Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-19
THE CENTENNIAL or VERlf0NT'S
INDEPENDENCE

TIC GATHERING.
On Tuesday evening, 10th inst, the peo-
pie Of the good town Of Westminster cele-
brated the centennial anniversary OF the
most important event in Vermonts histo-
| ry in manner which was as creditable to
their patriotism and public spirit as 1t was
apt and becoming TO the spirit Of the occa-
sion commemorated. Few towns In the
State are so rich in historic places and ASSOC
Citations as Is Westminster. On her broad
and well-kept street still stands the old
church, which was built in ITO, and which
in its early days housed a generation of
worshippers who bore their full part in the
struggle of the State and Nation for indie
pendence near the northeastern end of the
street lies the old burying-ground which
entombs the bones ofthe fathers, and among
them those OF the young and ardent patri
OF, William French, TO whom history &C
cords a place as the first martyr of the
Revolution, and but few rods distant, al
most at the brow of the hill, il the site of
the old court house, whore, In l775, French
was shot, and where, two years later, the
convention was held which, on the 10th of
January, IVY, declared the "New Hamp-
shire Grants" a free and Independent
State, owing no allegiance to New Hamp-
shire on the one hand or New York on the
other, under the name of New Connect
cut, alias Vermont. And II was to cele-
brate this latter event that the people of
Westminster, in default of any action on
the part of the State at large, held their
| gathering on Tuesday evening.
The initial proceedings in this celebra-
ton were held some three weeks since,
when a committee, consisting of Rev. p.
f. Barnard, chairman, p. d. Reyes II. c.
Lane, d. q. Wright, H. Goodhue, w. b.
Cutting, G. NJ. Chase, o. L. Fisher and j.
B. Morse were appointed to take the mat
ter in charge and make the necessary ar
rangements. During the day on Tuesday
the site of the old court house was marked
by an American flag which was suspended
just over ii on wire stretched across the
street.; the French monument was also
decorated by flag fastened TO its shaft.
The exercises of the evening we're held in
the village church, and here, in its interior,
was at once apparent. Directly in front,
and at the rear of the singers alcove was
neat evergreen device with the legend
l777. VERMONT. 1877.
FREEDOM AND UNITY.
The alcove was also decorated with flow
ering plants aud American flags. On the
panels at either side were American eagles
skIlfully done in evergreen, under the one
being the motto "E Pluribus Unum," and
under the other "In God we Trust" On
the front of the desk hung a neat device
consisting OF a cross and crown surrounded
by wreath of evergreen and everlasting
flowers. In front of this upon table stood
a beautiful pillar of the same material. Ey-
ergreen wreaths and small flags adorned
the windows. In the gallery were ever
green trees, and on the gallery front the
senliment-"A people capable Of greatness
will not forget the patriotic deeds of their
fathers"-with large flag suspended over
1t and wreaths on either side. Taken as a
whole more attractive interior than the
church presented on this occasion is not
often seen. The storm of the previous
night had been so severe that the roads
were nearly impossible on Tuesday, and
West parish or from adjoining towns, but
notwithstanding this untoward fac, the in
terest and enthusiasm of the inhabitants of
the East parish was so great that the church
was well filled with an attentive and SYM
pathetic audience.
The exercises opened with a selection by
the band, after which Rev. p. F. Barnard.
chairman OF the evening, made few in
troductory remarks, followed by prayer by
Rev. DR.. Stevens of West Westminster.
Mr.. John b. Morse, who was then intro
duced, read the proceedings Of the conven-
tion of IN. This convention, II appears.
met on the 18th OF January, and was an
adjourned meeting of two preliminary con-
ventions held at Dorset during the preced-
ing summer. Amer instructng commit.
tee TO report form of declaration Of indie
pendence the convention adjourned to the
following day, when the report was made,
and the declaration was unanimously adopt-
ed aud was signed by the delegates present.
Eighteen towns were represented in the
convention, the delegates from those now
comprised in this county being as follows:
Dummerston-Lt. Leonard Spalding,
1t. Dennis Lockland.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Robinson, ESQ.
Mr.. Joshua Webb.
Townshend-Capt. Sam. Fletcher.
RockiBgham-Dr. Reuben Jones, Lit,
Moses Wright.
Mr.. Morse, who read the declaration on
Tuesday evening, is a great-graudson of
Joshua Webb, one OF the Westminster del
egstes.
AT the close OF the reading the band
played "Red. While and Blue" and Mr..
Barnard then introduced Hon. Henry Clark
Of Rutland, the orator of the evening. Mr..
Clark's address was an admirable produce
ton, occupying upward of an hour in its
delivery. He entered into careful study |
of the events which preceded and followed |
the declaration of our State independence,
and in speaking of the sentiment OF unity
and of absolute freedom and independence |
which actuated the fathers, glowing trib-
ute was paid to their memory and to the
principles upon which our CO mmonw wealth
Is founded. Our most marked character
istics as a State were touched upon and the
speaker referred with pride to the long list
of eminent men, natives of Vermont, who
have graced all the professions both at
home and in the nation. Two hundred
thousand Vermonters have gone forth to
build up other States, and Mr.. Clark said
that he had information that on that eve-
ming the sons and daughters of Vermont in
Worcester, Mass, and in Chicago, were
the independence of their ma
live State. In closing Mr.. Clark gave some
historical facts specially relating to West
minister and also gave some brief sketches
Of several of the most notable members of