Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-08

shed tears. At such a time as this,
il is almost impossible to shut odt the
past. | wish | could make you see as
| can see it, the congregation that
greeted ME on that memorable day,
more than twenty-five years ago
Many scores have passed on. gone but
not forgotten Though dead they
speak. | sometimes think the faces
of long ago, lost to the physical vis-
ion. are the cIearest and their COM
munion the sweetest. Today, | can see
those two men whom you sent up
north to spy out the land, Deacon
Davenport, the cultured. educated
gentlemen broad-minded and liberal
avoiding display, firm as rock in his
beliefs but treating with the utmost
courtesy those who differed from him,
a brother beloved a friend worth hav-
ing. His associate on that journey
was Deacon Botham. honest as the
day was long, almost childish in his
likes and disHkes. as transparent as
the day, generous to a fault, fervent in
spirit serving the Lord. Il did not
take me long to find out that Major
Seward was a man 10 be reckoned
with in the accomplishing OF results
quick OF thought, act and expression.
keen in judgment, having opinions
and daring to express them possess
ing virtues, many, and loyalty that
was pronounced. Not altogether ma
like him, but his senior by many
years, was George Buck, the old war
horse, conservative to a fault with
opinions that had all the tenacity of
convictions afraid of no man, at yari-
ance with many. | see him now as
he sat in the front pew, his very atti-
tude a challenge to prove to the con
trary what he thought and declared to
be true. Not far away from him was
Lucius Fits man as much unlike
Mr.. Buck as two men could possibly
be and yet a man whose opinion we
priced and whose judgment We re-
spected. No minister ever had a bet
ter listener and no church a more 10y
al supporter. Another man who
stands prominently before me is
George Holt the man of affairs. COM
polling attention but never demanding
it, the soul of honor. the model of so
briefly, justice and fair dealing. Can
We forget Frank K. Burnett, the born
leader of youth. the man who stood
head and shoulders above every other
teacher who ever occupied the chair
OF the master in his ability to inspire
the youth with love for higher edu-
cation. impulsive, quick tempered but
manly, rough in his method but sue
cessful in the work committed to him
Over on my right sat Mr. E. t. Whit
more, man rarely absent from his
place in church, one of the very few
who never heard his minister preach
a poor sermon, as eager to brighten
his pastors life on Sunday as he was
to lead him on blue Mondays out in
to the leafy woods and beside the bah
bling brooks. Midway in the auditor
ium another character demands atten-
ton, man not connected with the
church but whose loyalty to it no one
ever questioned, Mr. T. A Wheelock,
whose quaint comments upon my ser
mon and decided views upon things
religious and secular he did not hest
tate to pronounce and whose many
kindnesses to church and pastor
make his memory blessed. Never
shall ! forget the earnest face OF Mr..
Edgar Clark. who sat Sabbath after
sabbath listening with eager eye and
attentive ear to hear what the pulpit
said and who never was better
pleased than when [ rung the changes
tAA N-AA IVA 04A @A0te AHE ANNGA ID near
so Well. Who of you. whose memory
takes youS back for a decade can fail
to recall Hiram Brown that patriarch
in years but boy in spirit and sympa-
thy with modern thought. ready of
wit, good natured and entertaining,
quaint in his expression, ready to give
and take the pleasantries of social in
terchange. II seems only as yester-
day that he fell on sleep like those Of
olden times with the i've score years
in sight and in his death bearing the
signs of q clean and wholesome life.
It was not so very long ago that We
babe farewell TO our beloved Deacon
Kinney. the man moderate in speech
and action. droll without knowing it.
considerate OF others and devoted to
the truth with such a regard for right
that he might be said to make con-