The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-04-22

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF TIE
EVENT
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE PREACHED AT THE
UNITARIAN CHURCH, LEXINGTON. BY THE
REV. HENRY wEsrcoTT. IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE ONE HUEDRErH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE FIRST BLooDSHRD on THE FIELD OF
BATTLE IN THE INTEREST OF AMERICAN
INDEPENDENCE.
Monday will be the one hundreth ami
versary of the beginning of active hostilities
between Great Britain and the American
colonies. which led to the declaration OF in
dependence, and the first attainment of that
inessimable boon. The Boston Globe gives
the following in this connection: There
was large attendance at the morning SER
vice at the Unitarian Church. Lexington,
Sunday, when the Rev. Henry Westcott de-
livered an interesting historical discourse, of
which q brief abstract is given below. AT
ter pertinent intrcGac.ioH, he said: The
teelirg Of interest which turns the thoughts
Of so many hither a: the present time is
not on account OF any great battle or of any
superiority of the men WHO stood upon
Lexington Green, waiting the approach of
happened 20 be the place where the British
troops first met Americans in arms, drawn
up for the express purpose of forcibly resist
ing, If possible, their movement OF hostility.
Blood had been she'd previous TO ApriI 9
l775, but IN all these cases il WIS Occasicned
by acts OF annoyance on the part of the
British IA her than by &C. of direct hostility
But hero the British troops were on their
way to strike blow at the preparation that
WAS being made by this colony for the con-
filcs which was thought TO be. approach
ing. Here the troops sent over to deprive
the colonies of their liberties first came in
conflict with part Of that army which was
raised to sustain those Liberties. This is
Whist gives, to-day, an Int crest in the name
OF Lexington. The territory now included
in tine town of Lexington, before the year
l713, f,rmed part of Cambridge, and was
generally known as Cambridge Farms. In
1852, when the number OF families had
reached about thirty, the people petitioned
the general court TO be set off rs a distric,
parish. On account OF the opposition of the
people OF Cambridge, this was net effected
till 1891, when the place wss called North
Cambridge. The meeting house was built
in 1862. The Rev. Benjamin Estabrook,
who graduated at Harvard in 1890, preached
from time to time, but was not ordained
until 1926. He lived less than year after
his ordination. The next minister was the
Rev. John Hancock, who was settled in $685.
He was also graduate of Harvard College
and was
THE GRANDFATHER OF JOHN HANCOCK,
of revolutionary tame. He remained pastor
of the church forty-five years. The town
was Incorporated in 17lS. deriving its name
from Lord Lexington, of England, noted
man at that time. Some of the duties TO
which the people attended seem strange to
relate, but were regarded as imoortsnt at
that time. They appointed committee to
seat toe families in the meeting house sc-
cording to age, dignity and wealth, and also
persons to look after the children during
and between the religious services. Persons
liable TO become public charge were
warned out Of town. In 1879 tue town
voted that representatives 20 the Great and
General Court should serve tor six shillings
per day, and in 1857 it was
voted that all money received
by the representatives over three
shillings per day should be paid into the
town treasury. The Rev. Mr.. Hanc OK died
in 1862. In 1851 the bell which gave the
alarm on the morning of April 10 1775, was
presented TO the town by Isaac Stone. In
i755 the Rev. Jonas Clark was ordained
as the minister of the Lexington Church.
He graduated at Harvard College, and mar
ried granddaughter OF bis predecessor. In
the controversy between Great Britain and
the American colonies he took an active
part. Here followed review of the causes
which led to the conflict. the doings OF The
provincial. congress- etc, after which the
speaker said: We are so accustomed 20
dwell upon the events of the 18Th Of
April, 1775, that we fail to realize the anx-
iety ia which tue few months previou- to
that tins were passed by the Inhabitants Of
this town. AS the winter wore away, with
the Increasing certainty or the approaching
o.,A ,rs 81 x.-sfh "a.
provincial congress meeting, in March, 81
Concord, to perfect the work of preparation
which IL previously laid out; as the days
passed by with the Conflict apparently q
near that men were appointei TO watch
closely every movement of the British,
there must have been many anxious besrts
within this town. Nearly eveiy family hao
one or more OF its members enrolled in the
military company of the town, and for
many nights husbands and wives and child
rem, and fathers must have fallen aisle -
expecting before morning to hear
THE ALARM RUNe OUT FROM THE BELFRY
on the Green. AT last the alarm was heard.
About O'Clock on the morning of the 18Th
of April, I775, the inhabitants of Lexington
who dwelt along the road leading 20 Boston
heard the Gathering of horses hoofs. 1t
was the horse of Paul Revere. who was hast
ening with a message from Joseph Warren
TO Samuel Adams and John Hancock. who
were passing the night with the Rev. Jonas
Clark, that large body of the kings troops
were embarked in boats from Boston,
and that It was suspected that they
were ordered to DESTROY stores at Con
cord. Soon the bell sounded the alarm, and
by o'clock rearly all the members OF
Capt. Psrker's company answered to their
names as the roll was called upon the Green
Amer remaining about an hour and hearing
nothing of the regulars, the company was