Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

556 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
welcome them all, to partake with us in the memories and festivities of this
occasion, as to a family festival — Enfield, Suffield, and Somers, early wooed
and won by a neighboring State ; Longmeadow, the gem and type of all that is
loveliest and best of Xew England villages ; Agawam,
West Springfield, Wil-
braham, Ludlow, Hampden, and Southwick, farming communities, strong in
those industries and virtues, inherited from a common ancestry, which have
made rural New England the source from whicli has ever flowed the best and
most healthful influences in American civilization ; Westfield, Chicopee, and
Holyoke, busy manufacturing towns, whose enterprising and ingenious citizens
have taken possession of the streams and rivers, where once the Indians fished,
dammed up their swift-flowing waters, and led tlicm into various channels of use-
fulness, and made their latent powers mighty factors in our development, filling
all these valleys with the cheerful miisic of busy and prosperous industries. It
is with special pride that we have witnessed the increased population and wealth,
and the development of all the resources at their command. All are indeed
welcome. Though geographical lines divide us, our interests are one, and
together we will review the ways in which Providence has led us through the
diflftculties which we have passed, thereby strengthening our mutual dependence
and helpfulness.
We extend a cordial welcome to those, and the descendants of those, who in
the 3'ears that are past, animated by the spirit and iml)ued with tlie principles of
the first settlers of Springfield, have gone forth from this valley to aid in building
up new States and founding new towns, and implanting in them that love of
order, industry, and respect for the rights of others, which characterize every
community in v hich New England influences prevail. To these, and all the sons
and daughters of Springfield, wlio have returned to unite with us in celebrating
the event which we here commemorate, we give a hearty and generous welcome.
To Your Excellency, as the representative of the Commonwealth, as united to
us by many ties of interest, of kindly association and honorable service in our
behalf, and to all who by their presence on this occasion have contributed so
much in making it memorable in tlie annals of the city, we extend a sincere
welcome.
On rare occasions, it is the custom lu European cities for the mayor, with
elaborate and imposing ceremonies, to give the freedom of the city, as an esj)ecial
honor, to the city's most distinguished guests, and now, in the name of this munic-
ipality, I would bestow tlie freedom of this, our city, upon all who are our
guests, not with the pomp and ceremony of those older cities, but in plain New
England fashion, as becomes the descendants of the Puritans, by bidding you all
a most hearty and cordial welcome.