Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-12-24
DEDICATION OF SAMSON ME-
MORTAL.
CONTINUED from Page IL

example, the occasion suggests the
prominent position which religion filled
in the early life of the town and the re-
lation of the earnest piety of its inhab-
itants to the altogether remarkable pro-
portion of men of distinguished useful
ness who have gone out from it. The
uses to which the building is to be put
present other topics not less inviting.
1t is entrusted to the care of patriotic
society, whose duty is to keep ever in
the minds of successive generations the
great deeds and great men of the past,
not for idle adulation nor enervating
pride of blood, but for enlargement of
mind and manhood by keeping always
in the background of present duty the
spirit and the quality of the builders
and the pioneers of the American ma
ton. This memorial is also to be the
home of CORVALLIS free public library,
an institution reaching back almost to
the organization of the town itself,
whose mission is to preserve in the pres
ent and future generations that virility
of thought and breadth of information
which have given to this town its en-
viable reputation for intelligence, for
solidity of judgment, and for the unsur-
passed ambition of its youth. While it
may be difficult to decide which of these
inviting themes to choose, or upon
which to lay the greater emphasis, it is
fortunate that in one structure there is
embodied both reverence for the past
and hope of the future, both love of
country and respect for learning, both
loyal memory of the worthy dead and
helpful service to generations vet un-
born. May the building long stand to
enshrine the memory of Deacon William
Samson and to exert its due part in
keeping the town of Cornwall forever
worthy of its past.
If there is town in the Green
Mountain State that has right to pride
In the chai acter and worth of its men. il
Is the town of Cornwall. Chartered
November 3, 1861, settled first by four
teen pioneers in 1774, and by six others
before the Revolution. the men who
built the town were to a marked de-
gree distinguished for intelligence and
worth, for thrift, industry, and bust
ness ability, not less than for high
moral character and devoted piety.
A name and fame were acquired by
the town in its early history which stand
1t IN good stead to this day. Cornwall
has always been known as good town"
the home of substantial citizens. men
OF probity and property, intelligent,
patriotic, and God-fearing. The first
moderator of the town at its organiza-
ton in 1874 was also the first deacon of
the church and also its moderator until
the settlement of minister, Jeremiah
Bingham, who fought the British at
bennington, composed sermons worthy
OF doctor of divinity, became one of
the largest land owners in the county.
practiced the profession of a surveyor,
conducted a revival of religion, and
wrote poetry Not all the fathers of the
town were of such versatility, but
surprising proportion of them were men
OF sharp business acumen, of unusual
energy and ambition, coupled with high
character and orthodox piety.
Such was William Samson. for
whom this building is memorial, who
came from Londonderry, N. H., early
IN the history of the town, was elected
deacon IN 1888, reared a large family
OF sons, and died in 1898 at the age of
oo. 1t was no small honor to be a
deacon IN those times. The Office i'm
Piled not only innocence of gross faults
and name for piety, but also position
OF dignity and leadership in the COM
munity, and such respect as can only
go with substantial attainments.
The son of William Samson,
Eilphalet, was also of that calibre,
man who bore rightfully the titles of
captain and Esquire, not slothful in bus
mess, rearing a large family in the
punctual observance of religious ordi-
nances, and sustaining a weekly prayer
meeting in his home for more than
fifteen years
1t would not be right to infer that the
fathers of Cornwall were always mild
and tractable in opinion, easily har-
monious on every question. On the con-
trary they were remarkably independent
IN Judgment, rarely unanimous about
anything, and often postponing a
decision for long period during which
they were unable to come to agree
ment.
A topic which long divided them was
the location of the church. The num-
Der of votes on the subject and of COM
mittees appointed to adjudicate the
matter, some of them composed of i'm
partial citizens of other towns, almost
mn