The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-28
WISH HIM GODSPEED
Commercial Travel
ers' Reception To
DR.. Gunnison.
MAYOR DODGE POSTMASTER.
Felicitous Speeches By
Rev. DR.. Scott and
Rev. Fir. O'Brien.

Rev. DR.. Almon Gunnison was the
hero of the occasion" at the banquet
of Worcester Commercial Travellers
Association, in Association hail. last
evening, according to the introductory
remarks of Mayor Rufus B. Dodge, Jr.,
who acted as POSTMASTER in the alb
sence of Col. Samuel E. Winslow.
The farewell Of the travelling men to
Rev. DR.. Gunnison gave fervent evil
dence of deepest love for the chaplain
of the association. Witty speeches in
variably ended in eulogistic remarks,
and in his broader field as president of
st. Lawrence university, full meas
ure Of success was presaged for Rev
Dr. Gunnison,. pastor of First Univer-
salist church.
President e. Webster Allen intro
duced Mayor Dodge as postmaster.
Mayor Dodge referred to the ten years
service of DR.. GuEnison in this city, and
the ennobllng reward Of his faithful
and earnest work. Mayor Dodge said:
THE decade which DR.. Gunnison has
passed in this city has been a remark
able one-in the growth of the city. AL
Rod of prosperity has been due to DR..
Gunnison's presence, yet it can truth
fully be said that the chaplain of the
Worcester Commercial Travellers As
ISOLATION is known not altogether as a
minister of the gospel, and that his
sphere of spiritual aid has extended far
beyond the confines of the church he
has represented. DR.. Gunnison is as
much part of the city as any other
one man in it. No part of the city
has been sighted by him. He has
graced every section.
His very arduous duties as pastor
of First UniversGlist church will be
lightened in his new field. In leaving
this city and the thousands to whom
he has become endeared, DR.. Gunnison
| carries with him that which is valu-
able above all other things-the good
will of every citizen. Few men in any
walk of life have ever left a city with
| the general feeling of sorrow pervading,
| as became manifest in DR.. Gunnison's
decision to leave Worcester for q
larger world, and one in which there
can be no doubt of his ability to COM
mand the same amount of respect he
has gained in the last decade in Wor-
cester.
Rev DR.. Gunnison said: In being
introduced by Mayor Dodge in such
glowing terms, L am reminded Of an in
PRODUCTION | once received in a small
church. The pastor, in asking me what
kind of an introduction 1 wished, re-
ceived my answer that I favored sim
plicity. In presenting me to his con-
gregation, he said, This is the man.
1t seems that l feel now as though 1
merit such an Introduction.
In a village cemetery is the inscrip-
ton, I expected this, but not so soon.'
That describes my feeling tonight. I am
YN1a fV1fft
weird, and the idea is almost incon-
ceivable, that it is possible for a man
to enjoy himself at his own funeral, yet
that is what l am doing. The ohsequies
have been satisfactory, but unlike other
funerals, the principal has been called
upon for a speech.
My new duties will bring me in con-
tact with the travelling men. l will
be something of a travelling man my
self. / will carry no samples, for it
would be a difficult matter for me to
make any display of the brains l am
to represent. Travelling men have the
ability to properly estimate the value
of things, and have explicit faith in
their honesty.
Il do not understand what inference
the association wishes to be drawn from
the menu cards. On the cover is 80
clam or oyster SHE'LL and within is my
photo. | appreciate the kind feeling
that prompted this display in my honor,
and there will always be bright spot
in my memory, which will mark recol-
lections Of the happy hours 1 have
passed with the association, and more
especially this testimonial tonight
DR.. Gunnison was heartily cheered,
and the POSTMASTER facetiously intro
duceSW Rev DR.. Willard Scott Of Pied
mont church as man who had done
some tall preaching" since becoming a
pastor in this city. DR.. Scott said:
| cannot imagine the actually of such
prosperity as beams upon DIR. Gunntson.
This may be his universal opportunity.
l cannot answer for the physical imper-
lection the POSTMASTER credits me with,
1 am reminded of the possibility that in
the early ages man was named from
something in the vicinity of where he
lived. From the primitive huts of
early days the name of Booth probably
came; from the entertainments built at
the water front, the name Thorndike
In those early days there were animals
who crawled through the underbrush,
and there are today, but have no wish
to discuss this particular animal.
The animals traits are present in
this generation, and there are now
men who aimed, and got there, but no
one knows how. From that, the name
Dodge came. So it is with our Mayor
Dodge, he got there, but no one knows
or dares venture how. In these olden
times, from the warrior came the name
gun, and newspaper records of births
have done the rest, for example we
read. Born, Gum, SON. From that
has originated the expression, Son of
Gum.
1t is more than remarkable that a
man who has served ten years as
pastor of church should be given
such a send-off AS you go out to the
wider life. and become more conspic-
nous we shall not forget that we labor
under the same flag. The cross alone
is above the stars and stripes, ana
above manhood is duty TO Him.
Mayor Dodge read letter of regret
from Hon. John r. Thayer, and In ia
Producing Rev. NJ. 7. O'Brien of 81.
Johns church. said: ''rhe secret of
Worcester's success as a machine man
ufacturing centre lies in the fact that
the necessity of interchangeable parts
was recognized by manufacturers. The
clergy is beginning to recognize the
need of interchangeable parts. and it is
our intention to advocate intercha'@a-
able parts in the ministry until it is
possible for ministers to exchange pull
pits without the congregation being
aware Of it. This is rapidly being ac-
COmpHSled. As one of the fuudo