Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-05

Dedication of The Clinton Town Hall.
The new and handsome town hail in Clinton
was dedicated yesterday afternoon. That the
people of the town take pride in this structure
was manifest by the large attendance, the hall
being flied to its utmost capacity. Many peo-
pie from the ncighboring towns were also pres
ent, and joined with the inhabitants of Clinton
in making it a gala occasion.
The dcdicatOry exercises were opened by music
from the Clinton brass band, stationed in tue
gallery, followed by a prayer by Rev DR.. Bow
ers of Clinton, and the singing of the following
original hymn by the children of the Clinton
public schools:
Dedicate to God the hall;
On our plans his smile has shone,
On his power and love we call
Now to bless the work we've done.
Home of liberty and law,
Equal rights fraternal love,
Knowledge with its Strengthening power,
o! may the grand construction prove.
The orator ofthe day, Col. Thomas W. Higginson
was then introduced. In opening he thanked the
committee for the honor they had conferred upon
him in asking him TO deliver the dedicatory ad.
dress. He said that in his early days he had heard
that the town of Lancaster from which the town {
Clinton had sprung, at town meeting offered
resolution that the town should not consist of over
thirty-fve families but he judged from pres
ent indications that the resolution had been re-
seinded, or the air of that part of the town now
known as Clinton must be remarkable for the pro-
duction of large families. In abiding to the town
hall he considered it of the places that most
needs the blessing of God. 1t is the place where
the futures of our children are to be directed The
meaning of town hall in the history of Europe is
something grander, more permanent and nearer to
what we call American ideas Let us go up the
Rhine and we see upon every side the remains of
castles. Let look back in history and we find
that they meant robbery, cruelty murder and all
methods OF tyranny 10 whlcn they subjected the
people. We also find the cathedrals built by the
people of the middle ages, where the people found
refuge from one tyranny only under another. They
soon erected another class OF buildings that speak
OF American sympathy, and which established the
spirit of true selfgOverhment which we are now
pcrpetuating. The most beautiful buildings IN Bel
GUM are the town halls and the American people
should take great pride in their halls of like char
acter The town halls of America are essential to
the welfare of the people as place in which to hold
town meetings. John Adams was right when in
1926 he said that the difference between New En-.
gland and Virginia was due to its town meetings.
free schools training days and ministers of relig-
ion, and In his diary these four things are found
written as having made New England what it is.
The town hall should be consecrated 10 town meet.
ings, aud he urged the Importance OF universal
suffrage, saying that ignorant voting was not to be
as much feared as the Ignorance of non-voting. An
Englishman said that the grandest day to be seen
in America was the day after presidential election,
when the men of the defeated party go TO their
work and wait patiently for four years before they
think Of a revolution and then there is no revolu-
ZION Dut what Is netileu ny quiet Young IN
one day. We must look TO the defense of our free.
dom in times of war as well as In times Of peace
and cousecrate this hall TO patriotism, We must
also consecrae the hall TO the memory of those who
fell in the late rebellion. The day may come when
their memories may fade, but we are not ready to
forget them yet. We nave forgiven those who
caused the war, but can never forget. Forgive
ness is divine, but forgetfuness is weakness. We
must consecrate the hall TO sefgovernment and
patriotism. Let the hall always be used to advance
the spirit of REFORM and the spirit OF true religion
Will ever prevail In closing he COMMUNICATED the
committee on the auspicious dedication and trusted
that time aud nature would deal kindly with the
edihee, so that future generations will look back TO
town hall.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. lliggiuson's address,