Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-09-07
From q Native Of Woodstock.

Il
written to the centennial committee, but. no
read for lack Of time)
T6th Honorable Committee and Citi.
zens Of Woodstock.
Most Cordial Greeting.
Be assured that your message OF invi.
tation to be present at go splendid 9
crisis as the celebration of the one hun.
dredth anniversary of our Townsbip'f
birthday, with its appropriate exercises,
and feastings OF good.fello wship, was
most highly appreciated by me In
my far away home In this great "Inland
Empire" of far greater Northwest. 1t
Is wholly impossible to be with you in
bodily presence, but In spiritual percep-
ton, shall sit with you and drink in
the thrilling story of your Historian OF
today, warm myself by the fire of the
fine eloquence of Woodstock's enthusiast
tic sons who will be present and give
vocal expression to their feelings of JOY
full pride in, and great love for her-and
regale myself in the splendid oratory
poured upon us, by one or more of the
magnificent sons of our sturdy old "Pine
Tree" State. shall have unseen place
at the festal board, and listen to the keen
wit super. abundant in the"After. dinner"
speeches. will be there. There will
be something to talk about.
Just the other day, here In my Spo-
kane home, entertained my guests with
auecdotal excerpts from Lapham's His
tory of Woodstock, holding them, the
while, under tense pitch of interest
These guests hailed from different States
of the middle west, and as laid the
book aside, it was quickly caught mp,
with the inquisitorial remark, "For
goodness sake, what sort of book have
you there. That is fine." /
1t gratified my vanity that l could cap
tivate people of culture and refinement,
with stories of the homely life of our
fathers and mothers. Citizens of Wood.
stock, have always held the memory of
these great men and women in most
sacred esteem, and it did me good to
call them back to this old world for an
bour-and permit them to re-enact the
startling episodes of their pioneer life, to
this strange and newer people.
Could l have part in your AFTER
dinner" talks, these oldeD.time heroes
and heroines should have large part in
our Jubilee festivities.
oodstock-rugged,t to be sure-yet,
beautiful Woodstock-how we all love
her, She is unique in scenic beauty
all her very OVID, and could l have
another birth, and re-live another three
score and five years, she-Woodstock-
glorious old Woodstock, should be the
place-the only place Of well-chosen
nativity.
am not surprised that when the
sycophants of our artificial city life OF
today, tire of it all, and cast about with
a real heart hunger for some place OF
restful, beautiful reality, they seek out
our own charming lake, over which, old
Mount Christopher keeps silent, faithful
watch and guard, all the while our
Father Time is marking off the ages.
Do you know there is not one thing in
this much touted city, Spokane, that is
that has not been planted, watered and
pruned by the hand of man, not one.
The people of all cities are but creations
of vitiated art. Oh, but it is refreshing
to re- call these men and women, trained
as they were by the unseen, but all
potent forces of the Natural and of the
Divine; it is worth your while and mine
to bring back our sires and grandsires-
our mothers and our grandmothers-to
bless the world of today with the vision
of that which Ia true worth in human
living. Our ancestry builded in self
respecting honor, sobriety and sterling
g.. The history of Woodstock, along the
lines of civic citizenship is cause for
pride, as her decided majorities always
went on record, as standing for that
which was cleanest and best In Social
Reforms.
l point with deepest reverence to her
patriotism during the trying ordeal of
our Civil War-to the splendid attitude
of her sons and daughters toward the
great question OF Temperance-and when
the white dove of National Prohibition
shall have folded her clustering wings
over every State in our beloved Union,
we, with profoundest gratitude, shall
declare the fathers and mothers of Wood
stock, as foremost in the ranks OF the
originators and organizers of this sub
FINEST of all moral conquests.
From the alphabetical beginnings of
A-to the finale of Z-are included
names that have immortal places in the
annals of splendid citizenship, among
our towns-fellows.
We have special pride that in every
State in the Union, we may declare,
We are the Maniacs of Maine, and re.
ioice in the possession of instant place
and hearty welcome. This, this is the
reward of faithfulness to high ideals,
preparation, and brilliant eff
cheney for a worldwide service. Ser
vice-this is our watchword and slogan
for the times in which we live.
The catalogue of civic, educational
and religious workers is replete with the
Clio wing names of Woodstock's sons and
Shall it not be all our business, yes,
our very highest privilege, to use our
every energy to emulate and, If possible,
surpass the noble deeds of those who
have passed onward to join that great
and silent majority.
Today, bid you-my hearts dearest
of people-you, the citizens of so blessed
a nativity-my heartiest God-speed, and
let it be your supreme pleasure to build
for the Hottest ideals of principle in bu-
man living, that when your children and
children's children shall celebrate the
second hundred mark in our good Town
ships life, they may with like reveren-
tial gratitude mark your achievements,
as we, today, exalt those left on imper
ishable record by ours, of most blessed
Yours most faithfully, in the fellow
ship of good citizenship, truth, right
eousness and peace.
E. q. WHITMAN, D. D.,
Pastor of the First United Brethren
Church, Spokane, Washington.