Dracut Town

Dracut Town

The exercises of dedication were held in the Centre church on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 2 o'clock. Special invitations had been sent to members of each of the three local chapters. Daughters of the American Revolution, and while the response was not general, there was good representation, especially from Molly Vamum and Lydia Darrah chapters. The town of Dracut was also well represented, and at the close of the exercises the hospitable ladies extended an invitation through the presiding oiHcer to all present, to partake of an excellent collation, served in the social assembly room under the auditorium.

The dedication exercises were appropriately dignified and impressive. Solon W. Stevens, president of Old Middlesex chapter, opened with the following remarks:

"Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution. Assembled as we are in this old, historic church, for a serious and patriotic purpose, it is eminently fitting that the first feature in the exercises of the afternoon should be the invocation of divine blessing upon such proceedings as may naturally follow. You are therefore invited to reverently pay attention to Rev. Wilson Waters, chaplain of Old Middlesex chapter."

Almighty and ever-living God, the sovereign Commander of all the world, in whose hand are power and might which none is able to withstand; we have heard with our ears, and our fatners have declared unto us the noble works which thou didst in' their days, and in the old time before them. We bless and magnify thy glorious name for that thou gavest victory to our arms in the conflict for freedom. Thou gavest us not over as a prey into the hands of our enemies, wnen they were so wrathfuUy displeased at us. It is thou that madest us to stand in the day of battle, because thou hadst a favor unto us. Unto thy name be given the glory. And now we pray thee to bless the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and all patriotic organizations whose purpose it is to foster and conserve a sense ol thy goodness, and a love of our native land. Give to their members grace to improve thy gifts to thy glory; be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the honor and welfare of our country, and as much as in them lieth, to the good of all mankind. And we heartily desire thy heavenly blessing upon the public officers and people of this town, and we beseech thee to look with favor upon our present purpose and undertaking. We remember how Joshua, of old, topk a great stone and set it up as a witness and a memorial; and how Jacob before him set up a stone for a pillar of testimony; and that Samuel after him did the like thing; and we pray thee that the stone which we are about to dedicate, and upon which we have placed a record and emblem o£ honor, may be a lasting memorial to the distinguished patriotism and valor of the men of Dracut who gave themselves for their country; that when it shall be asked by the children of the generations to come, "What meaneth this stone?" their sires may rehearse to them the deeds that redound to Dracut's praise. Let this solid boulder and the tablet it holds, commemorate the heroic past; and as it rests planted firmly in the earth, so may it ever be that fearless and faithful citizenship, and staunch and sturdy manhood, from whatever distant place it come, and though it be shaped and rounded by the severe attrition of adverse circumstance, shall yet endure, in the steadfast fear and love of thy holy name, as the cornerstone and security of our national life, to the safety, honor and welfare of thy people; that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations. And we pray thee to give peace in our time, and to hasten the day when thou Shalt make wars to cease in all the world. Direct us, O Dord, in this and all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and, finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The presiding officer then stated the purpose of the meeting, and introduced Dr. Moses G. Parker, first vice president state society S. A. R., and chairman of the committee on Markers in the state society and local chapter, S. A. R. Dr. Parker made the speech of presentation, which follows, in fulj:

Mr. President and Selectmen of Dracut: Ladies and Gentlenien: - As chairman of the committee on markers, appointed by the Old Middlesex chapter. Sons of the American Revolution, it becomes my privilege to present to the town of Dracut, through its selectmen, Messrs. Fox, Colburn and Parker, this bronze tablet, placed here by the Old Middlesex Chapter

Solon W. Stevens

Time will not permit me to read these names; you will find them all recorded in a beautiful book, presented to the town library, by the Molly Varnum Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, June 25, 1903.

In this list will be found the names of 33 Coburns, 15 Varnums, 14 Richardsons, 13 Parkers, 11 Jones's, nine Foxes, seven each of Abbot, Davis, Hall and Sawyer, six each of Barker, Bradley, Hildreth, Lindsey and Wood, five each of Barrows, Bowers, Clements, Clous-h, Crosby, Harris, Kelly and Taylor, four each of Fimt, Foster, Goodhue, Marshall, Mears and Wright.

From these 423 sons, 112 were at the Battle of Lexington and Concord; 23 at Bunker Hill; 63 at Saratoga; seven at White Plains; 69 at Rhode isiauQ and 74 in New York state. Sixty-one are recorded as being in the Continental Army and 23 in the Northern army without the place of service being given. Many were attached to companies and regiments, but the locations of these companies and regiments are not given.

It is a record, she may well be proud of; it places her among the first, if not the first on the list of towns, for patriots in the American Revolution, giving 36 per cent, of her entire population which was then only 1173 to the defence of our country.

As we stand here on this sacred spot, we can imagine our ancestors, in those early days, coming here from the North, South, East and West, over these very roads, to meet at their captain's call. The powder house, long since removed, stood near by.

It was here these patriots met for drill, for parade and for target practice, becoming proficient marksmen as shown at the battle of Lexington and Concord, where of the 400 men that fell that day, less than 100 were Americans and over 300 were British.

The British in their report of this battle to their king, complained of the Americans, calling them murderers because they took aim in battle; they did take aim, and they hit the mark, not only at Lexington and Concord, but when they aimed at Old England as well. Because they were brave and dared to do this, you and I stand here today, free citizens of the United States of America; it is a blessed inheritance which we should fondly cherish and so guard, that we may keep our rights inviolate and yield them not, without a struggle.

Our country has grown to proportions beyond our wildest imaginations. This has been so well expressed by the president of the Old Middlesex chapter, Solon W. Stevens, on a former occasion that I must quote his words:

"The tree of civil and religious liberty which the fathers planted and which Washington defended from the British woodman's axe, has grown to such proportions, that today not far from eighty millions of industrious people are leading prosperous lives beneath its benignant shade; and if you would measure the perimeter of its influence you must stretch the line from ocean to ocean.

"Moreover in these latter days impelled by irrepressible latent force this monarch of the forest seems to be shooting out its roots beneath the water-flood, to be woven and entwined with the earthly substance of climes beyond the sea, in order that ultimately the lifeless air of the Orient may be stirred and quickened by the push and swing of the products of New England soil."

It is not yet 130 years since the beacon light at Oharlestown, flashed its signal of alarm to Andover, from Andover to Tewksbury, thence to Dracut Heights (Christian Hill) warning the towns that the British were coming and calling the "Minute Men" to arms long before Paul Revere reached Lexington.

There were no telegraph lines then; it was the beacon light and flint lock gun, that sent the signal of alarm throughout the commonwealth of Massachusetts, arousing the men of old Middlesex county from their slumbers on that memorable morning, the 19th of April, 1775, and it was Dracut's 112 men that marched that morning to Lexington, and followed the British on their retreat to Boston, delivering a deadly fire at the retreating foe.

It was the spirit of these men that gave us our indepenaence and afterwards their descendants together with men from other countries, who adopted their views and this country as their own, risked their lives in the late Civil War for the continuance of that freedom our ancestors gave us.

Standing here, I see before me descendants of Dracut's patriots who served, as I did, in the late Civil War for the preservation of the Union, when the South was arrayed against the North, and brother fought brother; when soldiers fell by ten. twenty and even thirty thousand on a side in the great battles of the Civil War.

There are men here, who were in those battles and remember the scenes now more vividly than the scenes of their childhood. We stand here today thanking our God that we are spared to see our great country again united and slavery no more.

In closing let me say that we are proud of Dracut, our birthplace, proud of her record, proud of our ancestors who fought at Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, White Plains, Rhode Island and New York state, and proud of her 423 patriots, out of a population of only 1173.

I now in behalf of the Old Middlesex Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, present to the town of Dracut, through its selectmen, this tablet. Imbedded in a bowlder, provided by the town of Dracut, to forever commemorate the memory of its 423 patriots, who served in the American Revolutionary war.

Mr. President, Members of Old Middlesex Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution - Ladies and Gentlemen: Your presence here today indicates to me that a lively interest in matters pertaining to the War of the Revolution is still cherished in your memories and it is with a sense of great honor conferred upon me that I accept in behalf of the town of Dracut this beautiful and substantial memorial tablet. This "marker," so called, is a new feature for this town, but in many other towns and cities it has come to be a common way to distinguish historic spots and to commemorate deeds of valor performed by our forefathers.

Mr. President, it seems to me that it is a noble way for you to place before this present, and the coming, busy generations a sign that deeds of valor and heroism in defence of life and liberty of country are not soon forgotten. All honor to tho'se heroes who left home and family, who forsook the plow in the furrow and the axe in the woods to strike a blow with the sword, and show to the world that the rights of an American citizen could not be abridged or his liberties taken from him without his life. "Give me liberty or give me death!" exclaimed Patrick Henry in Virginia, and the spirit whicl? inspired that expression imbued the Dracut minute-men and soldiers when they went to Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill; to Saratoga, White Plains, "Valley Forge, and indeed to every other battlefield and campingground known to the War of the Revolution.

In the interesting presentation address just made by Dr. Parker, he has told us something of Dracut's part in the struggle, but interest in the matter prompts me to give two or three reminiscences which I have found, of the higher officers who went from Dracut, or in whom Dracut was particularly intr-ested. Many of their descendants are here today.

Highest among these officers in point of rank was Gen. James M. Varnum, who was a native of Dracut, but who enlisted from Rhode Island. He left Dracut previous to the war to attend Brown university, and that is how he haT-'-ened to enlist from Rhode Island instead of from Massachusetts. He was closely associated with Gen. Washington throughout the war and was especially well known during the winter at Valley Forge.

James Varnum was another officer who evidently rose by degrees, for at Concoi'd he was enrolled as a private, at Bunker Hill as a sergeant, and later was commissioned by Washington as captain, serving four years in that capacity. After the war he became a colonel, and we are told that

Peter Coburn commanded a company of forty minute-men who took part in the fight of April 19, 1775, when the military outing of the British troops was turned into a disastrous defeat. Capt. Coburn's company was among those of whom Longfellow told: wall; Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road And only pausing to fire and load."

The work of that day v/as well done and the minute-men repaired to their homes, strengthened their numbers and equipment, while Capt. Coburn again took up the duty of representing his town in the provincial congress. But either his command took so much of his time or for some reason unknown the records of the town show that on May 29, 1775, the voters assembled "To see if the Sd. Town will then and there Proceed to the Choice of one or more person or persons to Serve in the Congress to meet at Water Town Meeting House on Wednesday, the 31st Instant, to Consult, Deliberate, and Resolve upon such Further Measures as Under God Shall be Effectual to Save this People from Impending Ruin, etc!" At this meeting the voters "Then and their maid Choice of Deacon Amos Bradley to go to Congress for the Town of Drar -t," and Capt. Coburn was free to attend to the business of fighting.

"The regiments were ordered from Cambridge to Charlestown and they arrived there about eleven o'clock at night, and then and there began a breastwork, and pursued it until about sunrise next morning. About sunrise the troops fired on us from the ships as they lay in the ferry-wav and killed one Pollard that lived in Billerica, and they continued their fire at times all the forenoon, and we finished our breastwork about twelve o'clo i. at about which time they began to land nigh our breastwork and continued the fire very brisk near about two hours. At length they stormed our breastwork and we were obliged to flee and they pursued us as far as Bunker Hill, but we killed or wounded fourteen or fifteen hundred and the loss sustained by us was few, about one hundred and fifty killed, wounded and missing, and on the 17th day of June I arrived at Cambridge about sunset - alive but much tired and fatigued. Blessed be God therefor."

Such is his own account of the fight. Others record that "Capt. Coburn's clothes were riddled with bullets while Sergt. Varnum had the top of his hat shot off and two bullets through his jacket." Also that "just as the order for retreat was given a British oflScer mounted the breastwork and exclaimed, 'Now, my boys, we have you!' whereupon Capt. Coburn, picking up a stone, hurled it at his head and knocked him down."

Another interesting Dracut soldier was Capt. Stephen Russell, prominent in town affairs as a moderator of town meetings and as a selectman; later with a company of Dracut soldiers helping in the capture of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga. His company numbered over 80 men enrolled from Dracut agreeably with a call from the general court.

Stillwater. Sept. 28. 1777. Loving wife and dutiful children, after offering my love to you, I cheerfully embrace this opportunity to communicate with you though at a great distance, and to let you know that through the goodness of God I am welj and hope these lines will find you the same. I am soiTiewhat wearied with marching for we have had tedious marches. I have been to Skenesborough and was ordered right bacli again. * * * i had 40 men sent out of my company to Ticonderoga which have not returned yet and I don't know as they will. * * * We are within about one and one-half miles of the enemies' camp and we expect hourly to be called into action. We are daily taking on both sides. Great consternation prevails. We have a strong army here and our men are in good spirits and I hope with a blessing we shall overcome all in a short time. Our Indians take the enemy and Tories daily and those that won't take quarter, they kill and scalp. Time must only determine the event. New England has called down heavy judgments on us at this day and in the days of calamity and distress we are to consider from whose hand it comes. God looks down with displeasure on our sins, but it is the earnest praj^er of your sincere friend and wellwisher, that we may all of us mend our ways, and live more to the honor and glory of our Creator than ever yet we have done and I desire that it may please an Infinite Being to return me again to you and that we may be a blessing to each other. So I conclude and subscribe myself your affectionate companion and loving husband until death.

Doubtless this letter found its way into the house now better known as the Coffran Nutting house on Pleasant street, not far from Hildreth street where his family lived.

About the time this letter was written another Dracut company went forward under command of Capt. J. B. Varnum, then a young man 18 years of age, and a brother of General James M. Varnum, previously mentioned. His company was smaller numbering about 40 or 50 men. In the next year both of these men were interested and took part in the undertaking in Rhode Island while the British were occupying Newport. He held the title of captain through the war and later became a general and also represented his district in congress. The old house where he lived is still standi?:g on the Methuen road and tradition says that George Washington once paid a visit to his old friend there at that place.

Mr. President, I feel that I have been somewhat lengthy in this partial account of the doings of Dracut's more distinguished patriots who led just a& brave and determined soldiers as ever left home to fight for liberty and selfgovernment. I have quoted from two letters to show something of the principles which ruled their lives and inspired their acts. These 423 men are the ones to whose memory you dedicate this tablet. Certainl^r we cannot think too often of their brave deeds and their sacrifices for home and posterity; and in consideration of these services it is fitting indeed that this solid rock and tablet shall be set aside as a tribute. May the tablet remain sacred and unscarred as long as the stone shall stand. I assure you Lhat the citizens of Dracut appreciate your generosity and applaud your activity in presenting so splendid a memorial. In accepting this tablet in behalf of the town of Dracut, I wish to accord to you our heartiest thanks and assure you that we shall ever strive to guardi protect and preserve it. It is our hope that it may ever be a beacon light of history, giving off rays of patriotism that will be absorbed into the lives of all those who shall view it, inspiring only to deeds of justice, liberty, and truth.

With complimentary reference to the original research made by Mrs. Sarah Swan Griffin, in gathering historic data relating to Col. Marie Louis Amand Ansart DeMaresquelles, the noble Frenchman who did valiant service for America in the War of the Revolution and who afterward made his hoine in Dracut, until his death, Mr. Stevens then introduced Mrs. Griffin, who gave an abstract of her valuable paper formerlv read before the Lowell Historical society. She spoke, in part, as follows:

As a nation, we must ever gratefully acknowledge the valuable assistance which France rendered to our colonies in their struggle for independence.

Dracut shelters within her bosom a French officer, who gave most distinguished service, and brought great inventive skill to the aid of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary war. and who. at the close of the great struggle, adopted America as his country, and, removing to Dracut, became a prominent and valued citizen of the town.

"Erected in memory of Col. Louis Ansart, who departed this life. May 22, A. D. 1804. aged 62. Col. Ansart was a native of France. He arrived in this country in 1776, and by the authorities of Massachusetts was immediately appointed Col. of Artillery and Inspector General of the Foundries, in which capacity he served until the close of the War of the Revolution."

During the struggle of the American colonies with Great Britain, the eyes of France were turned with great interest towards our shores and the conflict became an absorbing topic in that country. None there were more sympathetic in their feelings towards us than Marie Louis Amand Ansart De Maresquelles, and he finally determined to offer his services to the struggling colonies. Capt. De Maresquelles came to America in 1776. bringing credentials from high officials in his native land, and at oncQ made proposals to the general court of Massachusetts to establish furnaces and foundries siinilar to those m use in France, for the manufacture of cannon out of the native ores of Massachusetts. His proposals were at once accepted by the Massachusetts authorities, and so valuable was the secret invention that he used in the manufacture of these cannon, and so much appreciated was his skill as military engineer, that the general court voted him a salary of $1000 yearly during the Revolutionary war, a pension of two-thirds of that sum for life, the rank of colonel of artillery and inspector general of foundries.

In the year 1778 troops were sent from Massachusetts to assist Gen. Sullivan, who was in command of the American forces in Rhode Island, in driving the British from that state and Col. De Maresquelles was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. Sullivan, and during an assault on the British forces De Maresquelles was severely wounded.

De Maresquelles married into the family of Capt. William Wimble, a prominent Boston family, and. it is supposed, continued to reside in Boston until the close of the Revolutionary war, but in the year 1784 De Maresquelles removed to Dracut, occupying the farm styled "The Ministrie," formerly the home of Rev. Thomas Parker, the first minister oj Dracut. His interest in the town had been stimulated by his friendship with James Mitchell Vamum, a native of Dracut. An ardent sportsman, De Maresquelles had discovered that the Merrimack river was alive with salmon and he recalled the advice of his father, who, on his son Louis leaving home, advised him if he settled in a new country, to choose a place near some large river, as then he need never starve.

De Maresquelles was attached to 'his young American wife and the children that came to them - she bore him 12 in all, five sons and seven daughters - ten of them being born in "The Old Ministrie," which De Maresquelles made his home the remainder of nis days.

The Hamblett, or, ns it was afterwards called, the Ansart Ferry, was almost at his door, and he could easily join in all the festivities that were held in the then famous Middlesex Tavern, or by the use of the stage, which stopped at this hostelry on its way to Boston, he could attend the more formal functions in that city, or in the larger world beyond. And his old friends across the ocean did not forget him. In 1784, when Lafayette revisited America, he was a guest for a day at the home of De Maresquelles in Dracut. The marquis came from Boston with coach and four, outriders and footmen, and crossed on the old ferry to the Dracut shore.

De Maresquelles made three trips to France during his married life, to renew old friendships and see his own kindred. He was in France when his dear friend and patron, Louis XVI., was arrested and imprisoned, the first steps towards the fatal guillotine on w^hich he suffered in 1793. Whether the immediate relatives of De Maresquelles in France were victims of the same fate is a matter of uncertainty, but six months after the execution of Louis XVI. De Maresquelles applied for an act of naturalization and permission to become an American citizen, and also petitioned the legislature that he might drop the title of De Maresquelles and be known as Louis Ansart. I am told that De Maresquelles did not make application for change of name until after the death of his father in France, but the change of regime in France was doubtless the cause of the colonel's decision. During his residence in Dracut Col. Ansart, as he must now be called, vyas interested in all that pertained to the welfare of his adopted town. His name is found as one of the first proprietors of the early toll bridge over Pawtucket falls, and I also find records that S'how that he was active in the founding of school and church in Dracut.

Col. Ansart died at the age of 62 and was buried in the cemetery, a part of which he had apportioned from his farm and given to Dracut for the use of the Ansarts, Coburns and Varnuma. It seems sad that when the embassy from France visited America in 1902 to be present at the ceremony of unveiling the statue of Rochambeau in Washington, with instructions to visit, as far as possible, the graves of French officers who served in the Revolytionary war, and who were buried in America, that the grave of Col. Louis Ansart was not visited by these envoys from his native land, but the change of name probably explains the omission, otherwise "the lily of France" would have been placed upon his grave in tender remembrance. But when America publishes her "roll of honor" of those who assisted in securing the independence of the colonies, by the shedding of their blood or the giving of their strength and skill, among those whom his adopted country shall delight thus to honor will be enrolled the name of Col. Marie Louis Amand Ansart De Maresquelles.

It is with deep appreciation of the loyal patriotism of the members of Old Middlesex chapter, that I extend sincere and grateful acknowledgment in behalf of the Massachusetts society, S. A. R., of their earnest efforts in advancing the objects of the State society. This tablet, that has been recently placed as an enduring record to the memory of those men of Dracut who fought for the achievement of American independence, is of more than ordinary importance to us.

We recall the fact that those patriotic men represented more than onethird of the town of Dracut. Sixtythree men participated in that memorable campaign under Generals Greene and Arnold in New York state, which terminated in the surrender of Burgoyne. I mention this incident, for it is said that the battle of Saratoga was one of the most important battles in the world's history. The surrender of Burgoyne with his

3500 men was more fruitful of results than many noble conflicts where hundreds of thousands of men have been engaged and where tens of thousands have fallen. It is said that on the part of the Americans, it gave elation and encouragement; on the part of the English it strengthened a determination to- crush the rebellion; and on the part of France and Spain, it caused a quickening of the inclination to strike a blow at a hated rival, by espousing the cause of its rebellious subjects'. Immediately after Burgoyne's surrender Benjamin

Franklin, our representative, was openly received at "Versailles, while the French court within three months acknowledged our independence, thus gaining at once for us, recognition as a nation and an alliance with the first military power of Europe.

Sometimes it seems as though we did not fully apprec:_te the privilege we enjor in being a part of this wonderful nation which has been so eloquently referred to today. A nation which exists for freedom of thought and action; a nation which has within three centuries secured an area of over three million square miles and a total wealth of 106 billion dollars. We have an annu 1 product of raw material and manufactures, of over 106 million, and our average exports amount to 4 1-2 millions every day in the year; a national record never excelled in the history of the world.

The work in which we are engaged is noble; but is it not our duty, representing as we do in this state nearly 10,000 members in the various patriotic assoclL tions. to exert a stronger Influence in securing the best governmental conditions in our cities and towns, and providing the best educational facilities for niaking good American citizens from the many diverse nationalities that are seeking to make our America their America? Without being critical of our sex, I am satisfied, judging from the excellent results I have seen, that the women will achieve more success In this patriotic vork than the men. They are more enthusiastic, sympathetic and persist .nt, and as a rule they have more time to devote to such public duties than those men who are engaged in official capacities, or in the competitive industrial or professional life of the day.

I trust you will bear with me, if I once more turn for a moment to dry statistics, to more forcibly illustrate the importance of our organizations extending their lines of patriotic work. The world 50 years ago, had a war debt of eight billions. Today it amounts to 32 billions. The population has doubled, the debt has quadrupled. Fourteen millions of men were killed in civilized warfare between the years 1800 and 1900; 150 billion dollars was expended during that time in warfare. These fearful statistics of life sacrificed and property expended emphasize the necessity of organized effort, in the interest of a vorld's peace movement. Massachusetts, in the early part of the last cc tury, initiated the movement, and she has led since that time, in the noble work. Today, there is no community more thoroughly identified with its progress than our good old Commonwealth. As members of patriotic associations, we should enthusiastically co Derate with all infiuences that tend to the maintenance of a universal v/orld's peace movement.

In closing, I want to extend to those who are eligible but are not in our membership, a cordial invitation to join us in a work that we believe receives the hearty, cheerful commendation of all good American citizens.

Mr. Stevens then read a letter from James M. Varnum expressing the writer's regret that a previous engageiv^ t made it impossible for him to be present. Rev. Cyrus Richardson of Nashua, and J. J. Hennessy, esq., attorney for the town of Dracut, were also invited, but were unable to attend.

That simple, rugged boulder, which stands in the open nearly in front of this church, not only points to the past, but points to the future also. Why is it that today, across the water, nearly every throne that represents absolutism, is beginning to tremble? Why is it that today, even in icy old Russia, influences are beginning to make themselves felt, with the czar, in something like reforms in government? Why is it that we hear of so much discontent across the water, because the people are rising up and asserting their rights? What are their rights? They are the rights which these men gave their lives and their services to defend. The right to be considered a man; the right to be judged by one's character as a man; the right to have liberty mean liberty under the guidance of law, and not unrestricted license; the right to be judged as a man before men and before God; the right to remember that men are born free and equal in the sight of the law and in the sight of God. This memorial points to the future and to the past, because these men gave their services and their live-, for liberty as Americans understand it.

Our heroes, part of whom are commemorated by this simple tablet, established the principle of self government, and that was a new element in the history of governments: and they gave their services and their lives in its defence. They took it from the old biblical idea of which the Hebrews were the first example. Self government means self control, and a people fit for self governmenl, are a people that have self control. Self control is obedience to conscience, and obedience to conscience is an acknowledgment of the will of God. That is the rock upon which American liberty stands today; and this simple boulder is a reminder to us and to all passersby that these citizens '^f Dracut in their gallantry and in their bravery, gave their all in defence of this great idea.

It is ours, it is yours and is mine, to do all that we can to perpetuate this idea, in the face of the commercialism of the day and in the face of the excessive cosmopolitanism which is beginning to be characteristic of the United States of America.

In the old traditions of the age of chivalry, there is a story told of a certain Scot who, when dying, bequeathed his heart to be carried to Palestine, and ordered his trusted servant to taKe it from his body and to carrv it to Palestine. The noble attendant, enclosing the heart in a gclden case, suspended it around his neck and started on his errand to fulfil his master's command. On his way to Syria he was overcome in battle by the Moors of S- ain. In order to accomplish his purpose he tore from his necl* the jewel, and flinging it forward, into the ranks of his enemies, he said, "Go forth, O heart of Bruce. Douglas will follow thee or die." The heart of the destiny of this country has been thrown into the midst of future years. It is your duty and it is mine, so far as we possibly can, to rescue it from the enmitv and the ignorance '^^ those who would trample it in the dust.

The committee of arrangements was composed of Mr. and Mrs. Roswell Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Hazen Stickney, Mr. and Mrs. Granville Coburn, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pevey, Mr. and Mrs. Natt. W. Peabody, Mr. and Mrs. John Peabody, Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Fox, Mrs. Augusta Hovey, Mrs. Henry Parker and Mrs. James Hayes.

The young ladies of the town served. The boulder was draped with an American flag, and tne same patriotic decorations were arrangred about the church rostrum.

The Roll Of Honor

Jonas SpAuldtng, Saratoira. WllUnm i^pauldlni; Rhode lal<r Jnmea Sprninie. Lexington. Bonjamin Sprake. Samtona. BnrnahuR Sti-phens. Ctunp at c

Namuel Brown. Lexington. tU TImoihy Brown. Jr.. Lexington William Brown, Knltaied I'iipl. i^ird'e Chelmarord Campaii a*orga Burns, l^xlngton