The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1892-09-09

Dwight of Yale taught in when he was
a resident of the Hill and made the fol-
lowing excellent remarks.
+ REV DIR PLUMLEY'S ADDRESS:
Friends, Fellow Citizens of Greenfield
Hill and Welcome Guests: This is a
great day for Greenfield Hill. And
wherever the American flag is raised, it
is great day for our country. The
principles of freedom that are exploited
by the star spangled banner commend
themselves to the admiration of the
world. Wherever our nag floats, this
flag speaks to the nations of good gov
eminent, of wise laws, of freedom to
worship God as conscience dictates, OF
happy homes, of citizens seeking the
common welfare.
This ancient village has witnessed the
progress of civilization in successive
stages. Here the red men of the forest
made their habitation and fixed their
abode. They retired in their turn before
the hardy settlers of the Hill. When this
flag first appeared, it was to lift the hopes
and inspire the faith of our Revolution
airy sires. In 1776, the village of Green
field Hill was not lacking in ardor or de-
votion to the country. The farmer who
left his plough in the burrows near yon-
der water tower and shouldered his mus
ket went not alone. He had many COM
rades.
And when the flag was adopted, bor-
| Nina SIC fo1G
and it's stars for the emblem of our
States, with stripes of white to show the
purity of our intentions and stripes of
red to declare that with our hearts blood
we would maintain them, over what
noble band did it wave.
That star sprent flag once covered
Our Washington, the blest;
That eagle victorious has lowered
! Long DER our bravest and best.
This ancient village saw succeeding
scenes of war and peace, the nation adj
vancing, the citizen prospecting and the
territory widening on every side. The
British flag is not the only flag on which
the sun never sets. Our flag never sees
anything but the day. San Francisco is
| luSU blIC HAIL way uOuSC VI Jul
1t is as far from that city to the farthest
point of Alaska as it is to the farthest
point of Maine. And as the wood chop
pers of Maine go in for the night, the
seal fishers of Alaska 60 forth to their
toll.
In 1861 commenced the Civil war. The
old flag was here regarded with honor
and soon waved triumphantly over the
land and henceforth we knew no North,
South, East or West, but one Union, in
dissoluble and permanent.
On the Fourth of July, 1861, the peo-
pie of Greenfield Hill celebrated indie
pendence Day by raising an American
flag on this beautiful green. 1 hold
copy of the program used on that occa-
sion. 1t is printed by Pettingill & Han
over, Standard office, Bridgeport. 1t is
as follows:
March, Wheeler & Wilson band.
Prayer, Rev Mr. Sturges.
Raising the flag, the band playing ''The Star
Spangled Banner"
Singing by the children, "Star Spangled Ban
ner," the audience joining in the chorus.
Address.
Hail Columbia by the audience, accompa-
MED by the band.
Address.
Singing by the children, America"
Doxology.
Benediction.
The raising of that flag meant then de-
votion to the Union. The men and wo-
men and children who rallied around it
did not allow it to trail in the dust. 1t
went with Thomas and Burnside and
Hancock to victory. 1t waved over Sher-
man on his march to the sea. 1t shell
tered Grant at Donaldson, Vicksburg
and through the Wilderness. 1t wrap
ped the martyr Lincoln as he closed his
patient eyes with enmity to none and
charity for all on country united, free,
dimned by no dishonor, the home of lib
erty and union, now and forever, one
and inseparable.
Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore,
On boundless lakes or rivers wide,
That ask no aid OF sail or oar,
That fear no spite of wind or tide.
What does the raising of this flag mean
to-day? We raise it to Union that in
cludes every nationality. A German
American at the close of the war had his
heart swell as he saw the victorious
troops march through Washington. He
could not contain his patriotic enthusi-
asm. ."See," he cried, III thanks mein
Colt for this one thing be's en-
Americana" So the Irish American and
French American and the Americans of
all nationalities, while they love their
own home, cherish higher the stars and
stripes.
We raise this flag to religious liberty.
While this flag floats, no one shall be
prosecuted for conscience sake. The
Jew, the Catholic, the evangelical of
every name shall have his protection Sc
cured and is at liberty to worship his
God as his conscience dictates, with none
to modest him nor make him afraid.
We raise this flag to free school forl
every child. Over every part Of theland
education shall be provided, so that each
child, as it grows to maturity, shall know
the sweets of intelligence and the lessons
of wisdom.
On this Labor day, we raise Old Glory
In the interest of every workingman and |
his employer. Under it's folds, we can
be sure that the man of means will learn
to see the rights of labor sacredly guard
ed. Under its spreading agis, the work.
man shall receive his rightful share Of
the fruits of toll and the sympathy as
well of those who profit nv him Cant |
tai and Labor alike may hope for equal