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HISTORY OF SULIVAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE PT 2 |
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Local and Family Histories: New England, 1600-1900s Resolutions Adopted In Sullivan Whereas, The great and supreme Ruler of the universe has in his infinite wisdom removed from among us our worthy and esteemed friend and Historian, Josiah L. Seward, D. D., and whereas, the History of the Town of Sullivan, though nearing completion is still in the hands of the printer; the citizens of Sullivan at the Town Meeting of March, 1920, instructed their Selectmen to see that an expression of gratitude and appreciation of Dr. Josiah L. Seward be drafted and inserted in the Town History, therefore...
Chapter I, Centennial Celebration Preliminary Meeting. A MEETING of the citizens of Sullivan was held at the Town Hall, August 16, 1887, for the purpose of making arrangements to celebrate the hundredth aniversary of the incorporation of the town. ... The Celebration. The morning of September 27, 1887, was clear and cool for the season, but it proved a red-letter day in the history of the good old town of Sullivan. Her loving sons and daughters gathered in large numbers from all parts of the country to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of her birth. One lady came from the Pacific coast. The Middle States and all parts of New England were well represented. It has been carefully estimated that there were between fifteen hundred and two thousand persons present. A gentleman informed the writer that, on driving up from Keene, he noticed about forty carriages in procession at one time. The celebration was, in every sense, a successful and joyous occasion, excepting, of course, the sad thoughts awakened in the minds of those who recalled the dear faces of their beloved with whom the memories of the town will ever be associated and who could be with them, this day, only in spirit. The most generous provision had been made for the hospitable reception and entertainment of all who came, and for the horses which brought the guests. Every oven in town had been busy for a week. The food provided was ample for the refreshment of the multitude and a great quantity was unconsumed. It was not only ample in quantity, but unsurpassed in quality, and served with a neatness and dispatch that challenged admiration.... The PROGRAMME, which required the whole day for its execution, was as follows; Morning Service--10.30 A. M. 1. CALL TO ORDER.
2. PRELUDE,
3. OPENING ADDRESS.
4. READING OF TOWN CHARTER.
5. MUSIC,
6. READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.
7. PRAYER.
8. RESPONSE,
9. ORATION.
10. MUSIC,
11. POEM.
12. CONCLUDING PRAYER.
13. RESPONSE,
14. BENEDICTION. 15. POSTLUDE,
Post Prandial Exercises--2 P. M. 1. MUSIC. East Sullivan Brass Band. 2. ADDRESSES. 3. CENTENNIAL ODE. 4. ADDRESSES,
5. CONCLUDING PRAYER AND BENEDICTION. 6. ADJOURNMENT FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Call To Order. Opening Address Was then delivered by Edward B. Nims, M. D., of Northampton, Mass., who was introduced by the chairman of the committee of arrangements as the President of the Day. His address was as follows: Ladies and Gentlemen, and Fellow Citizens of the Town of Sullivan,--I am happy to be with you to-day to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of the old town of Sullivan. I say old, because any town in this new western world of ours that has passed through one hundred years, has a right to call itself old, and justly, when we remember that the most ancient settlement in the northern part of America dates back only to 1604, when two French colonies came over and settled in Annapolis, that beautiful town and old capital, on a retired shore of the bay of Fundy. When we remember that the Pilgrims first landed in 1620; that the first settlement in New Hampshire was in 1623; and when we remember that only eleven years after the Declaration of Independence, a charter was granted to Sullivan, we may indeed call Sullivan an old town. Reading of the Town Charter Reading of the Scriptures By the Rev. T. S. Norton, of Dover, Mass., a former honored pastor of the First Congregational Church in Sullivan. Page 9 He read Deut. vi. 1-15, and Psalms cxxviii. and cxliv. He used the old Bible which used to be upon the pulpit in the old meeting-house. Prayer Was then offered by Rev. F. B. Phelps, pastor of the Sullivan churches, in the following words: Oh, Thou, our Father and our God, Thou who art from everlasting to everlasting, and changest not. Before Thee, the angels and the archangels veil their faces. Thou art the infinite one whom we worship and adore. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations; Thou hast formed the earth and the world. Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. We ask Thy blessing upon our gathering here to-day. As Thou wast the God of our Fathers, be Thou the God of their children. Be with us as we look back upon the past and study its history. In all time we recognize Thy hand; we realize the blessings that have come to us; that all have been Thy gifts. We pray that Thy blessing may rest upon all assembled here to-day. We are thankful that Thou hast permitted so many to come to this Anniversary; that so many who have been dwellers here in the past, have been permitted to come back. We pray that Thy blessing may rest upon the aged to-day. We thank Thee that Thou hast permitted so goodly a number of those who have been dwellers in this town to reach advanced age. We pray that in the time which lies before them, whether it will be longer or shorter, they may experience a life of goodness. With Thy sustaining grace lengthen out their days so long as Thou seest life to be a blessing. May they yet be enabled to do something for Thy glory; may their lives be full of hope, and of pleasant thoughts. And we remember to-day, before Thee, our Father, those who are on beds of sickness, and specially do we remember him who made one on the committee of Page 10 arrangements, but now is stricken down. Lord be with him, bless him abundantly, and, in any event, may he be prepared to feel that Thou art just and to pray "Thy will be done." As thou hast blessed the fathers in the past, bless the children more abundantly. We pray that the children may have grace to follow their example. Grant Thou in the time to come that those things which exalt or purify and ennoble a community may be prospered and permitted here. We pray that every feeling in the heart which is unlovely in Thy sight will be done away with. May the feelings of kindness find lodgment in every soul. May thy blessing rest upon all here to-day. Bless them in their own souls, in their own families, in their own labors wherever duty may call them. Bless all those who have come here from different communities, and all those who have gone out from this place. Grant that they may be blessed and receive from Thee in their own souls rich tokens of Thy love and favor. May their influence be a salutary influence, and from it go a blessing to towns which have received additions to their inhabitants from this Town of Sullivan. We thank Thee for the ministers of religion who have labored in this place and pointed the way to Heaven. We pray that Thou wilt bless him who shall address us here to-day, and grant that the words he shall speak may be profitable, to the best interests of the place and all who are here assembled. Grant that the influences of this occasion may be salutary in all respects; that those present here as they look back to this day, may do so with feelings of gladness, that they were permitted to be here. May this town be prospered in years to come; may those principles which have characterized the fathers all tend to enoble their posterity and live and find lodgment in every heart. Guide Thou all our services and grant that by and by we shall all meet in Thy presence above. Grant that all here before Thee may be found at Thy right hand. May singers and players on instruments be there; may the aged and young who are Page 11 assembled here all be there, and each receive this reward from the Master's lips: "Well done thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord." Let Thy name be glorified; and to Thee be the glory now and evermore. Amen. The prayer was followed by a vocal response by the Hubbard Quartette, entitled "Heavenly Father," adapted from Beethoven.
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