Connecticut western news., 1876-06-23
SHEFFIELD CENTENNIAL:
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE GENERATION.

DO f0rgotten. Our centennla1 u0y N""He brightly, and at an early hour people came from the east and the west, the north ana the south, and filed the old church to it's fullest capacity; every aisle was crowded, together with the church vestlbule. The anpearauce of the church in it's floral deco rations was charming to every beholder. Much credit is due to the aolal committee, and to Mrs. Andrews especially, who su- perintended the work of decoration. Fes- toons of evergreens encircled the church, falling gracefully between each cluster ot lamps, over which flags were placed, adding much to the beauty of the whole. Between the higher windows handsome wreaths were suspended; high up and behind the pulpit fine portrait of Washington was placed, surrounded by flags of the Union, which owes so much to him, the father of our country. The pulpit was handsomely decorated with flowers on the front hung . wreath, and just below two stars in red, white and blue flowers at each side of the desk were the dates, 1S76-1776, all made Tn flowers and very ingeniously construct ed, while on the table below rested beau tiful harp of flowers. Fifty vases of flow CTS were placed in various parts of the church, and fragrance and beauty were everywhere found. The organ was re- moved from the gallery for this occasion and placed on the right of the pulpit, the choir facing the congregation, Dr. Geo. F. Root presiding at the organ.
 The services were opened by the choir singing an anthem written for this occasion -'Let the people praise Thee, o God'-the anthem was immediately followed by the choir and congregation joining in the dox- ology and hymn, which also was written especially for Sheffield's centennial, and by one of the natives. Then followed the read ing of appropriate Scripture by Rev. MT. Germond, after which an excellent prayer was offered by Dr. Hyde. Then we listen. ed again to the singing of the Wilmot ser vice by the choir, Praise wsiteth for Thee, o God, in Zion.' The music was rare treat in itself, and we were pleased to hear the voice of MT. Stevens, (formerly of Dan- bury,) which added much to the grand har- mony. A letter from Bishop James was read, then a solemn hush pervaded the as. sembly as the venerable Dr. Orville Dewey arose to address us. His appearance is not that of man who has passed the S2 years of his life, yet such is the case. His form is erect, his eye bright, and his intellec, seems unimpaired by age. In his voice alone can one detect the weakness of age, and yet we think every one heard distinct ly the words to which he gave utterance. Choosing for his text 8 line from the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, Remember the days of old he spoke of the appropriate. ness of the present occasion; that it was good for us to look back and in mental rev. erie consider what one hundred years had done for us as nation; what changes the old Bay State had undergone, and what work had been done by our ancestors in this old town of which we are justly proud. He took us back to the pilgrim days, and pictured in imagination that little band as they landed on the bleak New England shores, when one lone vessel entered an unknown port, bearing precious seed which has brought forth plentifully during the two hundred and fifty years gone by. He spoke of the stock whence these pill. grims came; that they were not the selfish Spaniards seeking gold, nor the ignorant Norseman, but that they were in truth the puritans of England, from the best blood of the mother country they came seeking rest for the soul-'freedom to worship God They were fitted as no other me1 were at that day to endure and be strong to build up nation such as only Ameri cans can boast of to-day!
 Twill not attempt to enumerate the man. points of interest in the remarkable dis course to which everyone listened witl deep attention. only write that thos may read who were not privileged to b present here, and yet who were with us il spirit we doubt not. We learned man facts in our towns history from listenin to this sermon. The territory now know as Ct. Burlington and Sheffield was pur chased by one man from the Indians, wh came from the regon of Boston just years after the Plymouth colony was found ed; therefore the first settlers here cam from among the pilgrims, and that the were of the same mind and heart, and goy erned by the same principles, we believe Dr. Dewey illustrated the character of or
 townsmen of 100 years ago by several inc
 dents, one of which we will try to repeat
 1.-The people of Sheffield loved their cour try and reverenced the flag. One night tt
 liberty pole, which had been erected on u
 village green, was found to have been cl
 down by some British sympathizer. IT
 news spread like wildfire the next mornin
 and the men throughout the town congr
 gated to decide who was the defender. Or
 noted tory there was here-a mercha
 known as Dan Raymond'-and suspicic
 rested upon him, and when charged wi
 the misdemeanor he did not deny it.
 public meeting was held to decide upt
 some way of punishing him, for the Ia
 could not reach his case. They finally
 eided to form two long columns of me
 down through the centre of the town, a
 Raymond was obliged to pass betwe
 them and dof his hat to each man and s
 I beg your pardon sir They then learn
 who Raymond had hired to cut down
 liberty pole, and this man they treated t'
 coat of tar and feathers and made him ri
 up and down the main street and cry out
 every house, I beg your pardon for inst
 ing the town Dr. Dewey related this
 his own impressive way, which made
 seem deal more amusing than words
 mine can make 1t. The aneedote was rela
 to Dr. D. by an old gentleman, years al