Litchfield enquirer., 1864-11-24
THE ROGERS FAMILY OF NORTH
 CORNWALL.

| CORNWALL. MR. EDIroR.-You doubtless know as wei as do. that family gatherings are pleasant, fol unless the theory of spontaneous generation holds good with regard to Editors, you mus have had father and mother, brothers and sis ters, unces. aunts and cousins like the rest o us; and it may be that you may have shaker hands with all of them on some friendly re union. risk no danger of contradiction from you, therefore, in saying that such gatherings are useful and pleasant; for they renew the af fections, and bring back the delights of !" auld lang syne.'' Then, too, family pride, which carries one back to the virtues of generous ancestry, is perhaps the only manifestation oI this feeling that e1erts an unalloyed influence for good upon US. The family which inherits noble past is more likely to realize worthy future. Beautiful fecollectons are excellent in. centives to virtue. Memories of a christian ancestry inspire the children with zealous emulation. The fragrance of such memories floating down through the centuries, is as hal lowing, think, as sacred benediction.- Moreover the hillside farms appear pleasanter when the distant loved ones have trodden them again--have stood under the old trees, wander ed along the familiar paths--w wakened the ech- oes of buried years, and taken the cooling draught from
 The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket. The moss-covered bucket that hangs in the
 well.
 The ancient homestead, the more ancient hills, clothed though they are in the beauty of autumnal foliage. appear to brighten as the scattered Elmy returns tu talk over the past. rejoice in the present, and gather hope for tue years which are to come. We are better friends, better citizens, better men and women. after such reunions, and therefore, Mir. Editor. because we have enjoyed such meeting lately in Cornwall, and because We think brief ac- count of it will not be wholly unnteresting to some of your readers, We will try to say some thing of it. and of the ROGERS FAMILY, whose gathering it was,
 On Wednesday, Sept 18th, 1861, the day fixed for the reunion, we met at the old home stead farm, four generations of us, including the old man of ninety-one years, and the little babe which had not reached it's first twelve month of life. There were present one hun dred and thirty-two members of the family to exchange greetings on this old ancestral estate now owned by Noah Rogcrs--the 9th Noah of the genealogical tree. and of the 9th genera ton from John Rogers the Martyr.
 As we entered the main gateway to the premises, we passed bene ..h large evergreen arch, within which was enwreathed in large letters the word WELCOME, aud the word was expressive of the hospitaities which awaited us. The exercises were conducted in an am pie tent, which covered three long tables, load ed with various good things that the genius of woman always makes ready for such memor;. be occasions. Tempting fruits, beautiful flow CTS, substantial dishes, delicate vauds, Out no wine,for we are temperate race), adorned their eutire length. The sides of the tent were ad- ornsd with wreathes and mottoes, expressive of historic incidents, and of religious and patriotic sentiment.
 "God our Shield"
 ,Unity-Noah Rogers"
 "Honor to the departed
 " Noah--Oliver and Rogers-are our country s
 sacrifices. Their names and deeds shall ever be fresh in our memories" Prominent over all were the folds of our Country's starry flag. At l2 o clock we met in this tent for dinner, and were called to order by John O. Rogers of Hoyleton, Illinois.
 Daniel Leete Rogers of Cornwall>73 years of age was called to preside.
 The following gentlemen were appointed Vice Presidents
 Russell R. Pratt of Cornwall.
 Egbert M. Rogers of Cornwall.
 Wm. c. Rogers of Norwich, N. Y.
 Rev. John A. R. Rogers of Decatur, Ohio.
 George P. Bradley of Stockbridge, Mass.
 The following named persons were chosen to act as Secretaries
 Marcus H. Rogers of Great Burlington, Mass. Noah R. Hart of Goshen, Conn. John B. Sedgwick of New Jersey. After this preliminary business of organiza- ton was finished, Rev. J. A. R. Rogers of Ohio, led in au opening prayer, and know of no place in which prayer seems more apprepri- ate and beautiful; than when, under the smile of Gods parental providence, long separated family meets once more. The words of Thanksgiving and gratitude, the breathings of the souls sacred happiness, and the invocation of "Our Fathers" blessing upon ourselves and upon our beloved country, touched all hearts, and we learned then that prayer could intensity and hallow joy.
 After prayer, blessing was invoked by Rev Almon B. Pratt of Michigan, and then we dis. cussed the dinner. A large family table. a happy family table it was, where all had good appetites and liz ht hearts, and the only things that fared hard were the turkies and chicken pies, and these were most "unmercifully cut in- to-" ''My Uncle Toby" would have moralized