Litchfield enquirer., 1876-07-13
coshen.-No. 2A3.

to the navy and was an officer during th6 war, was selected to xalse the stars and stripes over the Liberty Pole of the Revo- lution. At the close of appropriate cere- monies we went to the place rendered memorable as the spot where stood the log house of Dea. John Beach; and Flu gene P. Norton, the committee chosen by the Church, flung to the breeze, On 3 tall flagstaff, beautiful flag bearing this in scription, 'Goshen First Congregational Church, organized here. Nov. 1740."
 An hour later, while the Wolcottville Cornet Band were playing in front of the church at the Centre, the Goshen people came pouring in. accompanied by multi tude from Litchfeld. Torrington, Corn wall, Sharon, Duchess county, Canaan, North Canaan, Norfolk, Huntsville, New York City. Bridgeport. Danbury, Thom- aston, Berkshire county, New Jersey, many from Illinois and Wisconsin and also from other parts of the country. As many as could find seats and standing room filled the church.. A great bell, made of green moss, with "LIBERTY'' iI large letters of white flowers was sus- pended. In front of the pulpit vas the motto, "Union Forever" Up very high were '1776. 1876," in living green; ''La. fayette, 1776;" ''Goshen Sixth Corps. |" Long white scrolls. arranged by MT. Ed xyor1 Norfoo oovorod ooorly fha xpbalo east walls. "Goshen First Proprietors," :" with their 5 names. "Goshen Soldiers of the French War. 1754, l762" (with their names), killed, 8; died, 4; returned, l3." The space back of the pulpit was covered with Liberty, Goshen Soldiers of the Revolution" (with their names, 162 in number); "kilied, 2; died 15." Next south was "Union. Goshen Soldiers of the Re- bellion; killed, 13; died, 21;" and 66 others. You will have room this week for only a short account of the proceedings.
 Opening address by the President, John M. Wadhams, Esq. The Band (20 instru- ments). played beautifully, the whole as- semblage joining in the National Hymn, America. Prayer by Rev. T. A. Hazen. Music, Centennial Grand March. The Declaration of Independence was recited by Albert Wadhams. Esq. Music. the Star Spangled Banner. The remainder of the forenoon was occupied with the His torical address of Dea. Edward Norton. which was listened to with marked atten- tion. We could almost see the Indian from behind the tree as he shot Lieut.. Gaylord (thel grandfather of our Capt. Willard Gaylord), and MT. Beebe, of Litchfeld, as he fired at the Indian, who jumped up high in the air and dropped dead. But you have no room for the thrilling accounts of the sufferings of our soldiers, women and children in the Rev. olutionary, or of the sacrifices made by Goshen in the war of the Rebellion. A motion was made by Lyman W. Coe, Esq. of Wolcottvllle, and carried unanimously, of thanks to MT. Norton with a request that the address be printed. and vote was afterward passed that the Centennial committee act in relation to having all the proceedings published if thought best. The morning exercises closed with Yankee Doodle; and the congregation joined the great numbers without, at the great din. ing tent, and If you had been there you would have seen not only the Centennial and public dinner committees at work, but also the Ushers. with the Floral and Relic committees. r..
 All this time, from early in the morning until late at night, hundreds and hun dreds of people had an opportunity of ex- amining the Relics, which were arranged on long tables. and in other places, in the Town room. As the Relics came in, the week before, the Committee made an en- try of the articles,a with an account of their history and age, and attached copy of the same to the relics, and the chair man was frequently asked if copy of the whole could not be obtained some time or other. The only reply they received was 1T don't know how much the Enquirer and Herald will be willing to publish du- ring the summer" We have 36S regis tered relics, and great many more were brought on the Fourth and exhibited, and the Committee would like to receive an account of their history as these mem- oranda will be preserved for 1876. The day was very fine and hot, the stars and stripes waved above us; aud exactly where the old church stood, in which the mis- sionaries to the Sandwich Islands were or dained 57 years ago, the Committee ap- pointed by the Church to act Tn concert with the Centennial Committee. had erect ed a flag staff on which waved in the breeze the beautiful Sandwich Island flag, made by the Goshen ladies at the Semi-C Centennial, seven years ago, which was presented at the time to the church. After dinner, the original hymn. by Mrs. Lyman Hall (Nfr. Hall is a grandson of one of our Revolutionary heroes1, was sung bY the whole congregation. who filled the church, to the tune .sGlory Hal leluiah." the band accompanying. Then came the poem. by Mrs. Lucy M. Wad- hams, which was recited from the desk, by her daughter, Miss occy, Wadhams. in beautiful. clear. strong voice, a copy of which will be sent for your next weeks paper, if you have room for it. After the music we had the Grafton. by Frederick A. Lucas. Esq. to winch we all listened with satisfaction A vote of thanks to Mir. Lucas was passed, and the request was expressed that his oration might be published. F
 Then came the five minute speeches. The first was from Dwight c. Kilbourn. of Litchfeld, and uas poetry. in which your'correspondeut received some hits. hope he will send you copy for next: