Litchfield enquirer., 1864-11-24

as |" Noah's Ark" They were good men, and like their namesake of old. "walked with iGod' Colonel Williams of Stoekbridge spoke-s maH whose head was frosted with the sivery locks of 9l winters. His words were freighted with the serene and beautiful wisdom of a Christian old age. He said he had ever locked back with pleasure to the day that connected him with the family of Noah Rogers. He alluded to the faithfhlness of covenantkeep- ing God, and closed with the injunction Choose ye this day whom ye will serve"
 Deacon Dwight Pratt of Cornwall called our attention to one or two lessons which the oc- casion teaches us. One was, that streams of influence starting forth from an earnest, good man, continued to flow onward through centu- ries, making the banks all along their courses radiant with blessings. Another was, that forces of evil starting out from bold, bad man, were ever carrying blight and mildew and death along their pathway, the effects of which were ever widening and deepening as the years roll along. Hence all should be found on the right side, ready to labor in every and any sphere where they can most benefit those around, CT who may come after them.
 J. B. Sedgwick told us how he won his bright and bonny bride from the Rogers family.
 E. M. Rogers referred to the absent ones, regretting they were not permitted to meet with us, and sent them words of kindly remem- brance and greeting, Especially were our sympathies called forth in behalf of "Aunt Ives," the only surviving child of Noah the Sd, now in her e3d year, and who was pre- vented by the infrmities Of age from being present.
 E. Burton Hart of Cornwall, said, that while those had been spoken of who were somewhat noted for their influence in religious and civil life, he had not heard much said about those in agricultural life. A large proportion of the family were fighting life's battles in this line, not for this summer merely, but year after year, and the beautiful cattle, the huge stone walls, and the verdant fields We see around us are witnesses of the victories they have achieved. It is said that he, who, co working with Nature, causes two spears of grass to grow where was but one before, becomes a public benetactor. Hence, I think this family can claim that title-Rural life and labor are conducive to physical mental, and moral de- velopment, &c., Sc.
 Edward Walter Leete of Guilford, Ct, ad- dressed us as follows:
 We have met to-day, the scattered children of d common pareltage. From our homes among these hills, from our homes on the West ern prairies, from our homes by the seaside where the fathers lived and laborel, and listen cd to the ceascless music of the restless sea- from office and shop and stone, from the pulpit and the blow, from the quiet walks of rural life, and the busy marts of trade, We have come to renew the pleasant friendships of the past, and revive amid familiar scenes, the happy memories of other days. Perhaps it may seem to some of you that am an intruder here, and have no particular claim to the ancestry of which you are so justly proud. think this is mistake. for though belong to the Rogers family only by adoption, and the Rogers blood flows not in my veins at all, yet I believe the blood of the Leete's flows in almost all of yours, and has exerted an influence over your lives ;- whether for good or evil is a question that we will not discuss now and here. We are assem- bled on spot dear to us ay as being the home of the worthy and the good of other days. and to soms here made sacred by the holiest memo ries and the tenderest affections There are these here who will cherish no other memories so tenderly or so long as the memories of this the home of their childhood. The sons who have roamed over these fields, and played upon these rocks, and among these trees, and laid life-planS here which may or nay not have been carried out,- the daughters who have stood here on their bridal days. and from this have gone forth into other homes, may forget much, but they will never wander so far or be gone so long as to forget the old homestead, and those with l whom they shared it. Noah Rogers who came from Branford, and settled on this spot never lost the remembrances of his early home. It is said that when the south wind blew, he would stand in the door of his house and (aided per- haps by imagination) hear the dashing of the | waves on his native shore. And those of you whose birthplace and early home were here, will in all your future wanderings, turn back | ward with fond remembrance toward this place, and all the more so, for this gathering to-day; and you will teach your children and your childr, n's children to love and reverence this sacred spot, and the fathers and mothers that Iudu0 It SO-
 | It is good thing to have an honored ances- 1 try. It is better thing to honor that ancestry Let us while we haoe Me one, be sure that we do the other. And when he generations of the flu ture shall visit our homes, or, standing above our graves, shall gather the moss from our tombstones to learn what they can of the time and manner of our lives may tkey find that we left a record as bright as those that went before us, and that we never disgraced our noble ancestry. And may the rich inheritance of virtue and worth. of public spirit and pat 1 riotism, of high-!oned morality and earnest piety, which we have received, be by us passed along to posterity with no less of honor. and no more of shame.
 r. Deacon Edward Bradley of Stockbridge, Mass, commenced by speaking few words of encouragement to the young owner of the premises where we were assembled telling him it was no common soil that he was to till, &c. He then went on to say that it seemed to him, we were standing on hallowed ground hallowed by the memory of many generations ofgodly ancestors. Especially was it hallowed to those of us, who are removed into the outer world, and as we approach it to-day. we feel like naaking bare tue temper, and plucking of 1 fhe shoe heforp tho oltar an Vb;oh xL G,o ol