The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-08-11


For Is years resided in your midst
ministering to your physical wants,
while the clergy were looking after
your spiritual ones. Which was the
most successful I am afraid we shall
have to leave to decision of st Peter at
later date. That we all tried to do
our duty to you, I am quite sure that
you will all admit.
In going through the town, almost
every house passed recalled some de-
tail Of my experience, for the doctor
stands high in the estimation OF your
people; and it was always pleasure as
often failed, the well-filled cemeteries
show, alas, too we'll. In looking over
this vast sea of faces before me to-day,
my heart comes quickly to my throat
when think of those who have gone
from us. The genial Aaron Sanford,
DR. Judson, DR. Bennett, DR. Graves,
William Sanford. and host of others
who have been gathered to their faith
ers. I hope that those of us who went
away and have come back to NewtowA
again, have come back better men,
stronger and truer citizens. OF one
thing rest assured, we come with our
hearts filled to overflowing for home,
the dear old home.
God bless you ali. May your health
and prosperity keep pace only with
your wishes, and the end, when it does
come, as it must to us all, may it find
us ali prepared, and may it come peace
fully and painlessly.
Standing here, on this great anniver-
sary at the very beginning OF the CEN
tury, it is impossible that one shall not
look back, and equally impossible that
one shall not look forward. We are
just at the close of what we call, and
call rightly,a century of great achieve
ments. We pride ourselves upon the
work this country has accomplished.
We point to government based upon
the consent of the governed, such as
the world has never seen; wealth which
has been piled up such as no country
has ever attained within that time, or
double or quadruple that time. 1t is
such condition of life as never exist
ed in any. other country. From Mount
Desert to the Golden Gate, yes, from
the Islands which Columbus saw, think
ing he had found the East Indies, to
the East Indies themselves, where ev-|
en- as speak the flag IS planted, our
possessions and our wealth extend.
We have, though following the arts
of peace, an army ready to rise to the
sound of the bugle greater than Rome
was able to summon behind her golden
eagles.
We are right to call it century of
achievement. We pride ourselves up
on it. Now, who achieved that? Not
we, personally; our fathers achieved
it; your father and my father; your
set their prOwS westward and landed
upon the rock-bound coast; when they
drew up the compact Of civil govern
ment, which was new thing in the
history of the world, and when the
time came they staked all they had up
on the principle of government based
only upon the consent of the govern
ed.
We pride ourselves upon the fact
that we can worship God according to
the dictates of our own conscience.
has brought forth abundantly.
I say this to draw clearly the line be-
tween mere material wealth and that
which is the real wealth and welfare
of people. We arerich, but our faith
ers were poor. How did they achieve
it? Not by their wealth, but by their
character-by their devotion to prin-
cipleA The best thing, think, that
the fathers left the country was char
acter. That is indeed the heritage
they left us. Wealth will not preserve
that which they left us. Wealth will
not preserve that which they left us;
preserve it; nothing but that which is
the spirit will preserve it; nothing but
character.
The whole story of civilization speaks
| this truth with trumpet voice. One
nation rises upon the ruins of another
nation. It is when Sampson lies in
the lap of Delilah that the evening
steals upon him and ensnares him;
binds him.
have no fear Of the future. 1 think,
looking around the country at present,
! that even if it would seem to us at
times that there are gravest perils
which confront us, that even though
there may be evidence of weakening In
our christianity, Notwithstanding this,
I say, I believe that the great Anglo
Saxon race, not only on this side of the
water, but on the other side also, con-
tains elements which alone can contin-
ue. to be the leader of civilization, the
elements of fundamental power, abid.
ing virtue, public and private.
Wealth will not preserve state; it
must be the aggregation of individual
integrity of its members that shall pre-
; lists, deep-rOOted among our people.
l am glad to be here where you have
the greatest American achievements
this American home and this Ameri
can spirit.
) May it always be kept pure, and al
ways only at the right fountains have
it's strength renewed.
Following DR. Vile Judge Charles
H. Briscoe of ThOmpsOnville was in
troduced. He said in part: My an
cestor was Nathaniel Briscoe. The
old homestead stood near the cemetery
and part of the cellar wall can Still
be seen near the highway. In regart
5 to this old Indian deed it was a shame
! glad my ancestors didn't participate
t In that original bargain. He referret
? to some of the great men the town hat
? produced. Isaac Toucey was secretar.
of the United States treasury and q
] S. Attorney General. Charles Chap
e man, who was born on the grOunt
f where the Episcopal rectory stood, ant
q died in 1869, was great lawyer; I
!, man who could sway audiences, jurie
= and Legislatures. Asa Chapman
: Judge of the Supreme court, had Law
i school here. When was a boy ther'
e was but one lriShman in town, DAME
e Quinlivan. Now they constitute
r good part of your population and ar
J. some of your best citizens.
d Attorney Frederick P. Marble 0
Lowell, Mass, next introduced, said
e gave him keen enjoyment to be pres
e ent.
+ YOUR EXECUTIVE CCMMITTEE HA
q MADE GREAT SUCCESS OF THIS Gel
:, EBRATION.
e Your parade was fine, it was splendid