New-York tribune., 1909-07-06
PRESIDENT ATNOR WlCH
At 1NNITERSARY.
Church Influence and Religious Lib
erty His Theme-Vie1Cs Pageant.
IBy Telegraph - The Tribune }


splendid military parade and civic display, the
President finding theme in the church influence
In the building up Of Norwich. took occasion 10
express his upon the liberty Of religious be
lief
This city. named the Rose of New England
by one of the orators Of the day fifty years ago
at the 2OOth anniversary celebration. lived up 10
her reputation. The day most perfect for a
pageant of the sort Every one was awake early.
for all the church bells in the city and some Of
the loudest factory whistles Ushered in the day
at sunrise 4:3O o'clock The programme opened
with fight of Captain Thomas S. Baldwins air
ship. The California Arrow. Thousands OF people
arrived on the special trains and trolleys. and by
9 o'clock the centre of the city was packed into
an almost immovabIe mass of good natured hu-
manty, decked out in its best holiday attire
A LAUGH OR TWO IN PUTNAM
On the way from Boston to Norwich the Presi-
dents train stopped for few minutes at Putnam.
where a crowd of a thousand or more people was
gathered at the station. The Mayor Of the city
Mr. McGarr1E41d Postmaster F T. Letters board
ed the car aHr were introduced to the President
Mr. Taft declared he thought that a Mr. Letters
ought TO make "a mighty good postmaster. ne
crowd about the end OF the tram was III
sistent in it's calls for speech. and the Presldent
finally appeared on the platform and congratulated
the people of Putnam upon having such me Jay
for their celebration of the Fourth Of July.
II want to say" he continued, that / am very
much in favor of the weather Of Massachusetts
to-day
This is Connecticut" interrupted a gruf voice
from the crowd.
TN have to study up my geography, re-
Joined the President, laughing heartily
At 9:45 President Taft arrived at Norwich and
was greeted by vocife-ous cheering A battery on
Ceers Hill fired the salute of twe7ty-one guns
He was met by his brother, Horace d Taft. ana
by WinsIow Tracy Williams. president Of the ceIe-
in a and rUSlsd 10
the scene of the historical tableaus held back Of
the Norwich Club house
VIEWS REALISTIC TABLEAUs-
The historical reproductions. especially the tab
leaus involving Indian history such the declara-
ton of war. the duel between Uncas. chief OF the
Mohegans and Miantonomoh, chief Of the Nara
gansetts were so Hfelike that children cried ana
wonens stood spellbOund. Other taoleaus repre-
sented the purchase of land by Mason and Fitch
from Uncas. the smoking of the pipe Of peace and
the scene in which General Washington. escorted
bv the Putnam Phalanx vas welcomed 10 Norwich
President Taft was then taken to Rockclyfe. the
home of Mr. Williams in Yantc. where a private
reception held.
The grand parade started at 2.3O o'clock. Presi-
dent Taft in an automobile with Adiutant General
George NJ. Cole, of the Connecticut National Guard
and Mr. Williams. led the parade 10 the reviewing
stand Governor Frank B. Weeks Of Connecticut
rode in the second carriage, followed by Costello
1ippitt, Mayor OF Norwich, VINO got a rOuIld OF
loud applause when he took his place in the re-
viewing stand with President Taft The procession
included regular army troops, marines, national
guardsmen. the Governors foot guard. wearing
their big black bearskin hats; fraternal societies.
industrial organizations and forty-Odd floats repre-
sentng the industries of Norwich
SHOWER OF ROSES
float made up as old stagecoaCh drew up
later before the Presidents stand and the passen-
gers young women dressed in white, threw
shower of roses to the Presidents box He gra-
ciOusly acknowledge the pretty compliment The
parade took hour 70 pass the reviewing stand
After reviewing the parade President Taft was
introduced by Governor F 3. Weeks He said
think it was last year that had the pleasure Of
addressing a Norwich audience Then I talked TO
you the subject OF the Panama Canal and l
sary Of your city's foundation, whether nomi-
mated and elected to the Presidency or not. l said
that probably you would not want me II ! was not
elected but have not had an opportunity to test
1t is great pleasure to come back to this beau
tifuI town l Ike TO call it town because, While
] AZ , t'' sgesfs its wonderful his
tory. Well may it be called the Rose of New Eng
the past justify the of that term, and if 1
were a Norwich man I should hug 1t to my bosom
There is something about the town different from
iIt iG1 f ~ t1. itSais berS are ofber towns
that have had noted individuals who have made
history. Norwich has had noted individuals whose
characters, continued through three great crises,
have given character and an individuality TO the
town itself.
Major John Mason was a great man. and he had
a son-in-aw. James Fitch a minister Of the gospel
in this town for forty years. who was a good man.
name the nine square miles were given by Uncas.
men of bone and sinew fit TO meet the tremendous
trials those early days.
One Of the things that the history Of this town
suggests is the character of the government that
you had here in the early days In It's way II
was almost a theocracy. The minister. James
e6ca SaoM IN mn nm c6HT 50-y b he spo bv aah6
he 81 fdt 4
women of the community were obliged 70 conform
to the rules of morality and life which ne laid
We speak with great satisfaction Of the fact
cestry came 70 this country TO establish freedom
OF religion Well, if you are going 10 be exact
of their own religion and not the freedom of any
days such a thing as freedom or reIgion was not
understood. Erasmus. the great Dutch professor.
understand it and did advocate II. but among the
denominations it certainly was not fully under55
with a great deal of condemnation on those par
because our ancestors wished 10 have different
kind Of religion. but when our ancestors got here
their religion and no other
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DEVELOPED
But We have passed beyond that. and out Of the
friction, out OF the denominationaI PreJHdices OF
the past We have developed a freedom OF religion
that came naturally and logically as we went on
TO free institutions II came from those very men
acter. The Rev James Fitch could not look upon
degree of PATIENCE. but his descendants, firm
in the faith a he now see that The best way
Ia promote Christianity and the worship of God
ts 10 let every man worship God as lie chooses
This community we'll supervised ~ the ciergy.
and they did we'll by the clergy The Rev James
Fitch. after fourteen years at Saybrook. came here
and presided in the first church for forty
Years { have heard cersymen that after "A
clergyman passes his hftteth year he ought 10 lie
made emeritus and step out OF the profession
They aid not say So in those days.
The Rev. James Fitch was succeeded by DR..
Benjamin Lord and he was succeeded by Dr- Strong.
All Of the same church. and the Doctors Lord and
strong presided together, including six wears when
they were both ministers Of this town. III years
N,ovy think OF the influence community Cod
,,er1 with Of character y-irH