New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25
IT'S cENTENNLAL ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION BY THE MASSACHUSETTS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
A yoTABIE GATHERING IN A FAMOUS OLD
BOSTON CHURCH-REMARKs BY RODENT
G. WINTHROP AND COLONEL
HIGGINSON.

BOSTON. JAN "a (spcciaD.-The Massachusetts HIS
torical Society this afternoon celebrated its 1Ooh or
day in Arlington Street Church The centre OF tho
church was reserved for members OF the society III
cluded in the number present were Dr. Olver "ehueh
Holmes Judge F. lockwood Hoar, the Rev. Dr. Eo-
ward Everett Hale DR.. william Everett Judge John
lowell Octavius H. rockingham, Judge Mellen Chafh-
berain Judge Wetherbee, of Halifax, delegate from
the Nova Scotia Historical society George >. Haze
Professor James b. Thayer. J. Eliot Cabot Aoner -
Goodell Judge William c. Endcot, the Rev. Henry
A. Hazen, Professor f.. G. Smyth of Andover Johh u
Ropes j. p Quincy Professor 4. Il. Hart Horace r.
scuddock f. J.. Pierce Professor Charles Eliot NOT
ton the Rev. DR.. A. V. g. Allen, Charics frdh'is
Adams. William 5. Appleton, F. L. Binher hooci' ~
Winthrop, jr, Augusta T. Perkins, eX-Mayor oaniei
Green and W. p. Upham. on the platiorfh WIN Inv
speakers OF the day was the venerable Robert u WIN,
throp The rest OF the church was comiorlaON wen
filled with interested men and women PrlOr W ''Ie
exercises the chimes in the belfry OF the chOn ie
ont patriotic hymns. The exercises "eTe oPo"OU 49,
music on the organ and remarks by Presuen. Ems
PRAYER was offered by the Rev DR.. Lucieh H. i"eI %
Cambridge, the senior associate. liz" i
Ellis presented Robert c. winthrop 49,,
.Happily our associate whose name mas oo."
longest upon our roll is with us here touaS' 'u
Ellis THAT name has borne its honors' not oN ''lo"s
the continued history OF the period Oh l'S s 80
but from the beginning OF our wlIoelIes9 h'''
~, onoroh,e Gather and founder of Massachusetts,
CHOSE autograph journal of its plantation Is es'.o
In our cabinet is represented by hVhs NoNo, s',i
we are to hear Robert c. Winthrop was our iai.l'' -
and honored president for thirty years ana 'oio "
No reason but his own wish why he is not 50 Vou"s
/ will ask him TO speak TO lis INC IL" ~
he has promised on this OCCASION , -
Mr.. winthrop said after few words OF THANKS u
the presiding officer ,o or,;rded
1t is true, MIR. President as you have I'VE oresm
ne III is t1e though il seems TO me hhc d ui eF,
when one awakens-hat am in my MY sco V t ,,oro
of membership having been resident meVee . ig one
ihd of the whole century which is commemorate
today. cannot forget that my nNi and beloved
Prescott whose Ferdinand and Isabella, WHICH WIZ MI
have HeG a lo holds no place
among those historical trinmPhS wc and d" sparks and
Palfrey and rockingham and Motley, and a 5a ~
living and still laborng Francis Parkmah' a an INV y
celebration occurred only single week earigr' ht
friends. might have said and should have SAD 1laI
there left the only one OF 9"' wa admitted
ffty two wears ago. George Bancroft was Ilem
r TH labors Which have rendered him
illustrious in country IodaS: w hm only MIr as
Certainly do with heartfelt emotions OF respect Vi
ahe''i few S Words I'd mo Mr. President and shall
eagerly resume my seat for my voice w ,fn mas mas
served faithfully dp d0 not i asmp SnS g press
further Our society's first century Is conPIGhltIh
not for me to speak r TO OF review it, record or to
enlarge on the results of its influence ana eXa nn ~
s IN par" All With just Satisfaction and pride But let
me only in conclusion express my feIvent nope tiat
this o SseTSpe and Sff as dsnenshed as its f
cannot ask for more than that our m furnh cene
and place worthy to be recorded and ilustrated ana
that pens and Tsy aeve w fs Sany and
above all with truth ever recognizing ana ever open
iDg those two great laws Of history so te'Se{ pro
claimed by the matchless orator Of ancient Rome
Ne ouid fas deere audeat. ne quid ver non auun'
.-r-never daring 70 say what Is laIse hoi e>o' o
10 sey what Is true . ,,,, ...uo
,,After an anthem BY the choir President Ellis miro
arcod ID Thomas Wentworth Higginson to denver INC
discourse of the day. In the couiso
NJ his 81 address Colonel Higginson said that history co
nat no "a allied an exact science in the sense mat maine
was an exact science yet, in view OF its value
trerere was much temptation to call its work sceh'c'
1t might rather be called an inexact science since us
truths were so difficult to arrive at Every historical
socetv had 10 cope with the difficulties OF varying
observation of events. and could only 90 us pest "
attain the simple truth by careful Investigation ana
preservation of evidence as possible Yet history
should not be merely collection OF facts' Inc sun
light of actual life should be let in upon 1t 70 brighten
and enyen it, and make IT seem ea ana over the pnr
tan character and life is due TO the absence o. ~ M
the lack Of felike RSTtratnre at ' yeated Of Cotton
Mather much to tighten the gloom. me veIeTaDe
the Street when bow urged by his companions shout
ed in his ear Cotton Mather thou art fool. IN,
said to the boy know it. The Lord make thee ana
me wiser. and then went on his way; chucklng M
vo Gew light was thrown on the character Of Wash
ingfon by the incident related by Washington Irving,
when the Father of his Country so amused a. 10
artuallv roll upon the ground in spasm OF laughter
This was about the only thing in history 70 snow that
Wasbinqton ever laughed. And yet said the orator.
who can doubt but that the name Of Washington
would be beloved. would be nearer to inc hearts
~ the peope if some Of the stern austerty OF his
character as given by history could be modified by true
human influence In closing, Colonel Hggnson re-
ferred To the work of TIE society. both as recorcr
and maker Of history, and urged that the principles
which now animated 1t be held steadfast 49,.
Oft he
and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev
Nv Alexander Mckenzie brought the exercises 10 a
Zee The members Of the SOcer~ and few friends
accented the hospltaes of Mr. Winthrop at his MARI
toronch.st house between , and O'CLOCK