The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-30
Exercises in Town Hall in the
Evening Were a Fitting Climax
to the Event of the Day
ToWnspeople Joined in the Gel
ebration
Special to The Spy.


was in charge of a Bemis, or Bemis
ancestor. There was great renewing
of old family acquaintance and the
making of new ones. The exercises
were a success in every respect
The historical event of the day was
the dedication of the Samuel Bemis
Memorial Park, situated on the road to
East Brookfield between Spencer and
East Brookfield.
Samuel Bemis was the second settler
of Spencer, and his descendants have
been numerous and prominent in the
affairs of the town.
The monument that was erected to
the memory of Samuel Bemis was
placed in position at a cost of $3.50, at
the instigation of the Board of Trade
of Spencer.
In his remarks John G. Avery, chair
man of the committee, stated that the
Board of Trade had at the present time
but $40 in the treasury, and he appealed
to the Bemis heirs to replenish the
strong box of the board by contributing
a sufficient amount to pay the initial
expenses of the monument.
At the exercises at the park there
were present more than 800 people
many of them descendants of the Be
mis- family The committee from the
, Board of Trade that managed the af
! Henry NJ Tower, secretary; DR.. A. A.
Bemis, Amasa T. Bemis, DR.. E. w.
Norwood, E. Harris Rowland and Hen
cry Bemis The exercises opened with
prayer offered by Rev. Charles Sum-
ner, after which there was an address
of welcome by John G. Avery, chair
man of the committee. Mr.. Avery said,
in part.
! &c 4saI tah nd 1ob
the generosity of Mrs. Phoebe Bemis
whose husband was born in the old
mansion that stood on this plot Of
! ground we are able to dedicate the
Bemis Memorial Park to the BemiseS
and their descendants for all time.
Let it be the Mecca for your an
nual pilgrimage, renew old acquaint-
ances, recount the joys and sorrows,
make everything brighten with intel
lectual thought, which you can let ex-
pand to its full capacity, and unravel
any tangled difficulties that may have
arisen in the journey of life.
Far from the rudeness Of the Earring
world you can find here a gift of I'M
ceaseless nature with which this park
has been endowed
Mr.. Avery's address was followed by
singing by the pupils of the ninth
grade. Then Mr. Avery as master of
ceremonies introduced Henry NJ.
Tower. Mr.. Tower said in part:
"One hundred and eighty years ago,
on this tract Of land, in primitive log
cabin surrounded by the primeval for
est, Samuel Bemis and wife dedicated
a pioneers home, and consecrated
themselves to a life of endeavor. in
harmony with divine law. 1t was here
they reared their children, subdued the
wilderness, oVercame all obstacles of
environment, climate, savages and
wild beasts, and wrought from the soil
an abundance wherewith to supply the
necessities of life. The gospel of hon
est toll they daily exemplified, and with
exalted purpose pursued their work
with unflinching devotion, until the
contamination of their purpose was
reached, and then, having become
matured by discipline, like shocks of
corn fully ripe, they were gathered to
their home in the spirit world. 1t is for
their achievements that we esteem
them; it is for what they did, that we
today dedicate these grounds, and this
monument to their memory
But this granite shaft and this spot
of earth can teach but little of value
to us, unless we associate these objects
with those who once lived here, be-
come acquainted with their history, en-
ter into sympathy with their lives, and
find in their deeds and example useful
lessons for ourselves. We honor Samuel
Bemis as the father and founder of the
town of Spencer He was here when
the town had its origin, and when its
future vas uncertain He was here
and extended the hand of welcome to
each succeeding settler. He saw from
year to year its gradual development as
community, first as part Of Leices-
ter, then as a separate precinct, and
then as a full-fedged town having an
ind ant Vfnh
have today. His voice and his deeds
were influential in building this struc-
ture, in establishing law and order, in
sustaining morality and religion, in
practicing industry, frugality and
temperance and for these acts, he de-
serves to be honored, and we honor
him.
Samuel Bemis and wife were wise
master builders of the firesides-that
cradle of virtue, that centre of patriot
ism, that bulWark of hberty-and the
example they set was followed by their
children, men and women who estab-
lished homes of their own, homes that
were the abode of integrity and virtue,
homes that were the abiding places of
love, cherished as the brightest spots
on earth, and homes that were Vigor-
ously defended with the musket when
the hour of conflict came. But beyond
that and perhaps the greatest prac-
teal lessons we can learn from their
lives, is the example they set in each
day putting forth their best effort
Theirs is the old story of the talents
illustrated by action. The human fam
lily cannot develop their natural ability,
there can be no great embodiment or
growth of substantial character with
out effort, constant, well directed, per-
sistent effort, overcoming all tenden-
cies that are bad, graphing with and
mastering the difficult problems of
life, and building up along every line
that is good. The pathway of en-
deavor leads through evolution to de-
lvelopment, victory and life. The path
way of Incidence leads through mac
Ition to inefficiency, paralysis, decay and
death. The reason in many cases why
sons are not the equals of their fathers
in ability, is because they have been
reared in the enervating lap Of luxury
and have not passed through the same
severe school Of trial and discipline. So
far as the human mind can comprehend
the divine plan, men and women are
placed in the world to begin, continue
and end life with work, and as a result
acquire growth and success. BY this,
/ is not meant a success that can be
counted in dollars. or that can be read
only on the worlds inscriptions of
fame, but a larger and more valuable
success, acquired in fulfilling the pur-