The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-25
F0REFATHERS' DAY.
The Observance of Its 265th Anniversary


years. The attendance at the exercises, |
which were held Monday evening, both
those in the church and the social
party that followed, was much larger |
than usual, and the affair was more than
ordinarily pleasant throughout.
This was the programme OF the
EXERCISES IN THE CHURCH.
l. Voluntary and Anthem. "Gloria in Excel
sis" Bertdoh Tours
IL. Invocation and Reading OF scripture, R1v.
III. Ode, "The breaking waves dashed high"
Mrs. Hemans
~. PRAYER. Rev. j. j. Noe.
V. Response, "Oh let our mngling voices
rise"
VI Address by Rev. 1. N. Tarbox, D. D.
VII. Doxology, "Pralse God from whom all
Blessings 6ow."
VIII. Benedlction.
Hon. John w. Stewart presided. The
singing was well done by a double quar-
tet composed of Mrs. Pitts, Miss Cady,
Miss Elga Stewart, Miss Bolton, DR..
Sheldon and Messrs. f. ID. Howe, j. s.
Zelie and f. l.. Allen. Mrs. Miner was
the organist.
The portion of Scripture read by Rev.
Mr.. Speare was the eighth chapter of
Deuteronomy.
The address, by Rev. DR.. TarboX of
| West Newton, Mass, was unlike those of
|
matters of personal rather than general
history. 1t dealt chiefly with the mill
tary heroes of early New England days
the causes that led them to cast their
lot with the emigrants, their achieve
ments and their characters as men and
soldiers. Among the captains thus des-
criDed were Miles Standish, Underhill
and Patrick, all employed by the Massa-
chusetts colOnists to conduct their mill
tary operations; Lion Gardner, John Ma
son ana others who were prominent in
the wars which the first New Englanders
waged with the Indians. 1t would be
impossible in any abstract to give a fair
idea of the address, so we shall attempt
nothing more than to state its general
drift. The speaker referred to the fact
that, though the Pilgrims did not be-
lieye in the observance of Christmas, that
day and the anniversary of their arrival
come very near together. That preju-
dice of the Pilgrims was one of the little
things of their faith and practice, The
great principles which they sought to
t maintain have grown into Institutions
and these unlmportant things are for
gotten. Were the Pilgrims now alive
they would celebrate Christmas as we
do. He closed by reading this Christ
mas hymn of his own composition:
o night of nights crown of the gathered ages,
The mighty dream of long, prophetic years,
The hoary seers, the ancient saints and sagcs,
Watched for thy coming through their patient
tears.
I . holy night celestial bells are ringing,
And hcaN en- bends down theiwaiting earth to
greet:
From airy heights the angel bands are singing,
And Bethlehems hills. the echong strains re.
peat.
o silent night the quiet dews are falling,
n And moonlight broOds DER vale and mountain
The wakelul shepherds, each to other calling,
; Guard through the midnight hours the gentle
sheep.
: o wondrous night yon moving star is tracing
Its lordly pathway through the Eastern skies
And now il stonds, with heavenly splendor, grac
The humble dwelling where the young Chile
lies.
0 o night of joyl the years to come shall brighten
= Beneath the followed light OF Bethlehem,
q star:
A Prince is born, whose gentle sway shall lighter
The burdened race and still the noise of war.
The ladies' social party was held in the
Il lecture-room of the church Immediately
: at the close of these exercises. A bount.
o iful supper, such as is always to be had
: upon these occasions, was served aftcl
c grace had been said by Rev. DIR. c. G.
l. McIntire of Pittsford.
: A duet by Mrs. Pitts and Mrs. Miner
came first on the programme after til,
assemblage had again been called to or
der.
b Neu ENGLAND Patriotism-
Not duty nor beauty Its passion shall mock,
Fresh from the mountain, pure from the rock.
! was the first toast proposed by Mr.
Stewart, who presided and called up0I
n Rev. DR.. Weber to respond. DR.. Web
> ber's remarks were full of good hits an,
. happy illusions.
= Next came song by Mr.. Fuller o
e Burlington, the teacher of vocal music.
II VernOnt-
q Her highest honors with noblest memories ar
repaid.
was the second toast of the evening. Mr.
II Slade, who was down to respond, hat
l. gone out of town and MI. Stewart spok,
> briefly. While listening to the address ii
> which the condition of early New Eng
land had been so wildly brought out, h'
: was led to think of the country as it nov
It is. His observations of its representa-
If tives and representative men at Washing
S ton had given him greater confidence in tn
y nations permanence than he had hau be
lie fore seeing them. With all their diversi
ty of interests, sectional and commercial
they first of all ale citizens of these Uni
ted States. There is no reason why an
one should apprehend any lack of patriot
st ism on the part of those who represeu
the various sections of the Union.
in Then a quartet, made up of Mrs
Miner, Mrs Pitts, Mr.. Stewart and d.
Is Sheldon sang a song, Miss Stewart play
,s ing the accompaniment.
d Rev. MIR. Speare read this poem, writ
ten for the occasion by Mrs. w. W
Thomas:
= While calmly glow the'stars of peace above,
~ And bells their echoes fling from tower an
er dome,
We guard the sacred shrine of Law and Love
Our Pilgrim birthright Freedoms chosen home
= Again in lighted halls of mirth and song
IN We catch the echo that the centuries keep,
ne And bless anew the iroes grand and strong
Whose notes OF triumph swept the stormy deel
Oh darky fell the night of woe, that gave
u he few to persecutiOn-and the sea-
w But God, their leader, Gained the western wave
m And gave the shores they trod to Liberty.
M Besidelther affairs mOss-hung pines were dim,
s. Their temple was the unpilared dome beyon,
u And Plymouth soil grew cOnsecrate to Hin
Whose might still keeps a universe in bond.
to But loi the hours grew dark with peril then,
The red mans War-CrY stirred each silent del