Year: 1875

in the Connecticut Valley and the oldest in Franklin
county has to-day been the of extraordinary
celebration II has not been simply the observance Of
one of those common centennial events which
so numerous and popular, but it has been the more
remarkable occasion OF bi-centennial the two hun
dredth anniversary Of the famous battle Of Bloody
Brook the terrible Of whites in all the
annals of New England


KxERCIsEs CELEBRATION


In consequence Of heavy storm last night there
gloomy antcipaaons that the weather to-day would not
be proptous for the gala occasion These fears
not realized however for although the day cool and
cloudy it was nevertheless free from storm. In the
early morning crowds commenced pouring into town
all sorts Of vehicles by the special and regu-
lar trains had filed the little village with
course of 10000 II, 900 people. The late
burning up Of the hotels a sad incon-
venience but as this understood by most
Of the visitors they generally prepared for
it. The street display not generous
anticipated yet it very brilliant and credtable
The military embraced besides the South Deerhed
company, companies from Greenfield, Northampton and
Holyoke Three four local bands furnished music,
and, altogether the display remarkable one for
this rural district In the civic part Of the procession
the Changers prominent feature The citizens
and visitors generally occupied the earlier portion Of
the day in visiting the interesting localities in the
neighborhood


LITERARY FESTIVITIES.


These in the afternoon and were Of course the
chief feature of the day. There was a welcoming ad-
dress by George Sheldon President OF the association
under whose auspices the celebration took place and
then the singing Of ode which written for the
occasion by Z. W. B. Canning, the renowned poet of
stockbridge.


After the singing OF the ode prayer was said by Rev.
n 9 afta hx tha hand
B. Lorng forward and delivered the Grafton Of
the day.


ADDRESS oP HON GEoRGEB LoRrSG.


FELLOW CIr1zESs-Two hundred years ago an event
occurred this spot which, account of its signih-
and touching details has passed into that long
heroic line which the mind Of man is compelled to
pause and ponder Forming part OF chapter of horror
and despair scarcely equaed in the annals ofTnan-
kind either ancient or modern, IL impressed
itself al upon the mind and heart of
that generation who felt its staggering blow and
knew fearful purport To US, sitting in the security
which two centuries of action and progressive civiza
tion have accomplished it still has its terrific scina
tion clothed is with the sacred mystery which
time has shed IT, and set central figure in that
dark picture Of forest gloom and savage darkness and
cruelty which attended The early colonial life Of
cestors. At the OF Bloody Brook the men and
women and children Of New England started and held
their breath in horror in that primeval time when
the slckenng tldings were borne on the wings
of the wind as il were from hamlet 20 hamlet
and the name Bloody Brook calls forth a sigh
throughout the land in own day, when by touch
every event is carried from town TO town and passes





slaughter have made way for refinement and repose
We have enough OF which must
bear is true and have enough of heroic incident
and manly endeavor but the sad event OF the 18th or
September 1915, calls upon still TO remember the
trials through which fathers passed and TO rejoice
that fratarnal spirit which bound them together
their day Of and watered the soil Of this charming
valley with the choicest blood of the OF Essex
stand ground made sacred 10 you by the sacrifices
and suerings OF your hardy and devoted progenitors
but meet here the Of Lothrop, and Stevens, and
Hobbs and Manning, and Dodge, and Kimbal, and
and Pickering
threescore braves who died that you might possess
this goodly land and these pleasant homes.
gathers around this spot join you in every
sentiment Of gratitude for the herosm and courage
which mark early history | thank God for the
manly devotion and the characteristics which they i'm
planted in the American nationality, for the sturdy
and for the inheritance OF social and civil eley
tion which we now ENJOY. How would they VINO were
familiar with the cruel warfare Of the savage;
whose ears had heard the shrieks OF the
tortured mother minglng with the groans or her
dying child, and whose eyes had beheld her fear,
her patience and her despair; whose highway
was an Indian trail and whose home was frontier
bockhouse-how would they rejoice over these sunny
fields these laughing harvests these busy towns these
these institutions Of learning and religion and how
would they their suGerings but small when
compared with the manifold blessings which have de-
scended upon the spot made sacred by their bloodS


SIGNIFICANCE BATTLE.


And now, my friends let VS. turn to the significance
Of the event whose anniversary this day celebrate
and 20 the relations which holds 30 the history OF ad
vancng civilization IL be considered a
decisive conflict; but as an incident in the infancy Of
powerful nation and one occurring at the critical period
Of the most important social and civil event known
10 man-the founding Of iree republic on
the Western Continent, IL arrests the attention
of every thoughtful student OF history, while
II furnishes theme for the poet and scene Tor the
writer Of ronance The fate OF great widespread
empire rested then In the hands Of few coonists scat
tered along the Atlantic seaboard divided In interests
and tastes, pershng continually from exposure ana
want not all actuaed By the highest motives but al
recognizing by unerring instinct the
fundamental principle ont Of which was to
grow the American government, ana all IN
danger OF being exterminated at any tlme
by the pestience which wketh IN darkness, ana the
destruction which wasteth at noonday" These people
had come largely from that Germanio race most famed
for the love Of personal Independence" They were
not men Of high estate; but they were men who pos,
inherent love Of land with all the individual
power and freedom which 60 along with IT. They had
high OF their destiny lOrdly sense OF their
Tghts They had a deep religious sentiment,
''the colonists from Maine 70 Carolina, the
adventurous companions Of smith, the Puritan feons
that ireghted the neet Of winthrop the Quaker out
laws that lied from las with a Newgate prisoner a.
their soveregDal had faith in God and in the soul +"
Impressed undoubtedly by the solemnty Of the scene
around them subdued by the dangers which con
stantly threatened them softened by the hardships
which continually weighed upon them, they we're
sedate and well behaved. or colony said Spots
wood a royalist high churchman, a traveller" ~
observed here less swearing and profanenes less
drunkenness and debauchery less unchartable feuds
and animOsites and less knaveries and villanea
than IN any part Of the world where my lot
has BEEN The animatng sentiment "a church
without bishop" in religion; "a State without king
In poutics or the motives and manners and customs
OF those who settled New England, let me say word
They constituted 10 great degree that body Of dis
seners who under various names settled the colonies
Of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. They came, IL L
true 10 enjoy religious freedom-bu they aso sought
civil orqanzation founded the night OF every u
a voice in the government under which he lives. il
tie charters Of all the towns granted py the genera
court Il was provided that the grantees were 10 pro
cure and maintain an able and orthodox minister
among them - aud 'to build meeting house within
three years This was their motive


INTERESTING RKMINIscEScEs


In all their customs they obliged TO exercise th
utmost simplicity and they voluntarily TeRuALen l""'