The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-23
A BI-CENTEN NAL.

THE Two-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN OF swANzEY-
ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR OF KING PHILIP
WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS COLONY.
SwAN2EY, r. l., June % 1875.
bi-cenennial celebration OF no Insignificant
interest and Importance took place In this little
town to-day. me settlement Of the place was an
unusual occurrence In the history OF the colonies.
The lands occupied by the town were part or
the territory purchased by the Plymouth colony
or the great Indian Sacnem Massasoit. The first
settlers the Rev. John Niles, Baptist clergy
man. from Wales, and small body OF his friends
"Who, coming TO this country, sought a s, OF
where they could exercise entire freedom OF con-
science" This trey found IN the Plymouth colony
alone ana therefore purchased lands ana placed
themselves under the jurisdiction OF the Pymo uIh
court. They named the town S6anzey, from the
home OF Mr.. Niles, in Inc old country. Here the
Baptist Church OF America found Its early oothold,
and here seven years alter the settlement Of the
town, Philip, oil Pokanoket, grlndsoa OF the great
Sachem Massasoit. commenced that war when
ragged through the colonies or Massachusetts Bay
ana Plymouth and "A part OF connecticut Tor more
than a year ana AZ one time threatened TO destroy
the entire English settlement IN New England.
The incld snts oil tnis war form some OF the most
tragic chapters III our early history. IL was at
martial spirit winch served them goou pur-
pese in the old French war and In the War OF nde-
pendence.
consisted OF procession, formed at IL O'Clock
A. NJ. on the arrival OF the train from Provldence
q dinner, oratlon anu speeches. The line OF ma rch
was taken mp at Colas station, under command OF
General Nathan Con, j., OF Warren, X. l.
Inc Warren Artillery performed escor6 duty, the
American Band o. Providence furnishing music
Tor the OCCASION. The clIlzens o. swanzey and
somerset, Mass, ana OF Warren and Bar
rIngIon, X. l. lall OF them forming the old town
ship OF Swanzeyl, joined In the procession.
Among
THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
present, besides Hon. George ID. Lorng, OF Salem,
Mass, The orator OF the day, were Governor Gas
ton ana stan. oil Massachusetts, and Governor LIP
pitt and stan, OF Rode Island. Inc great gather
Ing Was neid IN Pearseis Grove, Swanzey, where a
aens mau oeSh cteOlet CapaDl. " .oiulhg LoVO
persons, anu handsomely arranged Tor tue Occa-
SION under the management Oi the SwauZey Agri-
cultural Club The assembly was large ana en-
thusiastlc and tue celebration was great success
In every respect
Inc dinner commenced at IL clock, and at
It's close the literary exercises were opened by
Dr. Lorlng, who spoke more than an no1r, giving
sketch VI the settlement OF Swan1ey, the Tcll.
gious freedom winch prevailed there, and the
scenes VI the terrible conflict known as King
PhInp's War Referring TO the attack the
town, which was the initiation OF the great war,
uon and OF prayer 10 Almighty God that lie
would avert the horrors O the impending war,
the 2itn OF June, 1915, that the savage made MS
second attack on the town. her people
here had been luied into confidence
ana repOse DI cpuSClOuSne1S OF their
own honest Intentions, aud by daily
familiar intercourse with the aboriginal occupants
OF the w1gwams which crowned these NILS and
sought secusion ana protection IA these valleys.
Toe old members nad taught themselves To De-
licyc that their gray hairs were sale and re
spected; the young men mai confidently applied
their strength TO better service tnan the wvrk
OF war; the la0tner mad long since aId aside all
Tear Tor tue safety OF her cuiiu; tine cnild had not
yet learned That the red-sSuned maiden was ner
natural Toe; wnen the mask fell from the lace Uf
the savage, ant
MS CRUEL AND IMPERIAL DESIGNS
became manifest. Inc doors OF the little church
hau Just closed and The wOrsnIppers were retufn-
ing TO their homes. heavy with the thought OF
the danger when suddenly hung over them like
q dark threatening cloud, when tho attack was
maze. We are told that one was Killed and others
wounded; two Hen we're kIlied wac were sent
Tor a surgeon, ana near Burns garrison six men
were murdered, upon whose bodies the savages
exercised more than british uafbarttlcs, bencad-
ing, dlsmemurring ana managing them, and ex-
posing them IN the most lnhuman manner which
gasned ana CHASTITY objects struck damp on ali
DehOlders.
Tne war became general throughout the Massa-
chusctrs ana PlNmOuth colonies. Pntlip, subtle
Yndictive ambitious aud desperate, united ali tue
trioes from the waters or the bay 10 the Connec-
tcuL River, IN what Ire called desperate struggle
for the lana OF ms fathers.
TINS was the school ia which our fathers we're
taught and where they learned the lesson wniCn
served the people so wei in the great wars whicn
followed. Dr. LurIug skCtchcd the military ex-
perlence derived rom thls and the French war
ana showed now II appeared al Lexington ana
Concord and Bunker Iii. lie concluded by en-
In which Swanzcy added 10 her heroic record
during the civil aar.