The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-04
On Samuel Adams, Patriot
Closed EpWorth institute
ADDRESS WELL RECEIVED
New Head of University of Vermont
Spoke in Barre Last Evening Before
Large Audience-Institute Con-
sidered Very Successful.

The first general conference and the
Vermont conference Epwortlf League
institute could have chosen for its clos.
ing session no more inspiring keynote
than education. Hedding Methodist
church was crowded to the doors last
night for the last meeting of the insti-
tute, and certain it is that fine ex-
ponent of education was chosen in Presi-
dent Guy Potter Benton OF the univer-
sity OF Vermont, whose induction into
that Office took place only recently.
1t was the FIRST appearance OF the
luniyersity's new head in Barre, and the
appreciative response in the way Of keen
anticipation, which accompanied Presi-
dent Benton's decision to lecture before
the Epwortb league institute, was en-
Enthusiastically echoed in the attendance
last night, as well as in the hearty ap-
pIause which greeted his appearance on
the rostfnm. II is quite needless to say
that the adopted Vermont educator am
ply justified the fiattering reputation
which preceded his visit. First Of all,
he proved himself public speaker Of
the first rank and readily gained and
held the closest attention Of his hearers.
That he is also a deep-thinking student
of history was evinced in his splendid
presentation Of the subject, samuel
Adams. Patriot"
President Benton was introduced by
the chairman of the exercises, Rev. E. A.
Legg Of Enosbarg Falls. DIR. Legg said !:
"t is pleasure for us as body OF
Methodists TO welcome one who has come
into our state and assumed the reins of
a state institution On behalf Of the
Vermont Methodist conference, the con-
gregation assembled here this evening
and the Epworth league chapters Of YER
mont, | bespeak hearty welcome TO
President Guy Potter Benton.
DIR. Benton responded substantially as
follows, occupying full one hour and a
half in his remarks;
4 am deeply appreciative Of this dis
play of esteem My message will be one
from the inspiring pages Of history. The
birth of new soul may be likened to
the initial voyage of new boat But
with the first voyage, the analogy ceases,
The soul embarks upon its voyage but
never returns The parents Of a child
can only hope for career of honor.
1T was on September l6, l722, that a
life embarked upon the perilous voyage
and later made history. Happily in
America, no title bestowed bv birth
right Is admitted But after all, blood
counts; clear intellect is passport
to responsibility and honor Samuel
Adams, the family from which he sprung
and the descendants who followed, have
combined to make one OF the grandest
families In history. John Adams. John
%. Adams, Charles Francis Adams,
Charles Francis Adams, jr., and Henry
Adams have won their own peculiar
places in history, but the fame of them
all il outstripped by that Of Samuel
Adams patriot.
"There is a time to be born Every
social reform, every political transition
and every military upheaval must have
its leader. Birthplace and environment
must also be reekoned in mans fame
Cromwell. Napoleon. Martin Luther and
Daniel Webster might have gained fame
and renown had they been born under
different flags and brought up on other
soils, but such fame and such glory could
never accrue under the same circnm-
stances. Samuel Adams might have been
born in the Dry Tortugas, but he would
never have made history in Massachu-
setts We may rant about the stern
Connecticut blue laws or speak scorn-
fully Of Puritanism; but it WAS of such
stuff that the destiny of our own coun.
try was moulded. To-day we NAV call
Boston the Hub of the Universe and vet
retain half4expressed idea that she
Is often designated as such in the spirit
of levity; but Boston led thirteen col
onies in the movement for liberty. and
Samuel Adams, blessed patriot, led the
citizens of Boston.
"The elder Adams was leader, dea-
con in the church, justice of the peace
and member Of the legislature. Young
Samuel inherited his fathers traits and
early displayed marked ability as a
leader. During his attendance at Har-
ward, he was thorough student We
are led to this conclusion by an examina-
tion of his style Of writing and oratory.
Right here it may be well to mention
that great men have never been dull
lards. in spite of namby-pamby i'm
preston abroad THAT fame has been
linked with an antipathy for books. In
I743 Adams received his masters degree
and delivered an grafton before Governor
Shirley and his court His sentiment at
this time gave fruitful promise of the
active work which he accomplished in
later years The subject of his oration.
Whether it be lawful to resist the
supremity of majesty when the common
wealth cannot be otherwise preserved,
was an inklng of the things that Sam
uel Adams espoused in the dark days
leading up to the revolution
"On hts mothers objection, young Ad-
ans gave up the idea Of becoming q law
yer. Otherwise he might have become
one Of the greatest lawyers of his time.
And with only smattering of law
gained in after life, he was a greater
authority on constitutional law than
ninety per cent. of the barristers Of the
day His compliance with his mothers
desire was perhaps mistake. Parents
should not dictate or map out their
child's career, but rather consult the one
most vitality concerned. Every man and
woman is born with certain natural en-
dowments and talents, which should be
correctly developed.
GAS a man Samuel Adams was man.
What more need be said? He was a
Jealous guardian of American rights and
he seemed to feel called to agitate their
inherent rights. Agitation is a preiim-
mary to craftsmanship and it was this
that caused Adams to lead in knocking
out the western underpinnings from the
throne of George III. 1t was Adams who