The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-08-25
THE SPIRIT AND PURPOSE OF OLD
HOME OBSERVANCE.
BY REV H. L. EN EREST. Erred
AT THE CELEBRATION ON THURS
DAY.

1t is sometimes hard to find 1.-THE
reason why" for every thing that is or
is done. Yet in many cases the govern
ing reason or motive lies on the very
surface, and surely no long search is
needed to meet the question "What is
the spirit of Old Home observance?'
Human nature spontaneously gives
reply. One common nature responds
at once to the inspiring principle, the
dominant influence.
What power centers in the word
home. Speak it aloud, speak it clear
and penetrating, speak it in full sim
certify, speak it reverently and in fond
emotion,-Home. Is there another
word like it in the whole range of Ian
guage? Can any other word approach
SO closely and touch so deeply and ten
derly human consciousness and human
affection? Home. Its simple defini-
tion might be, "the one place of all
others on the earth to u.s." 1t means,
or rather it should mean, the sum of
what is truest. purest, most unSeltsh:
most satisfying in our lives. Here cen
ter domestic ties, best of life's good
gifts. Here all DISCUSSES laid aside we
lead our simple, natural life untainted
by cold worlds convention and its
upericialitieS. Here as from natur-
al source offspring plans and purposes
of action. Hence finding first inspira-
ton and then courage we 60 out to our
accustomed toilings and strivingS, and
these ended in the daily round,
thither we retrace our steps claiming
it's welcome promise of rest, peace,
sympathy and true happiness. Thus
can we not see how this word, Home,
like an electric spark flashes it's mes
sage far and wide to the great heart of
mankind? For remember mems hearts
are of common kin. However widely
we may differ socially, in color of skin,
in mode of life, in taste and DISPOSE
ton, this message will unquestionably
find a universal hearing. Even where
mans uplifting has only begun and his
measure Of enlightenment is compare
quimo igloo, the tepee of the savage or
the leafy abode of the tree dweller we
cannot fail of an answer to the good
word, Home. 1t may have been
through profound sense of loss sus-
tanned that the homeless poet wrote
mid pleasures and palaces tho we may roam,
Be it ever SO humble there's no place like
home'
Using the expression Old Home we
can see at once what is implied. The
family circle cannot always preserve
its integrity, it will be broken by re-
movals and changes. The law Of life
in natural working sends out into the
world to new fields and to surroundings
wholly different many of the children.
Some may not wander far away, but to
find others the search must be widely
extended. Have not New England's
sons and daughters become bone and
sinew of our larger towns and cities:
have they not largely peopled the great
middle-WeSt, and not content with
this have jOurneyed on to the Pacific
coast? To old Huntington there is
not set an easy task in search for her
missing children. Kansas claims one.
Oklahoma another, and still another
resides in the state of Washington.
To find one SOP we must cross oceans
for he, the faithful missionary, has
settled in distant China. Such wan
derers may indeed know the meaning
of home, but they cannot know in it's
full significance what Old Home means