New-York tribune., 1895-12-22
PLYMOUTH'S ANNIVERSARY.
CELEBRATION OF PILGRIMS DAY IN THE
ANCIENT TOWN.
AN GRAFTON BY SENATOR HoAR. WITH WORD
FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HONORABLE
PEACE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN

PEACE BETWEEN GftfsAi b''iih'-'
AND AMERICA
Plymouth Mass. Dec. H-Plymoutn to-uay eee
brated with fitting ceremonies the 2'oth ahh''er-
sary OF the landing of the Pilgrims the occasion
was made n holiday by the people OF the Pilgrim
,oo,n and public buildings and structures which
serve as historic landmarks were decked In gaia
attire The incoming trains brought many VISITORS
from near far. The first celebration Oh fore-
fathers Day in 1863. when the Oid colony
CIub gave a dinner at Thomas Southworth's Inn,
in North-st
The guests OF the Pilgrim Society, on their arrival
this morning were met at the station by the re-
ception committee and escorted TO the Samoset
House, where luncheon was served FROM ~ 70
II a. concert was given IN the otanuisn
Guards armory by the Plymouth Band. AT IL
o'clock a procession formed at Pilgrim Hall.
and it proceeded to the armory President Arthur
Lord escorting United States Senator Hoar, the
orator OF the nay.
The decorations at the armory consisted or
draperes Of white. relieved with evergreen. Amer
ican flags appeared at the head and foot OF the
hall The tai pillars supporting the roof were
wound with white and bound with silver bands On
the balcony fronts appeared the names OF the Pill
grim Fathers, wreathed in green. At the head OF
the hall was the Old Colony SEAL and above 1t
appropriate extracts from poems delivered at for
mer celebrations by John Boyle O'Reilly. Bryant
and Flint Across the balcony ran the In
scription: I'VE will keep their memories green"
Pilgrim gun powder-horn and sword hung above
this motto.
The opening exercises included overture. an
anthem and prayer followed By ode compiled
for the anniversary festival In 1892 by John Davis.
Richard Henry Stoddard then read poem written
for the occasion hymn. The Landing Of the PHI
grim Fathers" written by Mrs. Hemans was
sung. after which Senator George f. Hoar deliv
cred the grafton. He said In part:
Surely that people IL happy 10 whom the noblest
in hicfa has do c,Oh fafh and
mother by the unbroken traditions OF their
fresldes. II there be one thing more than another
for which have to thank God this annver-
sary. It Is that the tale We have to tell Is famil
lar household story The founder OF Rome the
Norman Conqueror OF England. the Spaniard In the
South the cavalier OF jamestown the settler OF the
far West. the Puritan ~ Massachusetts, Is
known IN history quite as much by his faults or
by his crimes. by his virtues. Puritan and cav
alIer Royalist and Roundhead, may be terms OF
honor or terms OF reproach but the word Pilgrim
is everywhere word Of tenderes association. There
Is no blot on the memory OF the Pilgrims OF Ply
mouth The fame OF the pass engers OF the May
flower is as pure and fragrant as its little name
sake sweetest Of the flowers of spring"
The speaker alluded to tho anniversary orations
OF Webster. Everett. Choate, Winthrop and Sum-
ner. which had passed INTO history as Lessons for
this occasion and models OF mperlshabe eloquence
He noted the history OF the forty-eight souls who
landed on the rocks. only twenty of whom survived
the first winter.
Let no man fancy" he declared, that because
they were few In number. these men were insg-
niacant. II Is Leon.das with his three hundred and
not AeiXes with his ships by thousands and men IA
nations that has given the Inspiration TO mankind
for two thousand years"
IA a descendant Of the Purltans. he described
the vas; differences between them and the Pill
gIIms distinctions that had been lost sight OF or
neN er generally known.
THE Pilgrims declaration" he sad was the
worlds declaration OF religious independence. Let
II stand forever by the side of the immortal OPEN
ing sentences or the Declaration OF independence
They are twin stars. ever shining IN The great
conste alton OF the northern sky, pointing TO that
eternal polar star OF truth which hath no fellow
IN the armament. Yet the Puritan placed the name
Of John Milton high the ilustrous roll OF tho
great poets OF the word. and the name OF Oliver
Cromwell highest on the roll OF English soyereigns
Purtan:sm planted Massachusetts, and Connecticut
II fought the War OF the Rebellion The spirit OF
English puritansm transformed into the spirit
OF American liberty The savior OF the English
Constitution was the creator OF the constitutions
Of America. and. In latter day. was their savior