Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-02-14
Reception to Mrs. Mary E. Har-
ringtOn.

| purpose as the one that nlled tne tOWn
hall on the evening of February 6, 1895.
Never before was there such cause to
draw the people together. 1t was spon-
| taneous uprising OF this community with
4 out regard to church lines or political par
ties to do honor to one who has been and is
PUBLIC BENEFAcToR
to this town. Ever since she has been in
our midst, Mrs. Mary e. Harrington has
endeared herself to our people BY her kind
ways, her personal deeds of charity and
her public gifts.
| To build up our community and to in.
crease the worth OF our material, moral
and religious institutions, no other per.
son has given SO much and SO freely OF
their wealth. On her head rests q
ROYAL CROWN,
the ability and the disposition to use her
riches for the welfare and prosperity OF
those around her. Her benefactions have
fallen on this community as "Thiek as
autumn leaves that strow the brooks In
/ Vallambrosa.
Pleased would she be to have her deeds
of generosity and benevolent acts yelled
| from the public eye, but they can be no
more hidden than the sunshine or the
gentle rain that fails from heaven TO refresh
the earth. Deep and abiding is her In
terest in this people and this community
! Ten miles away, in the town OF STOCK
bridge, is ner birthplace, and also that OF
her late husband, Edwin Harrington.
Five years ago, on account OF his failing
! health. they came back and built beautiful
residence in Bethel village, where they
kept an open house and welcomed their
old neighpors and friends. Seeing the
dark shadow hanging over him, he desired
to have his life end near where IT began.
He gently passed away Sept. %, lo9l-a
life of &c years crowned with the nobility
of true manhood and success.
4 Judging from her life, we can truly say
that the wealth she possesses she regards
as a sacred trust which she is to use FOR
noble ends and thus carry out the spirit
and aims OF her husband. Every gift that
goes from her open hand is twice blest-
il blesses her who gives and him who re-
ceives.
The village OF Bethel has put on new
aspect of thrift and prosperity since she
came into our midst. Not little OF this
prosperity is owing to her Doble spirit OF
generosity. She has been foremost in all
good works and improvements. No
other one has given more money to build
| up the manufacturing establishments IN
this village, where now are employed
hundreds of people.
For years the farmers had been talking
OF having creamery in this place. She
saw there was need OF such an institu'
/ ton and with no aid she built the
HARRINGTON CREAMERY.
There are some larger establishments OF
this kind in our state, but there is not
/ one which surpasses it in fine appoint
ments, neatness, elegance and beauty.
When the town hall was nearly COM
pleted, she finished in the basement, at her
own expense room to be used for
/ PUBLIC LIBRARY
and placed in the tower massive bell !,
whose zones everyone admires.
| Notwithstanding that she is member
\ OF the UniversaisJ church, she gave to
the Congregational society hundred
! dollars when they were rebuilding their
church after the fire.
! She has expended on the Universalist
church more than $500, and 1t was a MT
! ting tribute to her generosity to name the
rooms in the church finished and furnished
THE HARRINGTON PARLoRs.
| Within few months. she has kindly
assisted in the repairs Of the Universalst
/ church at Gaysville. 1t is not long ago
since she presented to the Universalist
/ Convention of Vermont and Province OF
| Quebec, large and costly desk for the
secretary's office.
| The Daniel Lille Post of the G. A. r. at
Bethel remember with gratitude the hun
dred dollar Record book which she gave
them last fall here at the soldiers reun-
| ion.
A stranger passing through Stockbridge
will have pointed out to him many pleas
ant homes which she has provided for old
| friends and relatives.
She has ever been friend to the poor
and unfortunate. Her most precious gifts
have been known only to the recipients.
The people OF Bethel did themselves honor
in showing their appreciation OF her
many public and private benefactions BY
RECEPTION
which included all the people OF this
community. The evening OF the meeting
was one OF the coolest OF the season. At
8 o'clock, the thermometer registered ten
degrees below zero, but the hall contained
between three aud four hundred people.
Hon. Fred Arnold was master OF cere-
monies.
On Mrs. Harrington's entrance into the
hall, Rev. s. A. Parker welcomed her in
behalf Of the people Of Bethel. He spoke
OF the occasion that had called them to-
gether and OF the noble and generous
woman who stood in their presence. He
thought it better to speak our kind and
pleasant words OF appreciation to the
living than to wait until their death and
then write a splendid obituary ! This is
the meaning and object OF this mass
meeting. After telling something OF the
story Of her good deeds and the nobility
OF her character, he presented to her
FLOWING CUP"
OF sterling silver, from which this whole
community drink in honor of her to
whom it is given. On one side was en-
craven this inscription /: presented to
Mrs. Mary E. Harrington, Feb. 6, 1895, by
the People Of Bethel, VT" On the other
side are these words "a Token OF Ap-
probation of Her Public Generosity
very happy response in behalf OF Mrs.
Harrington was made by Rev. v. W.
Blackman, pastor OF the Congregational
church.
Mr.. Parker then read the following
poem written by Rev. E. Fitzgerald:
Her Bright Crown.
She lifts the hills Of Bethel near
Where shinging paths lead down,
Where hurry they from Heaven here
Who come with Her Bright Crown"
She only walked the streets that run
Their common ways through town.
But where she went her footprints won
From angels-"Her Bright Crown
So here and there and everywhere
We see her sweet renown
Enshrined in deeds and hearts that bear
Forever "Her Bright Crown
a. -