Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-07

"
noon the literary exercises OF the cele-
bration were held with programme
| of great merit. An attentive audience
of good numbers occupied the play
house and listened with intense inter-
est to the unfolding Of Norwich his
tory
Seated upon the stage with the gem
eral chairman of the celebration, Hon.
Winslow T. Williams, who was presi-
dent of the day, were the three speak
ers-President Harry A. Garfield of
williams college, Judge Samuel o.
Prentice of Hartford and Arthur l..
Shipma nof Hartford; Principal H. A
/ Tirrell, Mayor Costello Lippitt, DR..
Samuel H. Howe, First Selectman A.
d. Lathrop, A. L. Comstock, Executive
Committee Chairman Edwin A. Tracy
and Fire Chief Howard L. Stanton.
The choir of seventy voices, direct
ed. by Frederic w. Lester, and the
Harmony club for the orchestra, were
also seated upon the stage, and the
latter opened the programme with a
well rendered selection.
Introductory Address.
The Introductory address was made
by President Williams as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Sons and
Daughters of dear old Norwich who
this day. welcomes home her children;
On behalf Of the general committee
of more than $50 citizens chosen by
mass meeting of this town, l nave
the distinguished honor of being the
official head of this celebration and
the great pleasure of presiding at this
meeting.
/ realize. as we all do, the local, state
and national Importance of the -histori-
cal events. which we are celebrating,
and the pride and qualification we feel
at being, by ties of blood, residence
and love- connected with this ancient
town and unique city,
This quarter millennium of the
founding of the town of Norwich by
John Mason and his hardy company
of 50. and these exercises commence
rative thereof are of the deepest in
terest and significance. There is
scarcely a community in this wide
country, north, east, west and SOUTH
from Maine to California, from Flor
ida to Washington, in Alaska, our
insular possessions in the blue Pacific
and in the West Indies, but has at
least one voice claiming common her
itage with US. and reverence. gratitude
and pride toward all those who have
gone before and left their. mark in
the 250 years of struggle adversely
and success, on this age and genera
ton and on this hallowed and historic
ground.
This is an epoch making age and
generation, and this town has borne
no small part in the development of
these United States4
The sons and daughters Norwich
has sent out who have carved for
themselves names of honor and ma
tional repute are too many to record
here. Many states and cities look on
Norwich as grandchildren on their
grandmother. giving her the honor
due her age and experience. This
grandmother shows today by her
beauty and perennial charms that. her
heart is still young, taking her hon.
ors lightly, loving and loved by ALL
Each succeeding generation has left
its mark. and what our fathers have
accomplished we can carry on with
increased impetus and add yet other
laurel wreaths of success. to those
which commemorate the progress
toward the fu1filment of all that Nor
witch is destined to achieve.
We may well congratulate ourselves
on the exceptional mark of interest
1.-THE president of the United States.
visit on this occasion. The presence
Of the governor Of this state and so
many distinguished guests gives added
luster and dignity to our celebration.
Our minds are crowded with the
wonderful scenes these hills have wit
messed. Ages long before the fabled
beauties of this country were whis-
pered by the. Indians to the white,
stirring scenes took place.
The early history of the settlement
is full of historic tableaux. The strug-
giles and sacrifices of Norwich during
the Revolutionary period are engraved
in letters of gold on her escutcheon
Norwich's noble reply to her country's
demands at the time of her threat
ened disruption are so recent as to
be familiar to us all.
And today we gather together to
united in this memorial celebration,
looking backward upon it's cherished
history and forward with clear eye to
the future and all it's promises.
The year 1859 was a memorable one
in the history of this town. Our
speakers this afternoon will tell us
the thrilling and honorable HISTORY of
the Rose of New England. Suffice it
to say in thinking of the half century
since our last celebration, our minds
are filed with awe at our wonderful
Development in arts, Industries and
education, and in the fast pace set
US by the worlds incompatible prog
ress and inventions l believe we can
still hold our own.
Many of the honored names of two
and a half centuries are still with
us, and added thereto are MANY
younger names in this great country
who are winning fame and honor.
American stock and the best of our
adopted sons and daughters, forming
a new American heraldry, will still
support and cherish American pres
tige, Connecticut tradition and Nor
witch destiny.
This was followed by the anthem.
| Great and Wonderful Are Thy Works
| (Spohr), beautifully sung by the choir,
and Rev. DR.. Samuel H Howe fol-
lowed with the reading of the Scrip
ture and prayer.
Mayor Lippitt's Welcome.
The words Of welcome were extend
ed by Mayor Lippitt who spoke as
follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men:
Though it seems somewhat irregu-
lar and quite out of the usual course
to welcome guests to whom we have
already said farewell, it certainly
would be cause for lasting regret
were we to fail to express our appre-
citation of the visit to our ancient town
and city of the president of the Unit
ed States and the governor of Con-
necticut, both of whom, in response
to our invitation, at Considerable in
convenience to themselves, laid, aside
the engrossing cares of nation and
state that they might grace this an
niversary occasion by their presence.
While we feel confident that the cor
dial greetings of yesterday and the
universal manifestation of regard ex-
tended by the people was to them a
sure recognition of the distinguished
honor conferred upon us, we vet feel
constrained to add our word of well
come, at this time, that there may be
a permanent record of the fact of their
visit to US, and due expression of
our gratitude therefor ~