Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-26

tlcboro; Edwin Lewis Olney, Rutland;
Carroll Smalley Page, Hyde Park; Thorn
as Reed Powell New York city: Warren
Edward Putnam. NJ. D., Bennington
William Brunswick Curry Stckney Rut-
land: William James Van Patten, Bur
lington: Marvelle Christopher Wcbbcr,
Rutland.
THE BANQUET
The main dining hall of the Sherwood
in which the banquet was served was
most artistically decorated with f'ags Of
many nations, the emblems of the Soci-
ety. Of Colonial Wars in the state OF Yer
mont and tho National Society of Colon
ial Danes in America forming the back
ground behind the speakers, while the
Stars and Stripes completed the effect
Of tho background. Tho decorating was
done for the Society by Samuel Gold
stein of the Peoples Department Store,
who had charge of much of the window
decorating in the war drives of the
city.
The banquet itself was worthy of the
reputation which the Sherwood has al
ways had for serving the best. Browns
orchestra furnished music for the oc-
casion.
Governor ". S. Howard. as POSTMASTER
Twin Falls, Idaho: Harry Fuller Hamil-
ton, Newport; Harry Stinson Howard
Burlington; stephen Perry Jocelyn, Bur-
Reyes Chaffee, Rutland; Merritt barrow
Chittenden, Burlington; Byron Nathaniel
Clark. Burlington: James French Dewey
oueches: William Paul Dillingham;
Montpelier; William Henry Eldridge'
introduced Mayor j. Holmes Jackson,
who welcomed the Society of Colonial
Wars and their guests. Past Governor
Hamilton S. Peck read the history OF the
Vermont Society during the last % years
since 1t was founded.
The Vermont Society of Colonial Wars
was founded on October 1, 1894, by Col
onel e. A. Chittenden. the first meeting
being held on that date in St Adams,
from which Is gentlemen addressed a
petition to the General Society. asking for
n charter. This charter was granted
November H. 1884, The first general court
was held at the Van Ness House on
Washington's birthday, 1895, and con
stitution and bylaws adopted.
All annual meetings have been held
in Burlington, and with two exceptions
on February %, these exception being
due to the fact that the 22nd Of this
month was on Sunday. At the meeting of
the council held November 4, 1903. y. w.
Robinson presented the Society a gavel
made of wood grown in each of the 19
original States.
OF the $40 members of the Society, AZ
have passed away, among them Past
Governors, T. s. Peck. U. a. Woodbury.,
Charles Dewey. James G. Houghton, G.
G. Benedict. 3. f. F'ifeld, d. w. Robin
son, John II. Converse and w. j. Van
Patten.
The preamble Of the constitution gives
the purpose of the Society ito perpetuate
the memory of the events of Colonial
History, and of the men who were In
truth the founders of this nation; to col
lect and preserve manuscripts, rolls and
records and to inspire in the community
respect and reverence for those whose
public services made our freedom and
unity possible"
The Rev. l. c. Smart gave a brief ac-
count of the public life of Thomas
Hutchinson. the last royal governor OF
Massachusetts. He said that. Hutchin-
son went to Boston in 1896. His grand
mother was Anna Hutchinson, who had
trouble with the Boston ministers and
had to leave the city, being later mass
acred by the Indians. Hutchinson tool
his bachelors degree at Harvard at the
age of 16. and. at the age of 26 became
selectman of Boston. Later, as a mem
Der of the General Court, Hutchinson car
ried through a movement to eliminate
paper money from Massachusetts anc
place that State upon a firm fnancia
basis when the Revolution came.
For 20 years, Hutchinson was a favor
lite citizen Of Boston and Massachusetts,
holding many important offices. Their
ACT nd Tins was
on the wrong side, or at least the people
thought he was. He believed that Parlia
ment had the right of taxing the colonies
although he thought it ought not to exer
else the right at that time. Although HI
opposed the Stamp Act. he was openly
charged with having backed it's passag'
A mob sacked his house. Later, he wa
urged by the British authorities to talk
the govefnorship of Massachusetts,, anC
he finally consented, thinking that j
would be for the good of the city. Tn
control of the colony had passed into thu
hands of a mob. however. and Hutchin
son found his life In danger. Genera
Gage took charge and Hutchinson wen
to England. where he protested to tn
king in vain in regard to the way TIL
colonies had been treated. Feeling wa
strong against him in America. He wa
maligned and ill-treated because he ha
dared to interpret the law as he under
stood It.
mo shame soils the reputation Of Thorn
as Hutchinson. nor dims the excellenc
Of his public service" said DIR. Smart, il
closing. I'm these times. as in those D
the colonial period. it is so natural Il
be unjust There is nothing finer o
rarer In human nature than a fighter win
is just 10 the enemy"
Then followed the presentation of tn
war medals by Governor General Ladd
| The medal was given in the form of
bronze cross, representing duty vel
fulfilled" with an Indian in the center
and the fieur-de-ls of France as bord
or. The motto OF the Society Of Colonia
Wars. 'fortiter pro patria,' is engrave,
on the cross.
In closing the meeting. Retiring Gov
ernor II, s. Howard presented the ofiicia
gavel 10 Governor Elect Harvey
| Kingsley of Rutland, who spoke brief
upon The Future OF the Society" II
, said that he was no prophet. but tina
! the future might be Judged from tn
past. He declared that the crest of III
Society In which the beech seal" play
! so important a part. is threat to a
| trespassers, and that the beech wlthe
are evidence that Vermonters were a.
ways able to defend their rights.
THE future Of our Society will be base
upon these three Insignificant beech rods
| the mute evidence that we are ever read
| to resist encroachment, ever ready to de
| fend what is ours" said Governor Kings
\ ley In closing, What Fort Dumme
and Mount Vernon stood for ana stan
| for now are Just as vital this evenin