The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-07
GREAT DAY IN NEW LONDON
TH0UsANDs ATTEND TH E hNyIYER.
 sARY CELEBRATION.

| Dedication of the Finest Soldiers, Dronu-
 ment in New England,
 New London, May 6.-This city has had a grand day of it, in observing her 250th anniversary and she has also. the handsomest soldiers and sailors monument-a granite shaft 50 feet high ito be found in New England, through the generosity of Sebastian D. Law- renee, who had it erected at a cost of more than S25,O0 and presented it to the city as a tribute to his father, Joseph Lawrence, in his day prosperous ship ping merchant, who happened to make this city his adopted home and who prospered here wonderfully, as did his sons, Sebastian D. and Francis w. l Lawrence.
 New London to-day also honored the memory of Connecticut's first governor, John Winthrop, who came here from Croton, England, where he was born, with a little band of Puritans and founded the town Of New London. The corner stone of the Winthrop monument was laid to-day with ceremonies be- fitting the occasion and such as Win- | tillOP luGIuOTy ueSGTVeS.
 It is near the spot where Winthrop lived and where. with the first settlers, he worshipped in the little meeting 1 house.
 The ceremony of laying the corner stone was under the direction of the Masonic fraternity, Grand Master James H. Walsh placing the stone in position. At 10 o'clock this forenoon the Masonic procession composed of the Third regiment, Union lodge No. 31, F. and A. M., Clinton band, Brainerd lodge No. 102, F. and A. M., Union chap- ter No. '. R. A. M., Pope's band, Hart- ford, Palestine Commandery, K. T., Co., lumbian Commandery, K. T., officers of Grand lodge of Connecticut, formed on State street, proceeding up State street, l to Huntington, direct to Bulkeley Square, where the monument is locat- ed, near "The Ancient Burial grounds | Arriving there Union lodge formed on the north side, Brainerd lodge on the south, Union chapter directly in the rear of Brainerd, the commentaries in I the rear of Union lodge. | Nearly 400 school boys, drilled for the occasion, under charge of Charles B. Jennings, formed on the west on Hemp- stead street.
 The introduction was by President Chappell of the board of trade, who spoke briefly of the significance of the occasion.
 Rev. James Bixler. pastor of the Sec- ond Congregational church, followed with prayer. Rev. pr. $. Leroy Blake of the First church delivered the ad- dress of the occasion, which gave in detail the biography and history of John Winthrop, jr.
 When Dr. Blake concluded the 400 school boys sang Our Flag Is There and Grand Master Walsh placed the corner stone in position.
 The singing of America" followed and Rev. Alfred Poole Grant, rector of St. James Episcopal church, pro- nounced the benediction.
 The day was an ideal one for such a splendid celebration as the people of this city and their guests participated in.
 The city was at it's best and ap~ peared it's prettiest for the natal day celebration.
 Her buildings, public and private, were adorned with the stars and stripes and the colors that go to make up the nag or the ndJ1On. The railroads began to bring their enormous freights of humanity early in the morning and mid-forenoon found the city thronged as it never was be- fore. The Consolidated road from east and west brought extra trains and extra cars on regular trains from all the section north as far as Windhan, the Northern road hauled big crowds, and the New England road brought many people from stations as far away as Putnam.
 In the harbor a couple of modern warships, the Cincinnati and Mont- gomery, were lying.
 The streets were filled at the passage of the early procession of Masons that proceeded to Bulkeley square, where Grand Master Walsh officiated at the laying of the corner stone, a cube of two feet, for the Winthrop monument, but when the time for the dedication of the soldiers and sailors monument ar- rived the parade where the monument is located was mass of humanity. Introductory remarks were made by President Chappell of the board of trade.
 Mayor Johnston accepted the statue l with the 1OllOWlnS reIndTkS.
 Honored Sir-In behalf of the citizens of New London, it is my pleasant duty to accept this magnificent soldiers and sailors monument, your gift to your native city. You have touched all our hearts, and as receive it in behalf of the city I perform the most pleasing act since I became mayor In behalf of all our citizens thank you; in behalf of the soldiers and sailors who went forth to defend the old flag I thank you. New London bore her full share in that great struggle to preserve the Union, furnishing more men, accord- ing to population, than any city in the commonwealth.
 Her bravest and best men went forth, many of them never to return; they lie sleeping on the hillsides and in the val- Ievs of the sunny south.
 From 1861 to 1865 nearly two million volunteers entered our army, whose valor and devotion were never equalled. It was a grand exhibition of patriotism and self-sacrifice.
 While our brave men were in the field fighting for the preservation of the | Union our noble, patriotic, Christian | women were praying earnestly to the 1 Almighty God that The rebellion might