The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-07-17
FORTUNATE GUILDHALL.

At the lesi lat vs. session OF 1898 an IF ,rt
was made to change the shire town OF Es-
sex county from Guildhall to Lunenburg.
Guildhall was fortunate in having among
her sons one Col K 9. Benton who, though
living in Mass C lusetts, retained Tor the
pace OF his nativity all devoted sons in
terest and affection. There he maintained
q summer residence and there among the
bills OF gallant little Essex WAS his heart.
So he came from Boston to defend Guild
hall He put in sto It and eloquent plea
for the old shire town, championed its cause
efore the committee, and lis appeal was
effective.
Guildhsll has been having gala days re-
Gently. Ga Tuesday the town celebrated
the greatest event in its history, the dedi-
cation of the Masonic Hall, which, with
public library, has been presented to the
town By this Col Benton.
h A special car from Boston arrived in the
morning, bringing the Fifth regiment band,
M ,sslchusetts militi', and several distin-
guished visitors from Massachusetts, Ben
ton lodge, f. A. NJ, met the grand lodges
of Mass ,chusetts aud Nav Hampshire at
the bridge from the Nsw Hampshire side,
| and they in turn met and escorted the
grand lodge Of Vermont to the court house
| headed by the American Waltham Watch
Factory band, which accompanied the
Massachusetts delegation. The grand lodge
| Of Vermont assembled at the court house,
while an assembly WAS held by the visiting
lodges at the Congregational church.
At noon the formal dedication OF the
Masonic Hall took place. More than 400
Masons participated, and it is said that
never before had so large a number been
asse mbled in the north country.
A collation. was served by the ladies OF
Guildhall, after which public exercises were
held in the Congregational church. The
speakers included Charles r Montague,
grand master Of Vermont; Charles 7. Gal
lagher, grand master of Massachusetts
Henry o. Kent Of Lancaster, N. H.; the
Hon. William lawrence of Medford, Mass.
Gen. Curtis Guild. Jr., of Boston, Mass
the Hon. George K. Smith, ex-presideut oil
the Massachusetts Senate; the Hon. David
l.. Pennington, representing the grand lodge
OF Massachusetts,; the Hon. A. Folsom Of
Boston, and the Hon. Ira Clark OF New
Hampshire.
Gen. Guild In his address, touched upor
CO.. Bentou's personality, saying that, al
though Col Benton doubtless held in
great affection by the townspeople aud hi
old friends and schoolmstes here, tn,
friends which he had made since startin,
out in his life work in Boston had quite a
great an Affection for him as it was possible
to give any man.
Alter the exercises the audience spent al
hour in social chat. 10 the evening the in
stallation OF officers at Masonic Hall tool
place, Most Worthy W. Scott Nay, pas
grand master OF Vermont officiating, AM
the Wslthsm band gave fine concert OF
the grounds OF the Methodist church, t
, which fully 20OO persons listened.
! Col. Benton, who has been prom !nent Il
Massachusetts politics, occupies with hi
family the old family homestead as hi
su liner home, and has been most devote
TO the town OF his birth, and one OF 1t
|, greatest benefactors. Beside the libra
, and Masonic Hall, he has given shaft {
mark the site OF the first church in Guile
hall, beautiful memorial window in til
church, aud has done many other thing
toward the improvement of the town.
! The dedication Of the public library o,
Cured on Wednesday. The exercises wer
held in the Congregational church whic
was filled to OVERLOOKING. Governor Jorda
OF New Hampshire was the principal speal
% or. A collsuo such as Guildhall never b.
fore saw was served at noon, and the fe
l tivities closed with an elaborate display
fireworks Wednesday evening.