The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-05
THE THOMAS TABLET
Place Made Famous
BY the Patriot 1913
Years Ago.
STIRRING WORDS READ AGAIN.
William Il. Bartlett Orator
of the Day-Address
By Mayor Dodge.
STIRRING WORDS READ AGAIN.

By brief and impressively simple
service yesterday morning, the spot
where Isaiah Thomas stood when he
read the declaration of independence to
an awe-struck yeomanry 1913 years ago
was forever consecrated as hallowed
ground.
On the identical spot whence, on July
IA, 1776, there echoed the stirring and
fearless words of Jefferson, which were
to prove to world of skeptics the pos
slb1lity of an enfranchised, equal citiz-
enship, those same words rang out yes
terday, amid the boom of cannon and
beneath the fluttering stars and stripes
that on July IA, nearly a century and
quarter ago were hallowed forever the
emblem of freedom and equality.
The spot over which Isaiah Thomas
stood in reading the declaration had
been marked with a tiny star set in
the spot where once stood the centre
of the porch of Old South church, and
that spot, with its accompanying tablet,
was dedicated yesterday.
The audience was scarcely larger than
that addressed by Isaiah Thomas, but
was composed of prominent citizens and
members of the Antiquarian society and
of the city government. The speakers
words were to posterity and are history.
Yesterdays service opened at $
o'clock with prayer by Rev. DR.. John
3. futile, pastor of Union church, aud
the stars and stripes forever by Wor-
cester brass band. F. L. Hutchins,
president of Worcester Antiquarian So
ciety, presided, and in brief historical
sketch, outlined the policy of the So
ciety In forever marking historic spots.
He traced the efforts Of the society in
locating the spot from which tie words
of the declaration of independence first
rang out in New England and gave a
history of the erection of the tablet.
He introduced William H. Bartlett, or
ator of the day. Mr.. Bartlett's address
follows:
Justice to the memory of our fathers
has summoned us here on this indie
pendenee morn.
The Worcester of 1899 bows today in
grateful homage to the Worcester of
1910.
We have come to dedicate an endur-
ing memorial of an incident of the rev.
olution which forms one of the fondest
| traditions Of the people of Worcester
to place here simple tablet which,
linking the past to the present and
the present to the future, shall teach
such lesson to later generations as
| shall stimulate virtue to action in time
of public peril and give fortitude to
endure until the time of deliverance
comes, with its struggle and reward.
Standing on this spot hallowed by
patriotic associations, let Time reverse
his course and summon to our spirits
the scene enacted here six score and
three years ago. This crowded street
full of human life and activity, fades
from our vision and in it's place there
runs wide and verdant country road,
on either side of which substantial and
well-kept farm houses bespeak the gem
eral thrift and comfort of their ten
ants. Shading off from these, fair
fields, green pastures and fertile
meads-a scene of vernal loneliness en-
chanting to the eye-stretch outward in
every direction to the gently sloping
wood crowned hills which fringe the en-
tire horizon save where Wachusett
rears its bold front, eternal guardian of
the vale.
1t is Sunday morning, July IA, 1776.
The strenuous labor of the. week has
given place to prayer and praise and
meditation, for here religion rules and,
true to the precepts and example of the
Pilgrim fathers, the villagers are rest
ing on the Sabbath day. All seems
peaceful and serene. The summer
breeze scarce dares to kiss the leaves
of elm and maple, and no sound breaks
the Sabbath stiffness but the sweet ma
tins of the feathered choir greeting the
breaking day and singing away the
hours Of the holy morn.
Surely, if content could ever dwell in
externals, this sweet, smiling village
should be her throne.
But in these rural homes are agitated
and anxious hearts. For years the
hand of arbitrary power has been laid
on the hereditary political rights of this
people which they justly claim as CO.
equals with the people of the mother
country. They have no quarrel with
the British nation and no desire to
sever the ties of kindred and blood.
There are those among them gifted with
a prophets vision who see, beyond the
stormy night of revolution, the dawn
ing of that better day when the two
great English-spea1ing peoples shall
stand side by side and shoulder to
shoulder for the civil and religious lib
erty of mankind, and the peace and
moral order of the world--when the
children of both shall join in the glad
refrain:
While the manners, while the arts,
That mould a nations soul,
Still cling around our hearts,
Between let ocean roll,
Our joint communion breaking with the
sun,
Yet, still, from either beach,
The voice Of blood shall reach
More audible than speech,
I'VE are one!"
No, the Indictment Of the patriots is
levelled not at the English people, but
at "a prince whose character has been
marked by every act which may define
tyrant," and who Is therefore unfit to
be the ruler of a free people" AS true
and faithful subjects of their soyer-
eign, in common with their brethren
throughout the American colonies, they
have met his usurpations by firm but
respectful remonstrance.
They have been spurned from the
foot Of the throne, and now the spirit
Of independence breathes in the air. It
streams from the hills. It descends To
the vale. 1t flashes its electric current
from heart to heart.
Revolutions spring from the people
In these colonial homes are men who
have read much and thought much
and in hearts determined much. That
great propnet or freedom, John Adams,
when asked in his latest years who
started the idea of independence. re-
Piled Neither Jefferson, nor Franklin
nor can claim That honor. When /
was a student of law l taught school
In Worcester and boarded round
among the farmers, and as / heard
them talk, got such ideas of the state,
Of liberty, and of patriotism as salts
ned me that to independence we must
come at last"
Rumor has reached this quiet village
that at last the continental congress, in
obedience to the will Of the people, has
declared independence, and that mes
senger, bearing the declaration, has
been dispatched to the headquarters of
the provincial army at Boston.
Minds, for years alternately elevated
by hope and depressed by disarpoint-
ment can hardly credit this rumor.