The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-12-27

Thursday evening, Dec. %. This is the
Goth or 9th annual celebration Of the
birthday Of New England in this place
The exercises opened with voluntary by
the choir after which Rev. DR.. Weber
invoked the Divine blessing, and read a
portion of scripture. The Choir rendered
most beautifully that soul stirring ode Of
Mrs. Hemans The breaking waves
dashed high, &c." and Rev. Il. p. Hooker
offered prayer. After an anthem by the
choir, Rev. DR.. Weber introduced as
the orator Of the evening, President
James b. Angel, of the University of
Vermont, who held the audience for more
than an hour in absolute enhancement,
while he discoursed phlosophcally of
" The Permanent aud Beneficent Ele-
ments Of Puritanism." He made FIVE
points illustrating and enforcing and de-
ducing lessons and differences as to their
influence upon national and individual
character He said there was in the
Puritan character:
LIST. The Idea of Duty to duty
before all things-entering into every
phase of character giving inspiration,
heroism.
ID The Puritan not only was con.
trolled by the idea of duty, but he felt
that it was made known to him in the
Word of God-the guide of his life-his
chart
3D. Another permanent element OF
Puritanism was simplicity and spirituality
of worship and church polity.
4th. Puritanism carried n7its bosom
the germ of civil liberty
9Th. And finely the Puritan believed
in education.
The product Of the combination OF
these elementary forces Of puritanism
was IL gody, steady, intelligent individual
ism, permitting the use of any and every
means of growth and progress which are
right, excluding no culture and taste, and
making Il system in which growth and
progress are not only capabilities but
necessities.
At the close Of the address the audience
adjourned to the Lecture room where
the tables groaned beneath the weight Of
good things, prepared by the ladies Of
Middlebury to meet the wants of the
traditional appetite and taste of the
good livers Of Addison county The
crowded expectation and the pleasure
beaming on every countenance showed
that they were not disappointed. The
most marked feature of the festival was
perhaps, that Of the costumes worn by q
large number of those present, represents
ing historical characters well known tc
every New Highlander and those acquain
ted with her early history. Governor
Carver was there as large as life, robeC
with the ermine Of his office. 1t required
but little change to transform the Cover
nor Of Vermont into most striking per
sonifcation Of the old colonial magistrate
of two and a half centuries ago. Mrs
Carver was also there to grace the occa
sion, clad as we may suppose she used tC
be on state occasions, though, perhaps
with little less severity of style. Mile
Standish was personifed by a Doctor o
Divinity, whose diminutive stature ant
bustling sprightliness as clad in the histo
ric equipments Of the commander-in- chic
of the earliest colonial army, he spoke
pleasant word to each as he passed. an,
introduced his niece, who came over il
the JuneAower," little later than tn
first colony. John Alden who evident,
had already "spoken for himself exhibit
cd the evidence Of his success in the lad
who leaned on his arm. Elder Brewste
must have represented the old worth
very accurately, in figure as well in dros
and Puritan dignity. We saw too. tn
old Captain of the "Mayfower," Off
GERS Of the early settlement, both civi
and ecclesiastical, and host (if an
member applicable to the Pilgrims ca
be called a host of matrons and maiden
OF aye olden time" whose FRESHNESS
scarcely suggested the hardships an
trials which they were supposed to hay
just passed through And the personif
cation did not stop here. 10! tn
poor Indian in his paint and feather
and the bow upon his back, representa-
the dignity if not the ferocity, Of his vi
tutored race. Miss Low was graciol
and atfable, though her liegc lord cond
scended neither to smile or converse wit
the intruders irupon his sacred huntir
grounds.
AT length came the supper, and aite
wards the sentiments, prepared for Il
occasion by that veteran toast-master al
Professor Of Aesthetics, Philip Battel
Esq, and in spite Of the absence of Sc
eral who were expected to speak, the r
sponses crowned the success Of the ente
tainment, and afforded at the same tim
amusement and instruction. Music to
lent its charm for the occasion, and thou;
we are unable at this time to spei
of the particular performances, it is sa
to refer to their especial excellence. MI
divers effort is complimented me
highly, as she always deserves.
We give the sentiments, and regret o
inability to report the responses F.:
l. The Pilgrims Their en-
were good and honorable, their calli
lawful and urgent, and therefore tn
might expect the blessing Of God in the
proceedings" Responded to by Pr
Scion Albee.
H. The 250M AnnirerSary-
Changed from the straightness Of the ancient wa
Its walls Of safety and its gates of praise.
Rev. Mr.. Bailey was called for but
had retired.
III. The Parish.-The husk of
grain, the shell Of the mollusk, the N
ural and proper state for the chur
Responded to by Rev. Mr.. Hooker.
iii. Woman
The wants of life, undone by vain regret,
Had never crowned its hope for man alone
Or seen another's smile displace its want
His meat an ample feast for more than
Responded to by Rev. DR.. Weber.
V. Volunteer in Lady's handw
ing. The Orator Of the Erening.-H
ing heard him, we have not entertain