Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-23
FOREFATHERS' DAY.
LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS
APPROPRIATELY OBSERVED.

1--WE CeIeDfallOn VI VIC AsNeht-i iihp
BatteII Stewart the Speaker of the
Evening-The Ladies' Social Party.
Forefathers' Day this year was a pro-
nounced success. 1t was the 27Sth ami
versary of the Pilgrims landing and the
seth commemoration of the event in this
community, and the occasion drew to-
gether larger audience than usual at
the Congregational church last Wednes-
day evening. Among those present were
many from surrounding towns. Presi-
dent Brainerd directed the exercises,
Mrs. Miner was the organist, and the
choir was quartet consisting of Pres
ident and Mrs. Murkland of Durham, n.
H.. Miss Pelton of New York and Mr.
Roy Howard.
The exercises began at O'Clock and
their order was as follows:
l. Voluntary and anthem, "oing
Alleluia Forth" Dudley Buck
II. Invocation and reading of scripture,
by j. G. GOodlng.
III. Ode, "The breaking waves
dashed high" Mrs. Hemans
". Prayer, by Rev. A. W. Dickens.
V. Quartet, "Thou art, o God, the
Life and Light" John C. Warren
VI. Address, by Mr.. Philip Battell Stewart
of Boston.
VII. Hymn, "America," Samuel f. smith
VIII. Benediction
The program was of a high order in
both its musical and its literary features.
The address, coming as it did from re-
turning townsman of a younger genera
ton, was awaited with special interest
and amply repaid the close attention ac-
corded it. 1t was dignifed and cOmpre-
hensive. scholarly IN thought and felic-
itous in expression. Opening with tri-
butte to him who nearly sixty years ago
lighted i'm Middebury the beacon of
annual honor to the name and fame of
the Pilgrim fathers, the speaker touched
briefly on the familiar features of the
Plymouth settlement and then proceeded
to a broader view of the significance of
the Pilgrim landing. He showed how
the Mayhower bore to anchorage at Ply
mouth the consummate fruitage of the
mental and moral struggles of the race
the twin liberties. political and spiritual,
in which is grounded the civilization of
today in its every manifestation. Mark
ing briefly the headlapds in the struggle
for liberty preparatory to the settlement
of this country, he showed the Pilgrim
against the background of the experience
of the world. The development of civil
liberty was graphically traced from the
time 1t emerged from the shadow
of unwritten history in the forests
of Germany till the great plan un-
folding through the ages passed to Its
elimination and Pilgrim and Puritan
could freight the Mayhower with the
sum of human conquest That Puritan
was but colonial expression of nation
al growth. What he brought with him
he equally left behind him, to be taken
in turn by every other colonial otfshoot
from England's life. In the settling of
our various localities there were differ
entations and accidents of place sutllc-
lent In the subsequent development to
make decided lines of demarcatiOn In the
ultimate colonial history of each. But
whether of Maryland, of the CarOlinas, of
Georgia or of Virginia, each colony was
true to its English sources, and the
great initial, internal forces were sc
homogeneous, so deep-rOOted, and so gen
eral that, with the civil war issues deter
mined, a compact, efficient, harmOniou;
national life became for US positively
certain. Through every pathway of col
onlal settlement this beloved republic
was upraised on the foundations of al
identical previous racial experience
each ofshoot from the mother lane
started with the spiritual achievement O
the race herein is the true dependence
of each part on the rest when the stress
comes, herein the cohesive power of thu
Union, heretofore, now and hereafter.
THE LADIES SOCIAL PARTY.
In the lecture room below bountifu
provision had been made for the many
who were present. The adornment
were most tasteful and the tables wer
never more attractive. President Brain
erd called their occupants to order ant
grace was said was said by Rev. c. \
Thomas of Bristol. Supper regretfull!
ended, the customary program of musi
and speaking was presented, the tw,
features alternating throughout the list
The music consisted of duet by Mr.
and Mrs. Murkland and songs by Mir
Howard, Mr.. Murkland, Mrs. Murkland
Miss Stewart and Miss Peton, Mrs
MlntI accompanying all' I4aOh oOlSN
tion was thoroughly enjoyable, bu
special pleasure, perhaps, was given b.
Mr.. and Mrs. MurklaDd and Miss Peltor
Miss Pelton's is a new voice to most i
Middlebury, and she contributed yer
largely to the happiness of all who wer
so fortunate as to hear her.
Those who spoke were Governor Stew
art, President Murkland, Mr.. Goodine
and Professors Howard, Wright, No
Clifton and Sanford. An earnest poem
"The Israel of the EOccident," by Pres
dent J. E. Rankin OF Howard University
Washington, D. c., was read by Pres
dent Brainerd. Doctor Rankin has tai
en- deep interest in FOrefathers' Day
Middlebury from almost its very inceI
+ tioD and to make his poem part of tn
Of VrOnropn xuac YnOcf annr.