city, the custody of this chaste
and magnificent monument which will forever
HAS syt.a A. 4
Col. Timothy Bigelow. To him and his asso-
ciates, who at the expense of treasure-a con.
tempt for peril-a prodlgality OF blood as pnre
as ever flowed from mortals, OF which we can
form any adequate conception, we owe debt
OF gratitude for giving liberty and equality to
this nation. You, sir, with a noble liberality
have placed over the grave OF your ancestor a
memorial which will commemorate his heroic
virtues, till the last succession of earth's in.
habitants.
My poor thanks for this act of your munfi-
cence, are weak and feeble, when compared
with the untold thousands who shall hereaf
ter gaze upon this structure, and breathe forth
their thankfulness to him who SO molly COM
memorated the deeds of the mighty dead.
Eighty six years ago this day, news reached
this place that the British were on their march
TO Concord to destroy the military stores in
that place. Captain Timothy Bgelow in-
stantly assembled his company near the spot
where we are now standing, and marched
with all possible dispatch to meet the enemy.
This was the beginning Of the Revolution.
When Washington, the Father of his Coun.
try, arrived at Cambridge and took the COM
mand of the American troops, he reviewed
them by companies Having reviewed the
company OF Captain Bigelow he remarked to
him. " this is discipline indeed" In 1855
he was Major under Gen. Arnold in the expe-
dition against Quebec, in which the hardships
and sufferings of the army mock all descrp-
ton. He commanded the 10Th Continental
Regiment. AT the capture Of Burgoyne and
other battles, lie was member OF the Provin-
cial Congress. He continued in the army till
the independence OF the colonies was estab.
llshed. He returned to his native place poor
in property, but rich in honor. His descend
ants have done much to sustain and perpetuate
the liberties he fought to establish and now
after more than seven decades of years since
his death, great grandson OF the deceased,
prompted by noble feelings Of patriotism, with
princely liberality, has erected over the re-
mains OF his heroic and patriotic ancestor
monument worthy OF the good and great man.
as Inc friends of liberty in all coming time
snai look ON 1t and read its Inscriptions, it will
can 70 their minds generation of heroic.
brave, and noble men who pledged their lives.
tneir fortunes and their sacred honor in tbe