The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-01-05
The response was by Dea. Frederick a.


| thank YOU on behalf of this association
| for your cordial welcome and kind words
of greeting. | shall ever remember the
meeting of last wear as one OF the sunny
spots of life and though both friend
Capt. Hatch and myself met you for the
| first time, there was magic tie that
made us all feel a common klnshlp. l
know l express the sentiments OF all
present in saying that we are more than
glad to meet and greet you and one an
other again beneath this hospitabe roof,
and it is fitting that we should reverently
render thanks to Him through whose
kind care we are spared to gather here to-
day.
Hatch. Those who have made study
OF the Specification of names tell us that
1T means wicket gate, ana may IT not
signify ''gate ajar,' or with the latch
string hanging invitingly out shall
! ever think of this home from the time 1T
was founded by Abel Hatch as one like
that of my grandfather and Of my father,
and of score Of other old Hatch home
steads; s'Pilgrim's Tauerns" where the
wayfarer is ever welcome; where the chill
dren and grandchildren come to spend the
summer vacation and are ever expected
with glad welcome home at Christmas
tide. These homes were the favorite
stopping places of the good pastor and
his wife in former days, and where, if
showed in for a time, they were never
homesick.
Homel With a mothers rocking chair,
| where all the little troubles were soothed
and brushed away: where the head aches
and heart aches of children and grand
children were healed by loving words and
sympathetic caresses. Home. What en-
dearing memories cluster around that
magic word. Home! Father and mother.
Home Where sturdy brothers and low
ing sisters dwell Home. Where the fond
wife awaits the home coming. Home.
Where prattling children ''climb the knee
the envied kiss to share" Home. Where
on some green hillside or too often in
some neglected spot, the forefathers and
their loved ones are laid to rest and where
we reverently stand and read their ''names
and years, spelled by the unlettered
muse
During the past three years it has been
my privilege to assist our secretary in
gathering material for his Genealogy of
the Hatches in America, and in my re
searches | have acquired knowledge Of
the people of this name which has repaid
me hundredfold for the weeks of labor.
tup l1dUN tltlGS Ol LtdNtl anu lHt tiidDt
weary hours of copying and putting into
form records too often incomplete, but the
best that were available. Valuable works
of others compiled from the old records of
Plymouth county, Mass, complete knowl-
edge of the Matches OF New England
throughout all their generations from the
coming of opr progenitor William Hatch
the elder and his brother Thomas, a later
migrant, to the present time. And what
is the summing up NJ one with an ac-
quantance of the present and a knowl-
edge of the past can fail to pro-
nounce them q noble, honest, thrifty,
patriotic, God fearing, and God ery-
ing race. Women WHO have molly and
lovingly filed every position i'll their
sphere of life. Men who have always
been true to every call of their country
and who have filled every position in our
armies from corporal to major general,
and every civil office in the gift of our
country from school agent to that of a
Senator in Congress. There are names
that stand among the highest as thelog-
ians and authors; and last, but by no
means least, are those who have given
their lives and talent ito the ministry of
the word'' and have done in the past and
are doing in the present acceptable service
in that divine calling.
If much of this is a depression, you
will kindly pardon it. l, like you and
your companion, have passed the appoint
ed bound of life and soon ''the silver
cord' will "be loosed, and the golden
| bowl be broken Till then, He who
notes even the sparrow's fall, will have
you and yours in his kind keeping and
every rich promise of His word shall be
/ f,l 1,c+ oll
meet around His throne, where his chosen
grand reunion above, ''to go no more out
| forever"
The following committees for the day
were appointed by the president:
On time and location of next meeting
! Willis S Hatch, Harriet A. Clough, Capt.
W. S. Hatch
On nomination of officers: Walter g.
Hatch, Dea. F. A. Hatch, George U.
! White.
The association then adjourned for the
usual noon recess. Long tables were
spread on the lawn under the spreading
naples, and while the dinner committee
| Wtlo dIltuSlusS5 luc EcpdSl Tue OluGIS SlGOll-
ed about the premises or gathered in
groups for friendly chat. AS ever there
was a circle about the bean hole, anxious
ly watching lest some accident should
prevent the adornment Of the tables with
the accustomed dish; but as in years he
fore, the beans came forth SO odorous that
the neither lips of the lockers on overflow
ed. Soon the welcome sound Of ''dinner' s
ready greeted us, and we again gathered
around the well-laden tables The hour
at the reunion tables seems too short by
half, but since reunion day brings other
duties beside eating we reluctantly left
pleasure for duty.
At the call Of the president we again
gathered for business. The committee
on time and location reported that if con-
venient they thought it best to meet at
the Hatch homestead, as in previous
years; but if not convenient, then they
recommended meeting with Mrs. Harriet
A. Clough in Liberty, and in either case to
meet on the third Wednesday in August,