The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-07-13
loved founder of the Gunnery School,
placed the marker in position.

placed the marker In position.
The next address by Walter s. Logan
was at the grave of his ancestor, Captain
Gideon Hollister. Mr. Logan said tina,
| he was happy to be able to join in cele-
brating an occasion Of SO much interest
to his native place. He was proud Of his
ancestor. Captain HOLSTERS record was
that Of faithful service. He had gone
through the war under the direct leader.
ship of Gen Washington, having passed
with him through trying campaigns and
the not less terrible experiences of the
winter at Valley Forge. As he spoke OF
him, his thoughts went back to another
earlier HOLSTER, one Of the "Pilgrims' -
band. who came through the wilderness
with fighting parson Hooker" to settle
in Connecticut. These men made free
dom their first object. The American
Revolution was not so much conflict
between the colonies and the Mother
country as a fight for freedom against
oppression. There were tories then in
America, there were friends of liberty
among the best men of England, who
we're glad when the colonists won the
victory, victory for all time of right
and freedom against tyranny. Senator
Platt followed at the grave of his ances-
tor, John Platt, upon which the Sena-
tors only granddaughter placed the
marker. He said he was proud that
Washington was his birth place and that
he could stand at the heroes graves on
this Independence day. There is an
| electric cord which connects the graves
OF the heroes of the past with the men
and women of the present day. They
are not only of the past, their Influence
makes them still live. One of the best
known and loved poems in the English
language, Gray's "Elegy," was written
In country churchyard. Beautiful as
1t is, it lacks however, lone thing, there
Is no mention of Immortality. "The
paths of glory leads but to the grave" is
not the truth. Men are immortal and
their deeds live after they have left this
world. He spoke elcquently of the
warm feeling of friendship between
America and England and hoped for it's
increase and continuance.
At the grave Of Peter Sharp, DR. Rossi-
ter Raymond spoke. He said that as a
boy Of six he had sat on the knee of his
great-grandfathe and heard tales of the
Revolutionary war. 1t might be thought
he had no business to speak OF Connect
cut heroes, but bis ancestry was of Con-
necticut. Long Island where he had his
home, was an offshoot from New Eng
land. When he rode out to Prospect
Park he passed the scene of the battle of
Long Island, where Connecticut soldiers
helped in the struggle. He told the story
of how the statue of George Sd was
brought from the Bowling Green in New
York City to Litchfield, Conn.,, there to
be melted into bullets and sent back to
the British. He closed with some ap-
propriate verses.
''Not hungering for selfish gain
And not athirst for alien blood,
Nor yet of strife and conquest tain,
OurEbrave and patient fathers STOOD"
Rev Elijah Woodruff when anecdotes
Of Revolutionary soldiers were called for
gave some "reminiscences Of John Clark,
soldier whose grave has not been found,
and In conclusion asked for three cheers
marked. They were given with will. |
The exercises were varied by the singing
of. the hymns "My Country, tits of |
Thee" and "Crown Him Lord of ALL"
besides several spirited selections by
male voices. The doxology was sung at |
the close, after which Rev Mr. Robinson |
of the Episcopal church in Washington |
pronounced the benediction and the |
crowd dispersed much pleased with the
celebration, which will long be remem-
bered as a fitting way to observe our ma
tionsl holiday.
It had been the intention Of the Chap.
ter to proceed on the afternoon of the
Fourth to the grave of Col Perry Averill |
in the family burying ground on Bald
win hill, also to the cemetery in New |
Preston, where eight of those whose
names are recorded in "Connecticut Men
Of the Revolution" are buried, but it
was found that other arrangements for
the day had been made there, so the SER
vice of marking these graves was post
poned till Sunday at O'Clock when a
goodly company, including the minister
and choir of the Congregational church,
met a delegation of six of the D. A. r.
who had provided the markers. Simple
but appropriate service was held. Mr.
Becker took charge and made brief re-
marks. Rev Henry Epson spoke more at |
length, suggesting the responsibility
which an heroic ancestry imposed upon
their descendants and those who were
reaping the rewards Of their brave deeds.
It was altogether an occasion to draw
mems hearts nearer to each other and |
high ideals. The Judea Chapter feel |
much gratified that their efforts in this |
way of honoring our dead met such q
hearty response.
BETHLEHEM.