Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-25

LEICESTER. dedication ofhe Neg Soldiers
Memorial HaU.-The exercises accompanying
the dedication of the soldiers memorial hall,
just completed in Leicester, were attended on
Monday evening by good audience, consider
ing the severity of the weather. This elegant
hall is located on the lower floor of the town
house in the centre village, and is a tasteful and
appropriate room, fitted up in an elegant style
for the public library of the town, and sur
rounded on all sides with neatly finished black
walnut book cases, and marble tablets, on which
are inscribed the names, dates and places of
death of the deceased soldiers of the town. and
the frescoed walls are ornamented with the
names Of the prominent battles in which they
served, and patriotic notices and devices. The
whole design and execution of this hall is cred
table to the committee who had charge of it,
and to the town. The exercises commenced in
the town hall in the upper part of the building,
with music from the Leicester cornet band.
Rev. Samuel May called the meeting to
order, and announced the arrangements
for the evening. A procession was then formed
under charge of H. Arthur White as marshal,
and proceeded to the memorial hall below,
huNlS plagGt was OHtIcu ny INC Cudpldln, heN.
A. FL. Coolidge. John Z. Russell, as presiding
officer, introduced Capt. John D. Cogswen,
chairman of the building committee, who gave
an address containing history of the various
action of the town during the last seven years in
honor of our fallen soldiers, including the sub
stance of the reports of the committees chosen
at different times to report upon memorial
hall and other monumental structures, which
nave finally resulted in a compromise of this
union of a new library room with a memorial
hall, which has harmonzed the conflicting ele-
ments and given satisfaction to all parties. He
then addressed the directors of the public library
and the surviving soldiers present, and con-
cluded by presenting the new hall to the fathers
of the town.
His address was responded to by Mr.. VIM. F.
Holman, chairman of the board OF seectmen,
with suitable remarks. A volunteer quartet club
| interspersed the exercises by the performance
of appropriate music. The audience again re-
turned to the town hall for more spacious ac-
commodations, where they were addressed by
Rev. A H. Coolidge, upon the memorial uses of
the ball; by Rev. Samuel May upon the library
uses of the hall; by II. Arthur White in behalf of
llC pcolSS H. luuudS OSG Vi tUe u. A. IL, VINO
were present in uniform, and by John L. Rus
sell in behalf of the building c6ehmittee, highly
| compmenung its chairman for his taste in de-
| sign, and energy in execution of this work, and
also in behalf of the citizens of Leicester general
| ly, who have so satisfactorily executed this
monument of gratitude to those who gave their
lives in defence of our homes and of their coun-
| try's honor.
The exercises of the evening were closed by
music from the band, after poem written and
| delivered by Mrs Jerome NJ. Parker, of Cherry
| Valley, the substance and delivery of which was
highly creditable to its author, and drew bursts
| OF applause from an appreciative audience.
The marble tablets containing the memorial
records present an imposing appearance in
front of the main entrance to the hall, and are
surmounted by marble slab on which is the fol.
lowing felicitous inscription: "When your chill
dren shall ask their fathers in time to come, saw
ing, what mean these stones? then We shall let
| your children know that when treason raised its
| head to destroy the government, these men gave
| their lives that the Onion might be prese rved
with Justice TO all ;"