Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-12
100 YEARS OLD.
Centennial Anniversary of the
BuIfinch State House.
Senator Roe Makes the Chief Address
Many Interesting Facts Recalled
Brief speech by Governor Wocott.
Special Dispatch to the spy.)

DRAFTED this morning, by commemorative
exercises in the old representatives
chamber, which is now the new senate
chamber The celebration was in
charge of a joint special committee. of
which Senator Crane of Worcester was
the chairman and by whom the Joint
convention of senate and house was
called to order. The grafton was by
Senator Roe of Worcester
Ihe governor presided. In his hand he
held gavel that has a history. Fran
Gs Winship of Brighton was member
OF the house from 1923 to 1928 and of
the senate from 1929 to 1883 April 80,
1880, he, as a nurseryman sold to a
committee of citizens of Boston the
trees in the Old Granary burying
ground, which he also planted. Over
the tomb of Paul Revere, who laid the
cornerstone of the state house, in 1895,
ne placed an acacia tree. In 1891, Rep
resentative Ross of Brighton, who
comes from Winship's district, in pur-
suit of his profession, and under orders
from the board of health, thinned out
the trees in the Granary burying
ground, and, among others, cut down
the tree over ReVere's grave, preserving
some of the wood. When he learned of
this centennial celebration, he had the
governor used.
The doors were thrown open at 10 30
O'Clock and representatives and invited
guests began to file in. The room did
did not appear Ike the representatives
chamber Of our fathers, for in the place
of the carved rows of mahogany seats
on the inclined floor were camp chairs
placed in circles, to conform to the
method of seating the senate.
Il,
the ladies' gallery, greeting personal
friends.
4 Mrs Roger Wolcott was early in the
presidents gallery, accompanied by her
son Oliver. Mrs. ]. Huntington VOL
cott, the governors mother; Mrs. E. P.
Sohier, Mrs. G. B. Blake, Mrs w. w.
T. Vaughn and by Miss Ellen S. Bulflnch
of Cambridge, granddaughter of the
architect, and author of THE Life and
Letters of Charles Bufinch,' published
in 1896
The governor was accompanied by the
members of the executive council and
by. the general officers of his staff, Gems.
Dalton, Guild, Appleton, Carter and
Blood
Lieut.-Gov Crane entered the cham
Der at IL 10 o'clock followed by the
governor and his party, which included
Chaplain Waldron of the house and the
orator of the day, Hon. A. s. Roe, SEN
ator from Worcester.
President Smith and Speaker Bates
took seats at the right of the president
of the day
The assembly was called to order by
4 Senator Eilery B. Crane, chairman of
the committee, who introduced Gov.
Wolcott. The latter called On Chaplain
Waldron to lead in prayer "
Gov. Wolcott, at the close of the
praye" spoke as follows:
GOV. WOLCOTT'S SPEECH.
We have assembled in joint conven-
tion of the two branches of the general
court, and in the presence of the gov
I ernor and council, to rededicate to the
public use of the commonwealth the
stately and beautiful edifice which was
one hundred years ago, in the eloquent
words of Gov, Sumner, dedicated to the
honor, freedom, independence and Sc
curity of our country. Since then it
has been the state house of the com
& monwealth of Massachusetts.
Its walls have reSounded to the tread
and have echoed to the words of states
men, soldiers, jurists and men of af-
fairs who have had their share in the
fame of the commonwealth, Here have
been enacted the laws which have made
Massachusetts an example and leader
TO the other states of the Union. What
y soever pride its people may feel in their
citizenship, in large measure finds its
source within these halls For a cen
tury this building has symbolized the
dignity and majesty of the common
wealth.
Its cornerstone was laid by Samuel
Adams, the great popular leader of the
revolutionary period, and by Paul Re-
we're, skillful mechanic and immortal pa
triot. Its design was the work OF
Charles Bulfinch. the foremost architect
OF his time in America. and it stands
today his most worthy monument
Either as owner of the site, or as official
occupants of the structure. every one
Of the signers of the Declaration of In
dependence from the colony of Massa-
chuSettS Bay, held close relation with
this building. Here presidents Of the
United States, from James Monroe to
Ulysses. S. Grant, have been received
and entertained with the honor due
their exalted office, and the character
and achievement which they brought to
the performance of its arduous duties.
Here Webster has spoken and Everett
andIEhoate and Sumner, and many an
other of lesser fame who yet has de-
served we'll Of the republic, Here, in
honored death lay a vice president OF
the United States, and a senator of the
commonwealth who had dared and suf-
fered in her cause. Here have acted
and labored the long line of my prede,
cessors in office who have made the title
Of governor Of the commonwealth OF
Massac chusetts one of the most honored
In the nation. Here John A. Andrew
gave his hearts blood to the cause OF
union and nationality; from yondel
steps have marched to death or victory
the gallant youth of the state, ready tc
give their lives to great cause. Here
year by year, successive legislatures
have patiently wrought to embody il
the statutes of the commonwealth tht
fundamental principles laid down in the
constitution.
These halls are eloquent with tht
presence Of the great dead. They speal
to us with the compelling voice of the
past, and bid lis be not unworthy Of
the trust it has imposed May we NEE
the problems Of the present with the
spirit which inspired our fathers, anc
may we dedicate ourselves anew to this
maintenance Of a government of tht
people, by the people and for the people
go may God bless us Of this generate
as he has hitherto blessed the common
wealth of Massachusetts.
Senator Alfred S. Roe was introduced
when the governor had concluded hi:
address.
SENATOR ROE
What is excellent as God loves i.
permanent, Emerson.
The ink wherewith was written the
legislative record of Jan. II, 1898, a.
preserved in our archives, shows M
trace of fading. There, whoever will
may read that on that day, after reel
procaI notification by each branch o
the legislature. the various department.
az the government of the commonwealth
made a ceremonious arch to the new ed