Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-05
DESERVES SUPPORT
PRESIDENT Hutchins' Address to
Society of Antiquity.
An Institution Which is Doing Much for
the Worcester Historian of
the Future.

i'SiN iIS HISl meeting or 1898 at. Sails
bury Hall, Tuesday evening, H. G. Otis
presiding, in the absence of President
Hutchins. The librarians report for the
past month showed the receipt of 81 vol
umes, 1862 pamphlets, So papers and s
pictures, among the pictures being one
OF the American Temperance House
which used 10 stand on the corner of
Mechanic street in 1910. This was pre-
scented by Henry H. Ripley; and among
other noticeable gifts presented to the
society during the month were a sword
and belt from Gerry Valentine of Ham
| ilton, N. j., and q gold coin bearing the
GATE OF 1852, found in Fort Ticonderoga
IN lS4I and presented by Maj. F. G..
Stlles Two new members were ad-
mitted. and the inaugural address of
President Hutchins was read by Secre-
tary Walter Davidson, in the absence of
the writer. In it President Hutchins
SAID, among other things:
Even now We can see that our So
clety is becoming better known and ap-
preciated more and better specimens,
manuscripts, papers, books and pic
lures are flowing into its archives Its
! membership, ever increasing, includes
those who give it it's distinctively Wor-
cester character AMI who have a deep
ana abiding interest in the work of pre-
serving the names and bringing out the
history of those to whom we are in
oepted for the fair fame and material
prosperity of this city Of homes and
nopIe institutions. The past year has
seen some little advance in our work,
many valuable specimens having been
received. Its meetings, arranged to
create. interest in various directions.
nave been well attended and consider
aoIe interest has been aroused by re-
hinlscences of early Worcester.
1Hose VINO nave united with the So
clety curing the year to aid in it's sup
port are OF that standing and character
as 10 add to it's influence. The present
membership consist of 1879 active, 20 cor
responding and II honorary members.
Two ways OF conducting such So
clety suggest themselves. 1t might be
restricted and exclusive in membership.
out then. notwithstanding its high char
acter, 1t might altogether fail to incul-
cate or arouse an interest in historical
matters or touch the common need.
| Whatever else it might be, it would NOT
be public institution,
ON the other hand, 1t might be unlim-
lted and inclusive in it's membership. It's
collections might consist of a heteroge-
neous mass, with many duplicate speci-
mems, OF memorials of past life and
customs which witty the familiar
names dear to the native soil. It's Ii
brary might be deluged with tons of
matter, for much of which no one eye,
be 1t ever so prophetic, could antici-
pate use. Its meetings, frequently
held, might be arranged to cater to diff
rerlng tastes and at the same time fos-
ter an interest in historic knowledge
and to encourage that true patriotism
which is based upon and seeks to know
more of the struggles and sacrifices
through which have come the blessings
we now enjoy, it's work carried on by
willing hands, without the incentives OF
reward, pride or renown, lacking, per-
haps, in literary perfection, yet covering
the facts which are close to the life OF
the common people, it would sound the
tone of common expression. This
would truly be public institution, anc
this, | take it, is what the Worcester
Society of Antiquity aspires to be- Il
would and should include in its mem
bership all who have an interest il
! Worcester, past or present.
| Are we not then justified in calling
for and expecting contributions from
| all public-spirited people? Ought they
those things which illustrate the differ
ing phases through which our city ha.
passed, particularly when they are 81
| lie bic to destruction and loss in the
| breaking up and removal of families
and when their value can be augment
ed by being placed with similar memo
rails where they can be seen and appre
| ciated as well as preserved? Is it no
the duty OF those who are in possession
OF diaries, manuscripts, or who have
knowledge of special incidents, facts
| scraps of history, familiarity with par.
| ticular industries, and everything OF
unpublished interest. to see that the
same are placed with this society tC
make the findings Of the future histo.
rian, who will be compelled to draw
largely from this source, as rich as
possible?
What institution can more appro-
priately appeal to the Worcester either
than this? 1t was the impetus given by
this society which has resulted in the
publication and dissemination Of the
early town records, rendering their mu.
tilation or loss forever impossible, and
being the pioneer 1t has placed our city
in the vanguard of such work and has
carried the name of it's historical so.
ciety across the continent.
There can be no true patriotism, nc
genuine love Of country, until there i.
some knowledge of the struggles and
sacrifices of those from whom we in.
herit the blessings we enjoy, and the
place to properly begin that study is ir
the history Of ones own dwelling place
Happy that student and fortunate that
place where such a society as ours ex.
lists to make live again the lessons Of
the past.
An ever increasing number of visitors
both young and old, make careful eX.
animation of our collection and no one
can estimate the good that it is accom-
plishing.
Who of Worcester's public spirited
men would wish to see this institution
blotted from her roll of prominent in
stitutions? Yet that catastrophe would
be possible if it did not receive the fin.
ancial assistance of those who believe
in its value and work.
To turn to what ought to be accom-
plished in the years to come, the first
suggestion is towards some continue.
ton of record work. The great work Of
getting out the town records has beer
completed, and the society is under
taking and unremunerated work of Mr.
Franklin p. Rice than appears upon the
surface. Further work along this line
should be encouraged, If not actively
prosecuted the society.
The society should take active and
immediate steps to locate and mark the
spots which have an historic interest
that lie within our boundaries; il
should. congregate around these sacred
shrines, listen to the stories which
make them sacred and departing leave
some substantial memorial marker, that
all may read and know the lessons OF
the past.
should ever bear in mind that the his
tory Of Worcester is yet to be written
and that it is our duty, perhaps the
most important duty of this society, to
| - n..o-r ii Gil q rt II, sanl1rfnp and rnre.